SUPPLIES
- Measuring tape
- Wood shims
- Dry erase marker
- Masonry drill bit (same size as screws included with door hardware)
- Electric drill and bit
Overview
Glass shower or bathtub doors are a beautiful addition to a modern bathroom. They add a sense of space and air, allowing light to spread throughout the room. The sparkle and light of the glass will mark a definite increase in the value of your home. Glass doors are heavy and need exact measurements for a proper fit. With a few instructions and attention to detail, you can install frameless glass bathtub doors by yourself.
Step 1
Measure the opening. This means measure the top of the opening, the middle of the opening and the bottom as close as 1/4 of an inch. You need to know if the door is square. Measure how high you want the door to be. Use a level to make sure the walls are straight up and down. All of these measurements must be taken after all the tile work is done for the enclosure. If there are any variances, write them down so your doors can be cut to match.
Step 2
Determine the kind of door you will need. Wider openings might require a fixed glass panel with a swinging door, while smaller enclosures might require just one swinging door. There are charts for the width of the glass, the number of hinges and the maximum width of the doors. See the resources section.
Step 3
Set the door in the opening and hold it in place. It is wise to use two people for this procedure. Shim the door up from the sill about 1/4 of an inch, making sure it is level. Place more shims along the side so that there is a 1/4-inch gap evenly on both sides (5/8-inch gap if you are using seals). The door should be centered in the wall opening. Each door will be slightly different depending on the configuration you chose, but you should receive exact instructions with your doors.
Step 4
Set the hinges in place on the glass door. There should be a cutout area where the hinge will sit. Apply the gasket and screw it in place according to the instructions. Mark the place on the wall where the hinges need to sit with the dry erase marker. Close the hinges so you have room to drill holes in the wall.
Step 5
Drill holes carefully into your wall studs through the tile. Work slowly and gently, allowing the bit to score the tile and sand its way through without cracking and chipping the tile.
Step 6
Screw the hinges into the wall starting with the outside top and then the outside bottom. Finish the rest of the screws and tighten securely.
Resources
