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Shower Door

7 years ago

We are getting new shower doors soon, and I wanted a hinged/ pivot door. I have gotten 2 est, and will get one more. Both times, the company employees doing the estimate said that there would be some leakage, (one indicated more leakage than the other). One company estimater would not recommend a hinged door. He recommended semi frameless bypass doors (which I hate), but said that they would put in whatever I wanted. He has done this for 8 yrs. He said our shower is not deep enough (is 24 inch deep), or long enough (45 3/4 length) to avoid leakage around the door and at the bottom, even with the seals and sweep. He said that he has had to go back to some houses time and time again to fix leaks, and he has eliminated most of them, but not all of them. What I want to know before I decide what to install is, does anyone have a frameless pivot door (roughly my size) that does or doesn't leak, if so, why do you think that this is the case, and if so, would you put in the same thing again. We are spending a decent amt of $ on this, and I want to make sure that I don't regret it later. Thanks so much everyone!

Featured Answer

Debbie B.

7 years ago

Hi K Sissy,

I don't have a definitive answer to your question, but if experienced professionals from three different companies are telling you the same thing, I'd tend to listen to them. Don't let having your heart set on this one thing cloud your judgement. If you find a person on the Internet who says it won't be a problem, don't you think you should take the advice of people who are physically standing in your bathroom? I'm not a pro, but this is what I would say to my best friend. I know you'll find a beautiful alternative! :-)

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Comments (7)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
7 years ago
Any shower door that leaks substantially has poor detailing.
K Sissy thanked Joseph Corlett, LLC
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Oaktown
7 years ago
Wow, your shower is 24"x45"? I have been in a shower 30"x30" with a framed hinged door that didn't leak. But I don't think I've ever seen a 24" shower with a door on it. Good luck!
K Sissy thanked Oaktown
debbie1000
7 years ago
We had one of our baths remodeled last year with about the same dimensions, 28 X 46. We have a frameless door, I think it is like you described, works like a "regular" door. Our prior shower head aimed toward the door but it was a 25 year old framed door. We now have a rainshower that although not attached to the ceiling, aims straight down, rather than at an angle.

We also have a sweep at the bottom that seems to help a lot.

We do get a small amount of water that leaks from both sides but I wipe down the entire shower after I use it every time so it's no big deal to wipe down the small amount that leaks.
K Sissy thanked debbie1000
User
7 years ago
A 24" shower isn't a legal shower. You need to be able to fit a 30" circle at the fixture. That takes a minimum of 32"x32". With something so far below code small, it really needs to be a wetroom, with the whole bathroom space waterproofed and no door or curtain at all.
K Sissy thanked User
K Sissy
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi Everybody,

I'm sorry, I made a mistake. My shower is 28 inches deep inside of the frame, and 45 3/4 long. So my shower meets code, I think! I appreciate your help so much and welcome any additional comments/advice. Joe C, what do you mean by detailing, and how do I distinguish between good and bad detailing when I am looking at shower doors,and interviewing company reps for the shower door purchase and install?
PRO
Cabot & Rowe
7 years ago
1- Neat and crisp caulking using

2- Only clear 100% silicone

3- NO penetrations into horizontal surfaces which breach the shower waterproofing

4- Vertical penetrations have the dust removed before squirting in some silicone before driving the screws.
K Sissy thanked Cabot & Rowe

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