Sounds like you need to find another glass guy. I know nothing about glass, but it does sound a bit like you are trying to tell him how to do his job. I'd imagine there's quite a bit of liability involved, and I can't blame him for not wanting to follow a layperson's advice.

"- The design has always specified 1/2 in. top-to-bottom glass panels anchored at top-and-bottom since"

"Background: 1) We arrived at our design and specs based upon discussions in this forum, on HOUZZ itself, and based upon various glass enclosure advice webpages. "

But you never confirmed the design with anyone in the business before proceeding? I'm confused how you got to this endpoint before finding out the design could not be implemented.

Not sure where you got that. Our GC has stated the design was previously confirmed, including how far from the edge a 'U' channel being grooved into the CaesarStone would need to be. And, that is why it was so shocking to me. Do you think the enclosure guy got cold feet (perhaps over the liability)?

I got it from:

"Background: 1) We arrived at our design and specs based upon discussions in this forum, on HOUZZ itself, and based upon various glass enclosure advice webpages. "

So then, if you actually have a GC running the show, it is his problem if the agreed upon design can not actually be implemented (assuming there is not a designer or architect involved). All that should have been hammered out before the job started. Was it soley your design or was he actively involved in the design? Often they design things themselves. This must be the GC's glass guy. Whatever his issues are, and they could be valid, they need to be understood, and decisions made on what needs to change or happen next. Don't rely solely on your GC for this information/confirmation. Possibly another glass company is needed if the one in question does not have valid concerns.

np. I'd run out of characters allowed in the post so I edited, I guess, too much.

GC asked that we identify our specs and general design upfront for the shower enclosure (as well as other items as) part of getting to signing the contract. That's when we "hit the books," of forums and advice webpages. So far, his stone fabricator, cabinet maker, et alia all liked our designs, and found our specs "helpful." GC's even said we've made his job easy with them.

Have there been changes? Yes, of course. And so, I was expecting to be told of some in this meeting. But as the items mounted (e.g., #2, #3, #4) i suspected something else is going on that I was watching as a spectator.

Sounds to me like you've generated an elegant and well-thought out solution based on functionality/features/design that has been implemented in some similar form before (using photos, forum wisdom, etc. as a guide). Guessing you can search around this site and find photos that are very similar, and have likely done so already. Sure doesn't look like anything crazy or dangerous or engineering-nightmarish. As you state, your GC was on-board with all of it and did not propose objection. Speak to him about getting a less-rigid/more enlightened/more skilled (some combination thereto) glass firm that can implement your plan. Sounds a lot like "we only do it this way" (because they have never adapted/learned other methods). Inform your GC that you need a glass firm that can get it done (at least to a very close degree without all the objection/compromise). The notion that you are telling the glass guy how to do his job is completely unfounded.

Be thankful to him for rejecting a job he is not comfortable with, where he knows his limitations. So many don't.... That's when the real problems surface.

True dat! Follow up on his concerns outside of your GC! The glass guy may know more!

Every job I do has my name on it. If I don't like your or your architect's idea and you won't change, I walk. No hard feelings, but I have virtually no callbacks. Ever.

Wow 1655graff! I can totally understand how it would be shocking to walk into a meeting thinking it was a final measurement and install meeting and then have it go a quite different way! Did your GC know in advance of the meeting that the glazier had some serious issues with the plan? She or he should have told you if that was the case, if nothing else, just to prepare you for the shock.

I think all the posts thus far have some good points in them. Joe, of course, is a "pro," and I think his point is valid. Your glass guy (whomever it turns out to be) is signing her or his name to the project. And I agree with snookums comment that it's far, far better for a contractor to walk away when she or he isn't comfortable with the plan than to forge ahead with something that may be "on the job learning," causing you more pain in the future. benjesbride also has a valid point: her dad found flaws even in architects' plans; would you entertain the notion that perhaps there are safety/structural issues that you may not fully understand, even given that it appears you did quite a lot of research?

Did the glazier propose any type of alternate plan that you would be willing to consider? Is your plan the only one you're willing to go with at this point, as the remodel has already been underway? (By the way, from what I could see in the picture, it looks like you will have a beautiful bathroom!)

I applaud your forethought in considering a door that will accommodate a walker. I have a mobility disability, and the walk in shower I will need to install in the master bath will need to be able to get my shower chair in, or ideally, I'll have a bench put in. Did the glazier understand that you need to make the shower ADA compliant?

It sounds to me like there was a disconnect between the GC and the glass guy somewhere along the line. This is concerning. What is your GC proposing you do? Is he or she willing to find another glazier? And have you thought ahead about what you might be willing to do if another glazier has the same concerns?

If it were me, after I recovered from the shock, I would want to talk with two or three other glass workers and see what they have to say. I'd try to talk with at least one in person. There must be internet sites where you can post your problem and a licensed glazier will answer; you may have already run across such a site during your research. If other experts voice the same concerns, I'd listen. The last thing you want is for you or a loved one to be in the shower and have a wall of glass fall on you or them. You stated you live in earthquake country; presumably, so does the glazier. And if U channels have been abandoned in favor of anchor clips, there must be a reason. I'm sorry I'm unable to answer that question.

I'd love to see a picture of the bathroom when it's all done! The waterfall vanity sounds lovely! I hope you do a REVEAL. I hope at least some of this is helpful. Have a great Thursday! :-)

If the design was of primary importance, the time to bring the glazer in was during the design process. If the supporting structure behind the walls wasn't planned correctly, glass isn't going to happen, period. The #1 question would be if there was correct blocking behind the wall.

There isn't any contractor that will guarantee that drilling into glass tiles won't chip or crack them. That is the nature of glass tiles. Unless a lot of extra tiles were ordered, and you get charged double the already 4K design for the added risk, you're going to have to assume that risk yourself.

"There isn't any contractor that will guarantee that drilling into glass tiles won't chip or crack them. That is the nature of glass tiles. Unless a lot of extra tiles were ordered, and you get charged double the already 4K design for the added risk, you're going to have to assume that risk yourself."

These companies charge us $4000 extra just in case they have to replace a few damaged tiles? No wonder some of them don't want to disclose line item details of charges.

As an experienced glass tile installer we NEVER let the glaziers drill the holes. We have special bits 99 44/100% of glaziers don't use.

The GC said no problem with the design you came up with so put it back in the GC's hands. Make him come up with a glass shop to do the job the way he agreed to do it. Channels or Glass clips are a matter of preference, not right or wrong. Generally with clips they are mounted top, bottom and sides. Channel I believe to be the same.

UPDATE: Thanks for your inputs. We did put it back in the lap of the GC. And, we've held a sidebar conversation with another glazier who confirmed / reiterated many points expressed herein.

He and the GC's 2nd glazier were forthright: They prefer clips because it is faster/easier (and so cheaper for him and us, purportedly). That's the only reason. And, the GC's 2nd gave us a good rationale for the layout on where he will put the clips. So we are going with clips after all.

I don't want to go into all the details, but here's a few as FYI given received comments:

- He can either go "top and bottom" only (2 clips each for glass 8" wide or wider) or "top and bottom (1 clip each) and side (2 clips)" . He said top and bottom 2-clip is sufficient, but less than at 8" or less people think it looks funky. We are going with the panel next to the glass wall being the same width as the floor tile (11-7/8") and all panels secured at top-and-bottom.

- When he uses side clips, he drills through the grout-line to reduce any damage now/future to the glass. He has a 1-year warranty only, but if he used side clips it going through the glass grout-line, it would still be in effect. REMINDER: The other guy's life-time warranty excluded all work done on/through glass tile walls.

- Given our floor opening (44.5" wide), getting a 30" door is not possible but a 28.5" to 29" one might be possible. I think we ended up with the door itself 1/8" shy of 29".

Finally, we learned the GC likes the work of the 1st glazier, but they cannot give him as much work as they'd like because of what we ran into.

And, as requested, I will post the final install once it is done.

We just remodeled 3 bathrooms and you sometimes have to read between the lines with the trades people! Was going through the design and measurements for last bathroom with the glass guy and he says "the shower door can't be more than 28 inches". I'm looking at the opening and thinking that is way too small for this application, so I questioned him further. Glass guy then says "oh, if I use the more expensive clips we can go to 36 inches". We ended up at 34" which worked great.

I have no idea why he would think I didn't have the budget to spend $20 more on each heavy duty clip! This was the third shower enclosure he has done for our GC at our house and budget has never been the main focus. Design and function have been the main focus. Glad I didn't take his first statement as the only way that it could be done!

1655graff, good luck with the rest of the project!