How much does it cost to have a frameless shower door installed?
Frameless enclosures are quoted per bathroom because every one is measured to the opening. The drivers are panel size, glass thickness, hardware finish and how far out of square the walls are, which is why the same door costs different amounts in two different bathrooms. We template the opening and quote in writing before anything is ordered.
What are the disadvantages of frameless shower doors?
They cost more, they take longer because the glass is made to order, and they are less forgiving of an out-of-square opening since there is no frame to hide the gap. They also need thicker glass, usually three eighths or half inch, which is heavier and needs solid blocking behind the tile for the hinges. In exchange you get no metal track to corrode and far less to clean.
Can you replace just the glass in a shower, not the whole enclosure?
Often yes, if the hardware is sound and still made. Swapping a cracked panel while keeping the hinges, header and clamps is the cheaper path. Where it fails is discontinued hardware, because a new panel has to match the old hole pattern exactly, and shower glass is tempered so it cannot be drilled after the fact.
Can a shower enclosure be replaced without redoing the tile?
Yes, in most cases. A new enclosure is measured to the tile you already have, so nothing is torn out. The exception is when the old hardware was through-fixed and the new layout needs anchors in different places, which leaves holes to be filled. We check the fixing positions when we template so you know before we order.
How thick should shower glass be?
Frameless enclosures use three eighths or half inch tempered glass, because the panels carry their own weight and the hinge loads. Framed enclosures can run thinner, often a quarter inch, since the frame does the work. All of it must be tempered, which is code for glazing in and around a bath or shower.
How long does a shower enclosure installation take?
The install itself is usually a day. The wait is in fabrication: the glass is templated, cut, tempered and polished to your opening, which typically takes one to two weeks from the measure. Nothing is ordered until you have approved the written quote.
Can a large mirror be installed over a vanity or in a gym?
Yes, and oversized is where a glazier matters. We measure, cut, finish the edge, and fix it to the wall with the right anchors for the substrate, which is the part that goes wrong when a heavy mirror goes up on drywall plugs. Wall lights and outlets need holes cut before the mirror is tempered, so tell us at the measure.
