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Shower Construction & Installation Guide

Shower Construction Guide

Shower Construction & Installation Guide

Modern shower door with tempered glass, showcasing a sleek design, accented by elegant candles and a minimalist aesthetic, emphasizing custom glass solutions for bathrooms.
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Shower Construction Guide

Tips for an Easy, Low-Cost Installation. Making sure that your shower installation goes smoothly is our first priority. And since the shower glass is the last piece of your bathroom to get installed, it is important that you are set up for success.

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We want to help you keep the issues at bay and the costs down. We suggest that you review these with your contractor so that together, you can be sure your shower installation goes off without a hitch.

In this guide, we'll discuss:

  1.  Shower Shape: The first place to start is the shape and size of your shower.
  2.  Shower Layout: Which way can the door open? And what are "knee" walls?
  3. Shower Construction: What are the structural requirements, including the walls and position of your showerhead?
  4. Shower Tile Installation: These tips are key in getting glass and tiles to "play nicely.
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STEP 1: Your Shower Shape

When designing your glass shower enclosure the first place to start is the shape of the shower. If you are remodeling your bathroom, you’ll have a little more leeway about choosing a shape of your shower, because different showers fit in different spaces. If you’re just replacing your shower with a new one, then you’ll generally need to keep the same shape.

HERE ARE SOME OF OUR MOST POPULAR SHAPES:

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Single Shower Door – for smaller shower spaces.

Custom glass shower doors with tempered glass in a modern bathroom setting, showcasing a sleek design and elegant finish.
Single Shower Door
Diagram of a custom shower door with measurements, illustrating tempered glass design, suitable for modern bathrooms and custom installations.
Elevation
Technical diagram for custom glass applications, including specifications for shower doors, table tops, and mirrors featuring tempered and beveled glass edges.
Floor Plan
Custom glass shower door design with dimensions A and B, featuring tempered glass for durability and style.
3D Projection
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Door and Panel – for slightly larger shower spaces.

Custom shower doors with tempered glass in a modern bathroom, showcasing elegant design and functionality, ideal for enhancing spaces with custom glass solutions.
Door and Panel
Diagram of a custom tempered glass shower door with labeled dimensions A, B, and C, showcasing design options for modern bathroom installations.
Elevation
Custom glass design diagram showcasing dimensions for shower doors, table tops, and mirrors with beveled glass edge and tempered glass specifications.
Floor Plan
Diagram of a custom shower door design with measurements labeled A, B, and C, showcasing tempered glass suitable for modern bathrooms.
3D Projection
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90° Corner Shower – for small spaces where as least two sides can be glass.

Frameless shower doors featuring custom tempered glass, showcasing a sleek design with beveled glass edges.
90° Corner Shower
Diagram of a custom glass shower door with dimensions, showcasing options for tempered glass and potential beveled glass edges, highlighting our offerings in custom glass solutions and shower doors.
Elevation
Diagram illustrating custom glass dimensions for shower doors with measurements D and E, featuring a 90-degree angle, relevant for tempered glass and beveled glass edge applications.
Floor Plan
Diagram of custom shower doors showing dimensions A, B, C, and D, highlighting the use of tempered glass for durability and style.
3D Projection
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Neo Angle Shower – for slightly larger corner spaces that allow for a diamond shape.

Custom shower doors featuring tempered glass in a beautifully designed bathroom with elegant tile work and natural lighting.
Neo Angle Shower
Diagram of custom shower doors with measurements labeled A to G, showcasing tempered glass options and beveled glass edges for elegant design.
Elevation
Diagram of a custom glass shape with 135░ angles, illustrating dimensions for shower doors, table tops, and mirrors with beveled glass edges.
Floor Plan
Diagram of a custom shower door design featuring tempered glass, with labeled dimensions for accurate measurements, showcasing a modern and elegant aesthetic. Suitable for custom glass applications in bathrooms.
3D Projection
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Custom Showers – for slightly larger corner spaces that allow for a diamond shape.

Custom shower door design diagram with measurements, highlighting features such as tempered glass and beveled glass edge. Ideal for custom glass applications.
Elevation
Custom tempered glass shower doors with a beveled glass edge, featuring a modern stone wall design and elegant fixtures.
Custom Shower
Diagram of custom glass shower door measurements, featuring angles, lengths, and beveled glass edge details, relevant for designing tempered glass solutions.
Floor Plan
Diagram of a custom shower door installation showcasing tempered glass panels and a beveled glass edge design, with measurements labeled for precision.
3D Projection
For more information on the shower layouts and shapes you can choose, please review our Shower Buying Guide. After choosing your shape, the following tips will help you meet the criteria for the best possible installation conditions for your new shower.
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STEP 2: Shower Layout

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Shower Door Opening

When planning your shower design, keep in mind that Building Code Requirement IRC P 2708.1 (2000 edition) states that all hinged shower doors must open outwards. Hinged shower doors that swing inwards only are not permitted by code. So, in your shower design, you need to make sure there are no obstacles, such as a toilet or vanity, that will prevent your shower from opening outward.

Custom shower doors featuring tempered glass, beautifully designed for a modern bathroom, showcasing a sleek design and practicality.
Diagram of a shower door installation showing compliance with code, relevant for custom glass solutions including shower doors and tempered glass designs.
Diagram illustrating a non-compliant shower door design, highlighting custom glass solutions for shower doors that meet safety codes, including options for tempered glass and beveled glass edges.
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Curb or No Curb?

Decide whether your shower enclosure will be installed on a "curb" or have it flush with the floor. If you need a handicap-accessible shower, then you'll want to make your shower flush with the floor – but keep in mind that having a curb does help prevent water from leaking or pooling onto the floor. Also, note that the top of the curb (where it meets the shower) should be a solid tile. Water can collect in grout lines or horizontal tile, resulting in the growth of mold.

Custom glass shower doors featuring a sleek, modern design with tempered glass and beveled glass edges, complementing a contemporary bathroom layout.
No Curb
Custom glass shower doors with tempered glass panels and sleek design, enhancing modern bathroom aesthetics.
With Curb
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Transoms/Steam Showers

A transom is a panel with hinges on the sides that closes the area at the top of the shower by making the shower flush with the ceiling. The transom is used to control the temperature and moisture level in your steam shower. When you open the transom, it lets the heat and moisture out of your shower and cools it down. When closed, the transom keeps the heat and moisture in, creating steam.
Make sure the transom won't be hampered by anything installed on the ceiling when it swings open. If an exhaust fan, vent or light fixture is placed in the path of the swinging door, a transom may be required to give the door clearance.

Custom glass shower doors with tempered glass, featuring a polished bevel edge in a modern bathroom design.
Diagram illustrating installation details for a shower door, including transom requirements and exhaust fan placement, relevant for custom glass solutions.
Schematic diagram illustrating a shower door installation without a transom, featuring an exhaust fan, relevant for custom glass solutions including shower doors and tempered glass.
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Knee Walls

Knee walls are a functional or sometimes decorative element of your shower design. If you are replacing your shower, it is likely that your knee walls (also called a half-wall or “buttress”) are already there. Many times, the knee wall is an extension of the side of your bathtub or shower seat. The top of a knee wall will be made of glass.
If your shower includes a knee wall, it is better to include in-line panel in your design. That way, you can modify the fixed panel to accommodate the knee wall instead of trying to modify the door. In other words, the swinging shower door cannot be notched to accommodate the knee wall.

Custom glass shower doors with tempered glass in a modern tiled shower, featuring a seamless design and accessible seating area.
Illustration of a shower door installation, highlighting wall placement, suitable for custom glass solutions in shower doors, emphasizing the use of tempered glass.
diagram illustrating a wall design for shower doors with a prohibition sign, highlighting custom glass solutions for shower installations.
Diagram of shower door opening dimensions, featuring custom glass specifications for shower doors, emphasizing a 22-36 range for installations.
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Note for Neo Angle Showers and Knee Walls

If you are putting in a neo angle shower enclosure that includes a "knee" wall or wall, make sure that the shower door meets the structure at a 90 degree angle to accommodate the requirements of the hinges. This is not a restriction when glass meets glass at the 135 degree angle.

Custom shower doors featuring tempered glass with a beveled glass edge, integrated into a modern bathroom design.
Top view diagram showing glass installation for shower doors, including angles for custom glass fitting with measurements indicating tempered glass requirements.
Diagram illustrating a top view of a shower door design, highlighting angles for custom glass installation, relevant for tempered and beveled glass applications.
Top view diagram illustrating a shower door installation with measurements, highlighting custom glass solutions for shower doors and tempered glass applications.
Please note that the shower door itself must be between 22" and 36" wide.
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Glass Panel Widths

When planning your shower enclosure, keep in mind that each glass panel needs to be at least 5 1/2" wide, which is the minimum width for tempering glass and supporting the hardware. Also, the door will need to be a minimum of 22" wide and no more than 36" wide.

Custom shower doors featuring tempered glass for elegant bathroom design, showcasing sleek lines and a modern finish.
Diagram of custom glass shower doors showing dimensions for glass panels, highlighting options for tempered glass with beveled edges.
Custom glass shower doors with tempered glass and beveled glass edges in a modern bathroom setting.
Diagram illustrating glass panel dimensions for custom shower doors, including specifications for tempered glass and beveled edges.
Frameless shower doors made of tempered glass, showcasing a modern design suitable for custom glass applications.
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Angles

Plan for your shower to be built using 90°, 135° or 180° angles. Most shower hardware is designed to accommodate these angles, so planning your shower with this in mind ensures a more cost-effective installation and properly functioning enclosure.
The neo angle shower must meet the structure at a 90° angle to accommodate the requirements of the hinges. Glass can meet glass at a 135° angle without issues.

Custom shower doors featuring tempered glass in a modern tiled shower enclosure.
Top view diagram illustrating a 180-degree shower door design, emphasizing custom glass solutions for shower doors and tempered glass options.
Tempered glass shower doors in a luxurious bathroom setting, featuring a sleek design and modern fixtures, ideal for showcasing custom glass solutions.
Diagram showing a top view layout of a shower door installation with wall, glass, and angles, relevant for custom glass design in shower doors and tempered glass applications.
Custom glass shower doors featuring a sleek design, showcasing tempered glass panels and a modern tile layout.
Top view schematic of a shower door installation, highlighting wall and glass measurements at 90░ and 135░, relevant for custom glass designs, including tempered and beveled glass options.
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Soffits

Make sure the soffits (or eaves) along the top line up perfectly with the angles in the curb below in order to avoid an uneven look.

Custom glass shower doors featuring tempered glass and upscale design elements, complementing modern bathroom aesthetics.
Soffit alignment diagram for custom glass installations, including shower doors and beveled glass edge specifications.
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STEP 3: Shower Construction

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Walls

Walls which meet a door or glass panel need to be exactly vertical, or "plumb", in order to prevent gaps, uneven joints, and hinge "bind". Walls more than 1/4" out of plumb cause unsightly gaps, are more likely to leak, and have a greater likelihood of hinge bind. It is possible for us to work with walls that are no more than 1/4" out of plumb, as we can cut the glass "out of square" to accommodate the difference. However, this will add cost to your shower, so making sure that the walls are constructed properly will save you time and money.

Diagram illustrating installation conditions for custom shower doors on plumb, belled, and bowed walls, highlighting considerations for tempered glass and structural integrity.
Illustration showing improper installations of shower doors due to walls not being plumb or even, relevant for custom glass solutions in shower doors.
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Support for Shower Doors and Hardware

Be sure the wall on which you would like to install a hinged shower door has proper studding behind it (double 2x4 is best, though single 2x4 is acceptable). Always provide wood studs or blocking where doors hinge or panels are anchored, especially when metal studs were used in the original construction of the wall.

Front view diagram of a shower door installation, highlighting glass panel, wood studs, and curb, relevant for custom glass and shower door business.
Diagram of a shower door installation, featuring walls, double 2x4 wood studs, and glass placement for custom glass solutions.
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Showerhead Position

To minimize leakage, position showerheads toward tiled walls or fixed panels. Showerheads should never be positioned opposite a door or other opening. (Exceptions may be made for smaller or low-flow showerheads or showerheads that point straight down at the floor.)

Diagram illustrating the front view of a shower door installation, highlighting tempered glass, wood studs, and curb design, relevant for custom glass solutions in shower doors.
Top view diagram illustrating the installation framework for shower doors, featuring double 2x4 wood studs and glass placement, relevant for custom glass solutions and tempered glass applications.
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Pipes and Wiring

Never run plumbing pipe or electrical wiring through walls or studs where an anchoring screw for the shower enclosure hardware might puncture it.

Diagram illustrating the installation of a shower door with a wall and shower head, highlighting custom glass solutions for shower doors in a bathroom setting.
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STEP 4: Shower Tile Installation

Once all structural requirements are met, it’s time to choose and install the tiles in the most "glass-friendly manner" by following these steps:

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Glass Tiles

Avoid mounting door hinges and glass clips onto glass tiles, as the tiles can break during and even after installation. This can result in delays in getting the project finished and additional charges from the tile installers for repairs.

Image of a cracked glass tile with a warning about drilling, illustrating the risks associated with custom glass products like shower doors, table tops, and mirrors.
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Raised Tiles and Overhangs

The following can interfere with shower door movements:

  • Decorative or raised tiles
  • Overhanging tiles
  • Granite/marble slabs on shower seats or knee walls

The tile or granite can be modified to allow for door operation, but filler might need to be applied, negatively impacting the look of the finished product. A better solution is to include a fixed panel in your design. That way, the door can align with the panel on one side, opening and closing properly with no interference. On the other side, the tile can be notched to allow the panel to line up flush against the wall.

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Diagram showing proper installation of shower doors with an overhang measurement, highlighting custom glass solutions for bathroom design.
Diagram illustrating a shower door with a No Overhang warning, relevant for custom glass solutions including shower doors and tempered glass applications.
Orthographic view diagram illustrating the maximum width and depth for notching raised tile, featuring glass integration, relevant for custom glass applications like shower doors and table tops.
Custom glass shower doors with a sleek design, showcasing tempered glass and a beveled glass edge for an elegant finish.
Ideal shower door design illustration featuring custom glass and tempered glass options.
Diagram of a shower door installation with notched tile, showcasing custom glass solutions for modern bathrooms, relevant to shower doors, tempered glass, and beveled glass edges.
Diagram illustrating a shower enclosure with raised tiles, indicating the area where a shower door should not be installed; relevant for custom glass solutions, including tempered glass and mirrors.
Illustration showing a gap between a wall and custom glass installation, highlighting the importance of precision for shower doors and tempered glass applications.
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Drainage/Slope of Curb

The curb or lip around the bottom of the shower should to be slanted inward at a 5-degree (approx. 3/16" to 1/4") "pitch" or slope so water flows in toward the drain. (A level curb would cause the water to stand, while a curb angled away from the drain would cause water to leak onto the bathroom floor).

Side view diagram illustrating 5░ curb pitch for shower doors installation, detailing glass positioning relative to bathroom and shower floors.
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Curb Tops

Keep in mind that solid pieces of tile, marble, or granite are best for the top of a curb. Tiled curb tops increase the likelihood of leakage and encourage the growth of mold or mildew because water collects in grout joints on horizontal tiles. The shower door seal functions best on a smooth surface.

Hexagonal tile shower threshold with custom glass shower doors showcasing tempered glass edge.
Increased likelihood of mildew and mold growth.
Shower door installation featuring custom glass, showcasing a seamless transition to tiled flooring, emphasizing quality and design.
Increased likelihood of leaks.
custom glass shower door with beveled glass edge alongside a modern bathtub on a stone base
Ideal
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Slope of Shower Seat

Design a built-in shower seat to slant toward the drain at a 5-degree (approx. 3/16" to 1/4") slope so water flows off the seat and into the drain. (Water will stand on a level seat or pool in a seat with a backward angle.)

Now, your shower space should be ready for a stress-free shower installation! If you have any questions, please talk to a glass expert or call 1-866-452-7707

Diagram illustrating a side view of a shower seat with a 5░ seat pitch, relevant for custom glass shower doors design and installation.

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United States © 2025 Dulles Glass. All Rights Reserved.

United States © 2025 Dulles Glass. All Rights Reserved.