Glass shower doors and enclosures are made primarily of glass along with key metal components. Some configurations also have vinyl seals and wipes to assist with water containment. We’ll look at how different doors and enclosures block water, whether seals prevent leaks, and how to best manage water containment for your shower.

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What a Vinyl Seal Does and Does Not Do

 

Vinyl is typically used on the bottom and along the side of swinging and sliding door panels. For instance, a sweep such as this one is installed on a door’s lower edge. These pieces of vinyl DO assist with keeping water inside the stall by filling gaps while still allowing the door to function smoothly. However, they do NOT turn a glass shower into an aquarium. If a spray or jet of water is aimed at a seal, expect some water to escape. In fact, for vinyl sweeps and wipes to do their jobs, other conditions must be met as well, and we’ll look at these next.

 

The Importance of Curb Slope

 

If your hinged or sliding door is being installed on a shower curb, the slope of the curb is a key factor in water containment. If a curb is flat or angled toward the bathroom floor, leaks can occur even with a sweep in place. Instead, the curb needs to be slightly slanted toward the floor of the shower stall. This slope will help the sweep do its job, causing water to flow back into the enclosure instead of out onto your bathroom floor. One of the best ways to ensure proper curb slope is by facilitating communication between the tradespersons doing the curb construction and those doing the glass shower installation.

 

Shower Floor Slope and Drainage Issues

 

Turning to the shower floor, this also needs to be gently sloped toward the drain. If it is level, the shower will not drain well. If it is sloped in other directions, you will be left with stagnant pools of water after each shower. Moreover, while many showers have a curb, sometimes homeowners opt for a curbless shower. Reasons include:

• Removal of a possible trip hazard
• Making the shower wheelchair accessible
• Aesthetic preference for continuity between the shower area and the rest of the space

 

In the case of a curbless enclosure, proper floor slope and drain placement are crucial for keeping water inside the enclosure.

 

Placement/Use of Shower Head, Handheld, and Body Jets

 

As alluded to earlier, a frameless shower does not seal up a like fishbowl; steps need to be taken to help keep water inside the stall. A shower head or body jets should never be installed where they will spray water directly at a gap or seam in the enclosure. Likewise, when positioning the shower head for your shower or using the handheld sprayer, be sure to avoid aiming it at these vulnerable areas.

 

Upkeep of the Vinyl Components

 

Finally, it should be noted that vinyl can deteriorate with time and use. If your shower door has suddenly started leaking, check the conditions of your sweeps and wipes. Should you find these to be broken or cracked, you may be able to solve the problem by simply replacing the damaged components.

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Do you have questions about the right vinyl seals for your enclosure? Queries about glass shower hardware? Please give the friendly and helpful Glass Simple team a call at (571)707-7760!