Nothing ruins the enjoyment of a new glass shower enclosure like leaks and water damage. Thanks to the Glass Simple team's 100+ years of combined glass industry experience and our contacts in the custom shower installation space, we can offer professional tips and insights to help you steer clear of these pitfalls in your own bathroom renovation project.

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Proper Drainage

For starters, water needs to be directed toward and down a floor drain. In terms of installing the drain itself, this article from The Spruce gives a helpful overview, and you can find how-to videos on YouTube related to the particular system you’re using.

However, a properly installed drain is of little value if the shower floor is level, is sloped away from the drain, or includes dips and valleys. All of these situations will lead to water pooling inside your shower and potentially leaking out onto your bathroom floor. To avoid this, the floor of your shower should slope 1/4” per foot toward the drain. Making sure that water is automatically running toward the drain via proper floor slope is one of the most effective ways to prevent leaks.

Curbs and Thresholds

Most shower enclosures have a curb, which is basically a threshold standing a few inches tall and separating the shower floor from the bathroom floor. Shower glass, including the door panel, is installed atop this curb. While it should be level from right to left, a curb should not be level from front to back. Some shower water will land on the curb, and you want it to flow back into the shower, not to pool or to flow onto the bathroom floor. To minimize leak risks ensure that the curb is gently angled toward the inside of the shower at a slope of 1/8” to 3/16” over 6”.

Some showers, however, have curbless entrances, generally for reasons of accessibility or aesthetics. It is advisable to include a very slightly raised threshold to keep the door from potentially dragging on the tile floor. This threshold should be raised only 1/4" – 3/8” and should have beveled edges to keep it from posing a trip hazard.

If this ship has sailed, and you are already dealing with leaks caused by improper slope, you might want to check out products like this threshold that can be added to an existing shower enclosure to direct water back into the stall.

Vinyl Components

While we tend to think of glass and metal as the only components of a glass shower enclosure, most also call for vinyl seals around the door. These include:

• Sweeps and wipes that are installed on the bottom edge of a door panel
• Seals and jambs that are attached to a door’s vertical edge
• Vinyl door stops

Properly installed vinyl components can significantly reduce leaks around the door. However, it’s important to remember that even vinyl seals don’t turn a frameless glass shower enclosure into a fish bowl. Part of avoiding leaks is following common sense practices like not aiming a shower spray at gaps, seams, or door seals.

Waterproofing

Finally, waterproofing appropriately for the type of enclosure you’ve chosen is vital. In recent years, there has been a trend toward leaving the entrance to the shower open and installing one or more splash panels to provide some level of water containment. This look has a lot going for it and can be a more budget-friendly option since less glass and hardware are needed.

However, it is just fact that more water will escape the stall when there’s no door panel to pull shut. This means that you’ll need to do extensive waterproofing in the bathroom itself near the shower entrance. Not up for that? Keep in mind that you can choose a clear hinged or sliding glass shower door for a similar visual effect but more robust water containment.

Professional Guidance

If you have questions about the hardware and vinyl needed for your particular glass shower project, give Glass Simple a call at (571)707-7760 and talk with Jamie in our Manassas Park, VA shop. You can rest assured that we are happy to work with DIY clients and do not mandate account creation or minimum annual orders. You can also check out our YouTube channel's original how-to videos for assistance with installation and adjustment of various shower hardware pieces.