Software
Houzz Logo Print
marycarter

Help for Frameless Shower Enclosure

11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

Hi,

I am remodeling a master bath and have put in a doorless shower. The glass enclosure is on two sides with the short side affixing to the wall and the long side only connecting to the other glass at a 90 degree angle. The glass does not go all the way to the ceiling. The long glass is swaying quite a bit (1-2 inches sway) and seems unstable. Should I try to stabilize it more or is this typical of this enclosure? How would I stabilize it without removing the glass? I believe it is 80" long (the long wall). Thanks,

Comments (16)

  • PRO
    11 years ago
    Nice job with the tile! Did a reputable glass company fabricate and install the frameless shower glass? I only trust my vendors with glass because the consequences of it breaking include not only potential injury but damage to the other surfaces in the bathroom. Good luck!
  • 11 years ago

    Swaying glass does not sound like a good thing. Have you contacted the glass company/installer?

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    I cannot see how long your piece of glass is, but if in doubt you can add a stabliser either something that goes up to the ceiling - or up and over (like an L shape). The example below goes straight across, but this gives you an idea what you are looking for.

    I agree with Haus that a reputable glass company will stand by their work (and have done it to standard, or added extra safety features)

    shower bar


  • 11 years ago
    Thanks for the comments so far.
  • 11 years ago

    Discussed this with my contractor. If I had gone with something on that order, he would only do it with top metal pieces attached to the wall for stabilization.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    I personally would have asked for the glass to go all the way up to the ceiling and secured with clamps. This is the safest way in my opinion. Here's a shot of mine so you can see the difference in safety. I would definitely ask for someone to fix the problem before it becomes a bigger issue.


  • 11 years ago

    mine goes to the ceiling with a channel on the ceiling. i just clicked through a lot of houzz photos, they used to show metal rods supporting the top corner when the glass didnt go to ceiling, now i'm seeing a lot of glass corners sticking up unsupported. either a lot of people are having the problem you are having or maybe thicker glass helps?

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    I have done a number without either type of support, but have worked with my glass and tiler guys to ensure they are secure (in Switzerland we are over-cautious). I would love a close up of the fixations . Looking closely it seems as if they have gone for a much lower U-frame than I have used.




    With glass that is going to be freestanding, I sometimes create a groove
    in the showerbase in which to insert the glass so that the effect of
    the U frame is less invasive.


  • 11 years ago
    Thanks so much. Would the U channel you use be 3/4 inch? Or deeper still? I think I may replace the U channel with a deeper groove and add a corner clip at the 90 angle. I'm reluctant to add a support bar as I think they risk looking obtrusive.
  • 11 years ago

    i agree, they do look obtrusive, i did the glass to the ceiling to avoid it.


  • PRO
    11 years ago

    You should have a stabilizer bar installed, leaving it like this is waiting for disaster to happen.

    With that said, I'm surprised the installers left it like this and didn't make the same suggestion.

  • PRO
    11 years ago

    Clips would have helped a lot.

  • 10 years ago

    From a glass company: We do it like this all the time and let the customer know while measuring that the corner will deflect quite a bit. Which do you like a header for stability or frameless which will move? Most often they choose the frameless look. Since it's tempered glass it will bend but is completely safe as long as the corner has clamps that are drilled through the glass. They do make ugly support bars if your really unhappy.

  • 9 years ago

    Where would I get the support bars

  • PRO
    9 years ago

    Any place that sells glass shower enclosures sells them. If you shopping online, here is one of the places CLICK HERE there are many others.