Northern Utah Glass

formerly Andrew's Glass

(801) 528-2800

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How Do You Adjust Shower Doors?

Shower doors can transform the look of a bathroom and are effective for ensuring water can’t leak onto your floor; however, they may need adjusting after a time. If your shower doors need a little help with staying on track, without the added stress and cost of replacing them, scroll down and read on DIY shower door adjustment.

Adjusting Shower Doors

There are typically three types of shower doors, sliding doors, hinged doors, and frameless doors. Here are the steps for adjusting each of these types.

Sliding Shower Doors

If you have a sliding door, good news! These types of doors are the simplest to repair and adjust since they run on a door along a track. These doors can start sticking or not glide as smoothly as before, so fixed them immediately can save issues in the long run. 

Here are the eight steps to adjusting sliding shower doors.

1. First, check to see if the roller on the track is a problem or if it’s more complex. If it’s just the roller that slipped off the track, just lift the sliding door and put it back.

2. Before starting, place a drop cloth down to protect your shower from scratches. Now, unscrew the guide rail from the bottom of the shower track..

3. Lift the sliding door out of the track and tilt the door in or out to remove it. Now, remove both doors so you can observe any problems.

4. Clean both the top and bottom tracks to remove any grime, soap scum, or rust in small areas.

5. Locate the rollers in the track that are positioned on a slanted opening and adjust them. Raise or lower the door by moving the roller up or down in its slanted cutout.

6. Loosen the screw and move the roller to the desired location, making sure any other rollers are in the same locked position to keep doors even.

7. When the roller has been adjusted and tightened, it’s time to replace the doors and screw the bottom guide rail back in place.

8. Now test the doors to ensure they slide smoothly.

Ensure your rollers are the same type all across the guide rail. They are either round edge or flat edge. Inspect each one to ensure they’re the same type and that the roller is not cracked or showing any signs of defect. 

Hinged Shower Doors

Hinged doors are commonly glass doors with a framing system around them and. They’re hinged to the wall or another framed section. Again, these doors are reasonably easy to fix when becoming stiff. Before trying to adjust them, inspect them to see if the shower doors are rigid or other issues such as damage that may require a door replacement. If it’s been gradually sticking more, then using something to help it glide smoothly may be all that’s needed.

Here are the Steps to Adjust Hinged Shower Doors.

1. Tighten the hinges attached to the wall.

2. Loosen and remove the hinge screws and the shower door.

3. First, clean the screws with white vinegar.

4. Spray the hinges with WD-40 to help loosen them up.

5. Finally, replace the shower door and tighten the newly cleaned crews.

Lift or lower your hinged shower door by moving the rollers in the top, to allow the door to swing higher into the opening To lower the door, do the following:

1. Move the hinge down so you can adjust the door to the right height.

2. Ensure you clean up any adhesive or caulk when moving the hinges.

3. Once you move the hinge, apply a fresh coat of the sealer if you want.

4. Let the adhesive or caulk dry before using your shower or allowing any moisture to penetrate the hinges.

Avoid taking a shower or using your handheld shower head until completely dry. 

Frameless Shower Doors

Frameless showers and shower doors are thicker than framed doors, therefore, resulting in sturdier glass. Most of the pre-made frameless doors can be adjusted by about ½ inch. If your shower door is having issues with fitting in the track, you can adjust it rather than trimming it down. 

Two issues are associated with frameless shower doors: a shower door doesn’t match up with your shower head correctly and ill-fitting shower doors, due to wear and tear. For the former, it’s as simple as replacing the shower head. In the latter, you just need to fix the door by tightening or replacing the clamps.  

Here’s how to adjust the loose clamps on your frameless doors.

1. Open the door partway and prop it on a wedge. Level it where it should be.

2. Loosen the top and bottom clamps, so they go back to their original upright positions.

3. Remove the clamp and apply some Loctite Heavy Duty Threadlocker onto it; this keeps the clamps from stripping and helps preserve them.

4. Replace the clamps and tighten the screws in it, ensuring you clean up any excess Locktite.

5. When the Locktite dries, remove the wedge holding the door up and test the door to ensure it holds.

 

Need to Replace Glass Shower Doors?

If you’re ready to replace or upgrade your shower doors, contact Northern Utah Glass. We offer beautifully-crafted glass that’s topnotch quality, so contact us for a free quote or schedule a free in-home estimate.

 

When installing a frameless shower door, you may need a header, which is metal support at the top of the shower that attaches to a wall and keeps the shower stabilized. A support header, therefore, takes off some of the tension to prevent the weakening of the glass-to-glass connection over time. 

Let’s discuss more in-depth about frameless shower doors and the need for a header.

 

What is a Frameless Shower Door?

A frameless shower door is just what it sounds like—a shower door that has no bulky frame. It is the most popular, but the most expensive shower door. A header is built from frame-free glass, but also includes a metal header across the top of the enclosure. It creates a clean and seamless look for a modern-style bathroom. 

 

There are many custom styles available, with less metal to corrode, easier to maintain and offers many glass options. However, with a frameless shower door, it still needs a support bar, if the shower isn’t attached to the wall. This could result in a complicated installation process that can be more costly.

 

When and Why a Header is Required

There are several reasons why a header is needed for a frameless shower door. A header might be required if there’s no wall to hinge a door from, and is used when a fixed glass panel is hinged to an adjoining glass door, thereby carrying the weight of the shower door. 

 

It could be a matter of structural integrity and safety—if you hinge a door from a stationary panel, it mustn’t exceed the maximum width allowed. Each time a glass shower door is pulled open, it pulls on the attached glass panel, so a header protects the shower and you and your family from glass shattering.  It also protects from water leakage. However, a door can often be hinged from a stationary panel of glass to eliminate a header. Headers aren’t necessary if the glass door attaches to the wall.

 

Other Options

To ensure your frameless shower is attractive and doesn’t look like a framed one, contractors can design the shower with a support bar, which is lighter top support that reinforces the fixed glass panel. The requirements of the supports are determined by measurements, weight, and thickness of the glass, as well as the weight and strength of hinges and clamps. These minor alterations to the design could eliminate the need for a full shower header.

 

Types of Shower Door Headers

The types of shower door headers vary from traditional headers to stabilizer bars and u-channels for steam units. 

 

Header Bar 

A standard header for frameless units is designed so that the flat or round profile can be visible from the outside. If it’s deemed you need a header for your frameless glass shower, each side of the shower needs to have a header bar for a two-sided Neo Angle. If you have a three-sided Neo Angle, it needs three bars. A corner bracket is required for each corner of the header. 

 

Glass-to-Ceiling Stabilizer Bar

This can be a great option for customers who don’t like the traditional header bar that goes along the whole perimeter of the top of their glass. It’s also helpful when hinging off a glass panel since you typically can’t hinge off a stationary panel that is wider than 22”. With this system, you can hinge off a stationary piece of glass up to 48” wide.

 

Glass-to-Wall Stabilizer Bar

This system is preferred over the glass-to-ceiling version since it’s less intrusive as far as it almost hides behind the glass. With this option, you can run the bar to the ceiling or an adjacent tiled wall.

 

Glass Vs. Metal Headers

You can install a metal or glass shower header; however, a glass header requires clamps on either side, plus a hinge for the door, whereas a metal header doesn’t. A metal header is a thin strip that goes up and along the top of the shower, but the thickness depends on your preference. It’s stronger than a glass shower header, so keep that in mind when deciding which type you want to install.

 

Need help? Contact Northern Utah Glass

If you’re looking for a customized frameless shower that provides for an all-glass design that minimizes the look of a frame with a header, give Northern Utah Glass a call. To get a free quote and schedule a FREE in-home consultation and estimate, please reach out to us today.