Adding or replacing a custom glass shower enclosure is a move that can seriously level up your bathroom’s look and feel. It represents an investment of time and money, so getting the design right is key because flaws in the early stages can give negative results including: 

• Costly alterations after install.
• Inconvenience while using.
• Damage to the glass or surrounding fixtures.
• Issues with leaking.

 

In this piece, we’ll look at common mistakes to avoid and help you end up with a finished product you are truly happy with and will enjoy for years!

---

 

1. Don’t force it.

 

A number of possible mistakes fall under this heading, and we’ll look at two major ones. We see a design in a magazine or home décor blog and fall in love with it. However, it might not be practical given the dimensions and/or structure of our space, but the determination to bring the look into our own bathroom overrides all cautions and concerns.

• Hinged Doors: A swinging shower door is both classic and stylish. But only go this route if the door can swing open and provide a sufficiently wide entrance without hitting or blocking another bathroom appliance. Using a hinged door in too tight a space has lead to showers that are difficult to enter as well as door panels that broke upon crashing into the toilet when pulled open! If a hinged door is not practical, use a frameless sliding door system or a fixed splash guard instead.
• Wet Room: One of today’s bathroom trends involves placing both the shower area and a freestanding tub inside a glass enclosure. This is a good idea only if you have a really big bathroom in which you can create a glass enclosure large enough that the tub won’t be close to a nearby wall or glass panel. Why? Because if the tub is squeezed in there will be a small gap between it and the wall, and this space will be difficult or impossible to dry and clean. Create a similar level of luxury by having a separate glass shower stall put in to accompany a soaker tub outside of it.

 

2. Don’t forget that a glass shower is not an aquarium.

 

While frameless glass enclosures look amazing and help keep water inside the stall, they do not seal up like a fish tank. Certain design goofs elsewhere in the shower area will set you up for leaks.

• The shower curb needs to gently slant toward the shower floor because a flat curb or one that’s inclined toward the bathroom floor will allow water to run into the bathroom.
• Shower heads and body jets must not be aimed toward a gap or seal as doing so will cause leaks, too.
• On most glass shower designs, vinyl seals and wipes are also needed for water containment. Be sure that the appropriate, high-quality vinyl elements are included on your shower door.

An important aspect of avoiding problems in these area is promoting good communication both between you and those working on the project and among the various tradespersons involved in your bathroom build or remodel.

 

3. Don’t be led astray by fads for expensive, hard to replace items.

 

While most of us consider styles and trends when we plan a remodel, it’s important to avoid fads when it comes to elements that are costly or would be difficult to replace. Some items have a certain timelessness such as materials from nature like wood and stone. Clear glass and standard metals are also classics. Keep these points in mind when picking out things like floor and wall tile, shower glass, and bathroom appliances. If you want to try something bold and trendy, items that are comparatively cheaper and easier to replace include:

• Globes on a bathroom light fixture
• The shower door pull or knob. (It can be replaced with another item suitable for the glass thickness and installation hole(s) in your door panel
• Textiles like towels, mats, and curtains
• Accessories and wall hangings
• Wallpaper
  
  

---

 

Do you have questions about the hardware needed for your desired custom glass shower design? Give the pros at Glass Simple a call – (571)707-7760. We are happy to work with homeowners, and we offer site-wide price reductions for B2B accounts!