Construction Tips for Glass Shower Enclosures in Owen Sound and Nearby

Wires, plumbing and in-floor heating are all things we need to know about prior to installing mouldings.

If you can, try to use 2x4s or 2x6s where you’re going to mount the glass, especially around the door. Be aware that hollow walls and ceilings will need plugs, which may put additional stress on the adhesives. The stronger your structure is, the less movement will be possible in your framing.

Plumb straight lines are your best friend when it comes to working with glass. However, it’s not the end of the world if your walls are off slightly. Glass can be custom-cut, either off-square or from the template, in order to deal with curved or bellied walls. Be aware that thicker (more visible) moulding or track may be required with curved or bellied walls.

Again, plumb straight lines are always best. Because the glass has to be installed with plumb lines to keep the vertical grout lines straight, you’re going to have to use a straight edge to ensure your surface is even at all times. If even one tile is caught sticking out of the wall, your entire edge will be out that far. We do not recommend grinding the glass or tiles to get the glass to fit properly, as this can be a bit risky.

By sloping the sill inwards a few degrees, you can allow the water to run back into the shower enclosure, rather than allowing it to pool next to the glass or out from under the door.

Watch for overhanging sills if you have any protuberances such as a knee wall, step or bench. We will likely have to fill in the voids with mouldings or notch them to fit the glass. Straight sills are recommended.

Owen Sound Glass Service uses double-acting doors, which means they can open both inwards and outwards for your convenience. When installing the door, we first check for any obstructions that will be in its swing path. These obstructions can include showerheads, cabinets, facilities and other doors. Because a towel bar on the door might damage your wall at full swing, we recommend installing a limiter or a bumper, or possibly relocating the towel bar to a sidelite or nearby wall. If you decide a sidelite is the way to go, be sure to leave plenty of room for cleaning.

Because glass takes time to heat up, you might want to consider buying a steamer that is one size larger than the required one for your shower’s volume. This can help compensate for the coolness of the glass and for any heat loss through the gaps around the door. A steamer fills your shower with a gentle flow of steam. Plastic mouldings are not usually needed unless you have a high-volume fan running outside of your shower.

Don’t aim body jets at your door or you will be unpleasantly surprised by excessive shower leakage.

While this may seem like common sense, if you want us to install a glass enclosure, please be sure we can get the glass into your house. We usually recommend modest-sized pieces instead of larger pieces due to the unique challenges presented by circular stairwells, low ceilings, tight corners and narrow hallways. If your home is under construction, try to consider any future obstacles should you ever need to replace your glass enclosure.

Thorough cleaning is required every once in a while. Your shower enclosure’s interior will need to be cleaned more frequently than the exterior. We recommend using a quality non-abrasive, non-ammonia-based glass cleaner. Be aware that mould and mildew can lurk in small, damp spaces and pay extra attention to all nooks and crannies, including your mouldings, hinges, pivots and any other moving parts. You may want to leave the door open every now and then to allow the circulation of fresh air.

While the mouldings installed with your shower are durable and corrosion-resistant, be aware that their finish is too delicate to use harsh cleaning chemicals, abrasives, scouring pads, sandpaper, etc. Don’t leave cleaning agents to dry on their own – always remove any excess before declaring that you’re done cleaning.

Sometimes major cleaning will be necessary to maintain your glass shower enclosure. The sweep at the bottom of the enclosure’s door may need to be removed and cleaned thoroughly at least twice per year. Sometimes you might even need to replace it altogether, depending upon its condition. If you bring us the old one, we can custom-cut a new one for you. Other items that may need to be replaced over time include the silicone beads and hinge screws, which may also need to be retorqued.

Never use harsh, abrasive cleaners that can scratch or stain your enclosure’s surface, even if you’re trying to clean its grout and tile. An easy rule to remember is that if you have to wear gloves or eye protection when using the cleaning agent, keep it off your glass.