Installation of shower door

Use a plastic mallet to avoid marring the walls. Hold the jamb against the wall so its screw holes align with the plastic anchors. Lift the door with its attached hinge rail positioned to swing out, and slip the hinge rail into the jamb. Hold the door in place and check its strike-side edge with a level to make sure it's plumb.

If it's not, pull the hinge rail out of the jamb slightly at the top or bottom. If there is no glass side panel, slip the magnetic strike rail onto the remaining side jamb.

Holding the rail and jamb, close the door until it lines up with the base track. Adjust the jamb until it's flush against the wall. Mark the wall alongside the jamb. Remove the jamb from the rail. To install a glass side panel, slip the remaining jamb onto one of the panel's edges and the magnetic strike rail onto the other. Fit the panel into the base track. Butt the jamb against the wall. If a header is being used, measure and cut to length as in Step 2.

Slip it over the top of the hinge jamb and side panel. Replace the magnetic strike rail on the strike jamb or, if used, on the edge of the stationary panel. Adjust it so that the magnetic strips on the door and rail produce a watertight seal along their entire length when the door is closed. Install the door handles that come with the kit. Align the outside door handle with the holes in the doorframe. Attach the interior handle and tighten the setscrews.

Cut the drip rail with a hacksaw to match the width of the door. Round off the ends of the cut with a file. Slide the vinyl sweep back into the groove in the rail. Crimp the ends of the groove closed with pliers to hold the sweep permanently in place. With the vinyl sweep pointing down, hold the drip rail against the inside bottom edge of the door.

Before tightening the screws, tilt the rail down slightly toward the hinge side so that water will drain away from the strike. To make the new shower enclosure totally waterproof, apply a bead of clear, mildew-resistant silicone along both the inside and outside edges of the base track. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from.

By choosing I Accept , you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. How to Install a Shower Door. By Joseph Truini. Pinterest Email Pocket Flipboard.

Click ''enlarge this image'' to view illustration labels. Step 2 Cut the Base Track to Length Photo by David Carmack Measure the length of the shower threshold, then use a hacksaw to cut the aluminum base track to fit tightly between the stall walls. Step 3 Set the Base Track Place the track on the threshold and use a tape measure to make sure that it's centered from front to back.

Step 4 Mark Position of the Hinge-Side Jamb On the side of the shower opening that will support the door, hold a jamb piece against the wall so that its lower end fits into the base track.

Stick a pencil through the jamb's screw holes to mark the wall. Step 6 Hang the Door Lift the door with its attached hinge rail positioned to swing out, and slip the hinge rail into the jamb.

Step 7 Install the Remaining Side Jamb If there is no glass side panel, slip the magnetic strike rail onto the remaining side jamb. Align the jamb with the pencil line and mark screw hole locations. Using the pencil marks as a reference, drill the appropriate holes into the shower fiberglass or tile and then secure the support bar.

Once the top bar is secure, you can mark and drill the appropriate holes for permanently attaching the sliding door guide along the bottom. Add some caulking to the holes before you insert the screws to create a waterproof seal. Secure the door guide. With a secure frame, you can now hang the sliding door. This step will vary depending on the shower door kit you've selected. You may need to install a second wall track on the other side at this point. In some cases, you can simply hang the door on the top support bar.

Some sliding glass doors may not have a wall track on the moving side but rather a water seal that will allow the door to be flush with the shower wall and prevent water from leaking out. In that case, follow the steps provided by the manufacturer. Use clear silicone caulking along all the fixed components of the shower to create a watertight seal.

You should let this dry for roughly 24 hours before using the shower. The method to install shower doors will vary depending on their configuration.

Some pivoting or sliding glass shower doors will require you to install a bottom track rather than a sliding guide, or you may need to screw the wall tracks and top bar together for additional stability.

Follow the manufacturer's directions closely to ensure you're taking the correct steps for your specific shower door. Replacing a shower door is easier than installing a new one, especially if your replacement door is the same size as the old one and you can use the existing frame. If your replacement doors are a different size than the existing ones, you will need to remove the old door jambs and install new ones, similar to the process outlined above. A clear glass door replacement can offer a modern, updated aesthetic from an old frosted-glass look.

See what plans are available in your neighborhood. HomeServe uses cookies to recognize repeat visits and to enhance your experience on our site. By continuing to use this website you agree with our use of cookies. Privacy Policy. Please check back soon. HomeServe Logo Icon. The email field is required. Sign up! Check icon. This May Also Interest You: How to Clean Shower Doors To learn how to install a shower door, all you need is the correct tools and some uninterrupted time to complete the task.

Determine the Door Size You'll want to start by figuring out what size door you need. Protect the Shower Floor Before you begin any actual construction, place a drop cloth over your shower floor.

Position the Wall Track If you have a shower door with a fixed panel and moving panel, always hang the track for the fixed panel first. Drill for Wall Anchors Use a drill with a quarter-inch bit to drill holes for wall anchors.

Insert or Hang the First Door Panel Assuming you have a shower with a fixed door panel and a sliding or pivoting door panel, hang the fixed panel in the wall track you installed. Cut Top Support Bar to Size Your top support bar may come in a longer size than you require, so you'll need to measure and cut it to fit. Level the Support Bar Use a level to ensure your support bar at the top is not crooked. Drill Holes and Secure Using the pencil marks as a reference, drill the appropriate holes into the shower fiberglass or tile and then secure the support bar.

Pre-Drill Holes for the Bottom Sliding Door Guide Once the top bar is secure, you can mark and drill the appropriate holes for permanently attaching the sliding door guide along the bottom. Hang the Sliding Door With a secure frame, you can now hang the sliding door. Seal With Caulking Use clear silicone caulking along all the fixed components of the shower to create a watertight seal.

Be Aware of Variations The method to install shower doors will vary depending on their configuration. What do we use cookies for?