Although your shower sees a lot of foot traffic, it is one area homeowners tend to overlook when renovating or maintaining their space. However, installing a shower door replacement like frameless shower doors can make a massive difference.
Don’t believe us? Think back to the last home renovation show you watched on HGTV. How often did the designer suggest updating the bathroom? Nearly every time. Even real estate experts agree.
Trulia suggests focusing on two buyer hot spots, the kitchen and master bath, if you plan to sell your home. These rooms either “make it or break it.” A luxurious master bath with updated features, like frameless shower doors, dual vanities, and free-standing tubs, will convince buyers your home is worth the higher price tag.
Even if you aren’t planning to list your home anytime soon, renovating your shower and bathroom can give your home the refresh it needs. But, other times, replacing your glass shower door can be more of a “need” than a “want.”
Unfortunately, many homeowners don’t realize that their glass shower door requires regular maintenance.
For example, if you typically forget to dry off the water and steam that accumulates on your shower door, it can lead to corrosion and rust. Even if you do all you can to keep your shower in top-notch condition, eventually, you will need a replacement.
At Sawyer Glass, our glass specialists offer one-on-one guidance to certain components of bathroom remodels, including bathroom shower door replacements.
To do our finest work, we use a case-by-case analysis to determine what’s wrong before completing your replacement. However, there are signs that every homeowner should look out for that signify it is time for a glass shower door replacement.
Five signs you need a shower door replacement:
- Damage: Any signs of glass splitting, chipping, or other flaws. Glass shower doors are highly durable, but if you notice any signs of fragility, your door is now a safety hazard. If you see any damage or physical flaws, we recommend replacing your door as soon as possible.
- Loss of Seal & Water Leaks: After you shower, are you noticing leaks and puddles on the floor? Standing water not only creates a slipping hazard, but it can also cause damage to your floors over time. If you notice this, it means your seals and gaskets are worn down and can’t perform as they should. You can replace your entire shower door or install a new shower door seal replacement instead. Discuss with a specialist which item would best suit your needs.
- Difficulty Opening or Shutting Your Door: When glass doors stick, makes noise when closing, or don’t close all the way, it is time for a new door. These issues are a sign that the framing and tract on your glass door no longer work because of wear-and-tear. If you choose to leave your door as it, you will be at risk of breaking or cracking your shower door.
- Rusted Frame: While most shower door manufacturers will paint or treat the frame, no preventative measures can guarantee that your door will last forever without corrosion. If your metal fitting starts to show signs of wear like rust, it is time to get a new frameless glass shower door installed.
- Signs of Mold: If you notice black or dark green stains on your door in other places of your shower, you may have mold in one form or another. While cleaning the mold out of your shower should be your priority, it will likely return. A better long-term solution would be to replace your shower door and rebuild the shower with better ventilation.
- Can’t Clean the Shower Door: Hard water deposits might not be dangerous like mold, but they can be a nuisance. If you want to improve the overall aesthetics of your shower, consider installing a new frameless shower door. There are many modern shower design options to choose from that can yield incredible results.
If you notice any of these problems in your shower, contact Sawyer Glass to discuss replacing your current door with a frameless shower door or installing a shower door seal replacement. Together, we can determine which option will benefit you the most.
Why You Should Replace with A Frameless Shower Door
The visual aesthetic of frameless glass shower doors makes it the top choice among homeowners. The design seamlessly integrates well with any home style or bathroom decor.
In addition to the visual impact of these glass shower doors, there are many benefits to installing frameless shower doors over other door options.
- Frameless shower doors are easy to clean.
- No frame so that it won’t corrode or rust.
- Frameless shower doors feature a modern, contemporary look that looks more spacious because it lets light in without any bulky hardware blocking its path.
- Since there is no metal hardware, you won’t need to worry about mold growing on the door, but you should continue to clean the surface to keep the glass’s integrity.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace with A Frameless Shower Door?
Frameless shower doors typically cost more than other shower door solutions like framed shower doors. The exact price difference will vary depending on the style of door you choose. Despite the higher cost, many homeowners prefer frameless shower doors because of their other long list of benefits.
Not only is it more visually appealing, but unlike framed shower doors that employ a heavy-duty metal frame, a frameless glass shower door uses a single panel of tempered glass without any metal support. This design creates a seamless look that is far superior to framed glass shower doors.
The structure of old-fashioned shower doors like framed shower doors also use several other components in their design and function, including:
- Gaskets and seals
- Framing made from metal or other materials
- Glass
- Handles
The seals between the glass and the framing, the framing itself, and handles will deteriorate over time, no matter how clean or dry you leave your shower. The repeated exposure to moisture and heat will corrode and damage these components.
Worn-down components can cause your shower to leak or, even worse, cause the glass to loosen from its fitting. Eventually, you will have no choice but to replace these items or renovate your shower completely.
In addition to these problems, keeping all the tiny crevices in your shower clean and dry can be practically impossible. Harsh chemicals can erode seals, and any moisture trapped within your shower will increase your risk of mold growth.
When it comes to building a new bathroom, frameless glass shower doors are the optimal choice, no matter the cost. By eliminating these components, you diminish these risks entirely and have a beautiful frameless shower door instead.
They provide a clean, modern look that many homeowners prefer and would choose again if they had the choice.
Can You Replace a Framed Shower Door with A Frameless Shower Door?
Yes, you can replace your framed shower door and install a frameless shower door in its place. However, you will need to work with a glass specialist to determine the correct size of glass you will need to fill the space. We will also create a plan that fills the leftover gaps, holes, and trim.
How to Replace Your Shower Door
A few of the steps that your glass specialist will take when replacing your shower door include:
Gather Measurements
When installing a glass shower door replacement, we will measure the space to outfit it with the correctly sized glass. Along with measuring your shower area, our team will remove all unnecessary components and cover the holes they leave, so there is no trace of a framed shower door once the installation is complete.
Replace the Drip Rail
If you have are replacing your shower door with a frameless option, we will remove the old drip rail and replace it with a new one. This railing usually sits on top of the frame that surrounds the glass shower door’s edges.
It adds extra protection to the inside of the door, so that shower splashes strike the drip rail and fall back into the shower rather than spilling out or flowing under the edge of the door. We will attach a drip rail that attaches to the bottom edge of the glass.
Remove Hinges
Removing a framed-in glass shower door is the same as removing a wooden door from a hallway or any doorway. Our team will unscrew the door from its hinges. Then we will raise the glass up and out of the way to avoid damaging the glass.
Once the door is gone, we will remove the rest of the frame to make way for a frameless shower door enclosure.
Replace Track
Glass panels for framed showers sit inside a track, or frame, that typically use paint, wallpaper, tile, or other finish materials in that it is often custom made for a project.
Removing the trim from an existing glass panel without destroying the space around it is challenging. This process is difficult, so we recommend leaving it to our specialists who have access to glass-working equipment.
Our team will need to remove this track and replace the footing of the shower so that it seamlessly blends into the rest of your flooring.
Seal with Caulking
Unless your shower door is fully frameless, there will be a few joints between the wall and the bottom pan of your shower that you will need to caulk.
Caulking keeps water out where the tile meets but the movement caused by removing and reinstalling a new door might cause cracks in the caulking.
The optimum type for these locations is clear silicone caulking, which has adhesive characteristics to keep the mold away.
Most of the caulking will go in the shower pan area, where the pan and the wall meet. If the tiles were cut unevenly during installation, spaces between them will also require you to fill them with the adhesive.
Glass Shower Door Replacement Services at Sawyer Glass
Sawyer Glass is Salt Lake City’s leading provider of residential and commercial glass. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship, fast service, and your complete satisfaction will ensure that you have the ideal glass shower door for your bathroom.
Our skilled team has the knowledge and experience to give you first-rate service at all times. Whether you need a custom shower door enclosure, frameless shower door, mirror, glass furniture tops, cabinet glass, energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows, commercial glass, or pet doors, count on us.
We commit to providing five-star experiences and top-of-the-line products. No matter what service you are interested in, trust Sawyer Glass with all your frameless shower door and other glass needs.