Frameless shower glass

16 years ago

I have almost completed a bathroom remodel. It includes an open shower with a single piece of 1/2 inch thick by 48 inches wide by 7 foot tall tempered glass. I am mounting the glass with 1/2 inch X 1/2 inch aluminum channel on the bottom and back edge. The channel side and bottom will then be set into channels built into the shower curb and along the wall. I would like to to leave the glass open at the top and along the front edge but I'm concerned with how secure the glass will be. Is support on on only the top and one edge safe? Is the glass strong enough to safely do this? It's only my wife and I and occasional grandkids visiting.

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Comments (5)

User
16 years ago
I'd call a couple of glass companies that specialize in shower doors to inquire about that.

Hate to be a bummer, but to be honest, tempered glass with open edges like that make me nervous. I've had it some explode before in an oven (pyrex) and have read several threads where glass sinks and I believe even a vanity exploded in peoples homes. One thread in particular described how the explosion was so hard, glass shards were embedded into their wall.
pharaoh
16 years ago
For a piece of glass that large, supported along two edges, I suspect you will need to support the free corner. Even though the glass is strong, the edges are not. So you dont want an accidental push against the free corner to cause the glass to unseat. a glass fabricator can do the engineering for it.

Here is what you need.

Here is a link that might be useful: bar support
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pepperidge_farm
16 years ago
we have 1/2"x 44"x 80" panel siliconed to a narrow return; door is hinged to the wall (similar set up as in the link that pharoah posted. No clips at the junction of the 2 pieces, which I think I would have preferred. The large panel is set to the curb and wall, but the return wall is just set to the curb, and the "free" end of the large panel. It's beautiful.

I must say that watching them install it, and now looking at it, it makes me nervous, but they are very reputable, got multiple references for this company, and the guy was so meticulous, watching him work made me smile. We have bumped it a bit just to make sure it's ok, while still warrantied, so to speak.

g_hgray- the setup you mention I believe leaves a bit of a "lever arm" with the outside corner just sitting out there, which would make me even more nervous than I am about my set-up. Can you see if that is a reasonable install, if a good company would do the same?

{{gwi:1413770}}
g_hgray
Original Author
16 years ago
Unfortunately, you've confirm my suspicions. Thanks to everyone for the input.
thull
16 years ago
I admit I don't totally get your description. The channels are going on the bottom of the panel and along one side, right? FWIW, we have a fixed panel that's about that wide, with a cutout for a bench in one corner. It's supported by 4 mini clips (2 bottom edge, 2 side against wall). The door isn't hinged off of it. And it's been up for about 4 years without incident.