This is a perfect example and compelled me to remind all of our current and potential customers to do your research and be smart consumers! This customer called us to come out and take a look at his shower. Over the phone he stated that the panel that the door was hooked to was pulling away from the wall and that he had to prop up the door to keep both from falling off. Custom shower enclosures are tempered heavy plate glass and can be as thick as 1″. These customers “Jack & Jill” purchased this condo in Tahoe with this enclosure already installed, so I will not shake my finger at them for being poor consumers. Jack & Jill did the right thing and called us as soon as they had a problem. Here is what we found and what we did to replace and install properly.

  1.  This shower enclosure had a fixed panel that was 1/2″ and a door panel that was 3/8″. ???
  2. The fixed panel is shown in the photo below with red highlight. When this panel was installed a channel was used (you can just see the black line running down the wall on the left) that was manufactured for 3/8″ glass. The channel was spread open to make wider for 1/2″ and  filled with silicone then the fixed panel was forced into the channel.
  3. The door was hinged off of the fixed panel.

I have highlighted the extremely neglegent area of the original installation.

 

Here is the shower enclosure after our repair and the steps that we took to anchor properly and insure our customers safety. You can see from the photo that the new shower enclosure is configured differently.

  1.  A new fixed panel was ordered in 3/8″ glass (the same as the existing door panel) with cut outs and two glass to wall clamps.
  2. Two additional glass to wall hinges in the same oil rubbed bronze were ordered for the existing door so that all of the hardware matched.
  3. We removed the existing shower enclosure and all of the hardware.
  4. The 3/8″ fixed panel was installed on the right hand side of the enclosure and two glass to wall clamps were installed to properly anchor the panel.
  5.  The existing 3/8″ door was re installed to the left and was anchored to the wall using two glass to wall hinges / clamps.

This photo is after we re-configured and installed correctly. I have highlighted the proper anchoring system.

 

This was one of the most negligent and not to mention shady shower installations that I have seen. The glass was not the same size the anchoring system was not correct, and these consumers were at considerable risk of injury. This was installed in a Condominium complex that was built in the early 80’s and we know that this shower enclosure was a more recent up grade. As I have said before, please be diligent and ask questions, do research and do not ever hesitate to ask to see licensing or personally speak with referrences. Do not feel as if you are “bothering” or “asking to many questions”. If the company that you are working with does not take the time to educate you on your project, answer all of your calls and questions, then move on! The only thing that matters is your safety and piece of mind. The company you choose needs to earn that and by being a smart consumer and completing your research you will be able to communicate exactly what you want to your contractor and understand that what you end up with is nothing less.

Have a great weekend and be safe. And please if you have any questions regarding a current project that you are working on or a project that you are dreaming about give us a call. Our promise is to always provide service with integrity, this is not just a slogan, we actually like to sleep at night!

Sheila Wood / Owner