Frameless Shower Door Gap

10 years ago

Hello!

We have a frameless shower door that has been giving us trouble since we moved into our house. I replaced the bottom seal with a combo drip/water sweep designed to fit the 1/2" gap between the door and the tile sill. I also tried adding some silicone grout lines on top of the sill to try and get a better seal. However, we still get some leaks.

I think the problem is that rather than being one large piece of tile under the door, the tile sill was pieced together such that in addition to the 2 perpendicular grout lines, there is also a grout line running down the center of the sill. This aligns with this grout line aligning directly under the door when it is shut. See the two pictures I have included below, showing the sill and how the sweep still gaps when closed (directly over grout line).

I'd love to get advice on what to do about this, short of taking out the tile of the sill and redoing it. Right now I am considering different types of water sweeps/seals attached to the bottom of the door. I was wondering about one that is more like a bubble seal but that attaches to the bottom of the door, to create a better seal given that grout line depression.

We could also move the plastic seal piece on the glass wall so that the door opens inward. Perhaps that, combined with different/larger water sweep (bubble seal?) would fix the issue...?

Thanks in advance for the help and suggestions!
-Rob

Featured Answer

PRO

Brickwood Builders, Inc.

10 years ago

The way the curb is built is standard if tile is used. That is not an installation error - although generally a very slight slope to the inside is attempted. Frameless showers are not aquariums - I don't mean to be facetious, but consumers have somehow come to believe that NO water will escape a frameless shower. Unlike a framed shower unit, the door in a frameless shower cannot be sealed shut and therefore small amounts of water can escape. If the door does not swing in both directions, then swinging it out will allow water to drip off onto the floor. If the curb is not slightly sloped, then water can drip out the front.

I personally would not take the tile off the curb as you will break the waterproofing (assuming it was done correctly) and subject yourself over time to mold or even worse (rot) in the curb.

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Comments (11)

PRO
High Plains Builders LLC
10 years ago
I would suggest removing existing bullnose tiles from top of curb and replacing with a solid surface product. You may need to relocate door to allow for the additional height of stone etc.. Also, the solid surface product can be ever so slightly sloped toward the shower allowing water to run back.
Rob Renegar thanked High Plains Builders LLC
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apple_pie_order
10 years ago
Have you tried filling the long grout line with clear silicone caulk? Another option that may reduce the leakage is to change the shower head so that the cone of water coming down will not hit the door.
Rob Renegar thanked apple_pie_order
Rob Renegar
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks for all the feedback!
Not expecting the door to be waterproof, and the showerhead is a rain-style, so water falls more straight down(minimal spray on door). The issue is that we have a generally constant amount of water seeping out every time we use it, so I believe that there was not sufficient enough slope built into curb.

Will look into changing sweep/sill attachment on bottom of door to a bubble seal that better fits the grout line that is there. And will also consider using more/better clear silicone to complement this...

Thanks again!
apple_pie_order
10 years ago
please post again after you try the new sweep.
PRO
Bluevine Studio LLC
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Hi -

I agree with Brickwood. Framless showers are not meant to be water tight. Silicone sealant will protect your grout from scum. User maintenance on these showers is the key. Most use a shower squeegy after a shower and the floor will air dry if you have proper exhaust in the space.
millworkman
10 years ago
You may also want to try a dam strip under the door.
Rob Renegar thanked millworkman
Jake Carpenter
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Rob, did you ever find a good solution? I've got a very similar problem and have to wipe up every time I shower. I tried making my own bead of silicon caulk down the line of tile on the floor/threshold and that helped but it's slowly ripping off because the door can technically swing in even though we don't do that usually. I'm thinking about maybe trying a silicone bulb like that above photo. I'm in a hotel right now and they've got one - haven't tested it yet though.

these pics are of the hotel:
Linda Seavey
8 years ago
Our shower door is tight at the bottom, but the sides are making me crazy! Water comes out through the gap and soaks the rug we step on after a shower. Any suggestions?
millworkman
8 years ago
See this link
PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
8 years ago
It always amazes me that some tile setters don't know that water runs downhill.