Thanks folks- We got the fixed panel installed today, and it looks great. Man it was stressful though!!! I think I drove poor DH crazy with having to stop every few minutes to carefully think through the next step, and arrange wood/towels/bubblewrap on every hard surface in sight! But its in, plumb and square and looks great. UNFORTUNATELY........ the fabricator seems to have sent the wrong hinges for the door. They seem to be the self-closing 90-degree type, and we needed the adjustable ones for the angled door. Of course they are closed until Tuesday, argh!! (This after they also forgot the setting blocks -which I luckily was able to find at a glass store that was open on Saturdays- so I am not sure I will recommend them. We'll see how they handle the hinge thing. Maybe we are just not seeing how they'd adjust, but I dont think so...) Anyway, I should have been showering in my new shower tonight, but looks like I will have to wait another week! On the plus side- we did not upgrade to Starfire glass (it wasn't offered and I did not think to ask) and after reading about it on GW here, I was worried about the green glass color, but it turns out it looks really, really great with the other palette in the room :) Tomorrow: vanity install! lennym: let me see how this company handles the hinge issue and then I'll post about them. They were the cheapest online vendor I found; maybe in this case you get what you pay for? They've been responsive and helpful thus far, though, and I know they are in the process of moving their showroom this weekend, so it may be a one-time honest mistake...

For a 4 foot opening, you should do a french door set up...two equal width doors on two hinges each. Say "no" to the channels. The less of this stuff, the better. Do not worry about leakage. French doors is the ultimate, you get two swinging doors allowing the ultimate in flexibility and ease of cleaning...swing each door out to clean, no more climbing around inside your shower to clean. I have 2 showers in my home with french doors and have no threshold gaskets or door gaskets, and the most leakage I have is equivalent to the amount a wet foot creates when you step out of the shower. No big deal, just leave a towel on the floor if that bothers you. This will pay back big time by eliminating channels and the silicone caulk. Super clean and fresh set up. I minimized my openings between both french doors and the walls to about 1/8".

I have silicone and clips. The silicone is pretty much invisible. I guess the installers were careful. If you want to go frameless, why would you want a metal channel when you could have clear silicone? Find another installer.

When did the fellow measure this job? The measuring should take place after the tile is installed. Most times you see plus or minus maybe 3/16". Depends on size and thickness of glass. Clear shims take the weight until the silicone sets up. Removing them will not make any change in appearance than slicing them. With 3/4" gaps I would be telling the boys to take it back and try try again. Who's glass guy? Yours or the builder? I've used the same guy for 14 years. I have sent back one piece in all that time. I have one client who dislike my guy and other than that a perfect record. These glazers should be using levels and plumb lines to do the job right. To be perfect the fix panes should go in first and then doors measured.