Frameless Glass Shower Doors: What Causes Leakage (And How to Resolve It)

Installing a frameless glass shower door in your Toronto-area home’s bathroom is a must for most homeowners. This is not only because they keep your bathroom dry by keeping water inside the shower but because they enhance the room’s entire look.

But accidents happen, which means water can leak.

Puddles of water on the floor outside your shower door are the last thing you want to see after a relaxing shower. Indeed, a leaking shower can lead to many problems, like mould growth and damage to your bathroom’s floor and walls.

Does this scenario seem familiar? If so, you are probably looking for any solution to stop your frameless glass shower door from leaking.

In this post, we explore the causes of these leaks and expert solutions to the problem.

What Can Cause a Leaking Shower Door?

The best part about a frameless glass shower door is its sleek, uninterrupted look, with no bulky frame to distract the eye. It is also convenient to clean.

But frameless glass doors can leak. The reasons depend on their design and layout. So, if you want to solve the leakage problem, you must first identify where the water is coming from. Is it from the bottom of the door or the corner? Is there a problem with the door’s installation, or is it because of the hinges?

If you are not sure about the exact problem, consult glass door replacement services from Shower Lagoon. Here we will highlight the most common reasons behind a leaking shower door.

1. Improper Installation

People often think that only old shower doors leak. But a newly installed frameless shower door can also. How? A misaligned or improperly installed shower door can leave an unwanted gap for water to splash outside the bathing area.

2. Poor Quality/No Caulking

During installation, silicone caulk is used around the shower door edges for sealing. Not using caulk or using poor quality caulk can cause water leakage. Once the caulking fails, water seeps into your walls or floor which leads to loose tiles or damaged floors.

3. Improperly Inclined Shower Curb

The purpose of a shower curb is to keep the water inside your shower space. Usually, it is not more than 3 inches high. (Curb height is measured vertically on the outside of the shower, from the floor to the top of the curb.) It leans slightly inwards so that if the water falls on top of it, it flows back into the shower area. If your shower curb is not inclined inward, it can spill water outside.

Solutions to Fix Leakage from a Frameless Shower Door

So far, you have understood the key factors that can cause water leakage from frameless shower doors. Now it’s time for a solution.

1. Prevention

Whether you are installing the shower door by yourself or have hired a professional, make sure it is positioned correctly during installation. See that there are no gaps between the door and adjacent glass. Then check the curb of your shower to see that it is inclined properly towards the shower drain so water does not spill out of the shower space. If everything is sealed properly without any gaps, you are unlikely to experience any leakage.

2. Water Leakage Along the Wall

If you are seeing water leaking around the wall, apply caulk to stop water from escaping. Or, if it already has caulk, scrape away worn-out caulking, clean the wall, and apply the new caulk. It can be in the form of a strip or a squeeze tube. Apply it evenly to the required areas and let it dry. Once dry, remove the excess caulk to achieve a clean look.

3. Leakage from the Bottom of the Door

Water often tends to leak from the bottom of the door thanks to a broken or poorly installed door sweep. In that case, simply replace the sweep. Or, if it is not installed properly, adjust it properly and check whether that stops it.

If you find the door sweep in perfect condition but still there is leaking water then you need to fix the shower curb. Hire our professionals to solve this issue.

4. Water Leakage Near the Glass Joint

Is the water leaking near the joint where the glass panels meet? This is easy to resolve: simply install a door seal between the panels.

Are you looking for frameless glass shower doors in Toronto? Do you have further questions about them? Or are you experiencing leaks or other problems? Our experts can help. Use these solutions to solve your leakage problem, or replace the shower door with a brand new frameless glass shower door to give your bathroom a more polished look! Talk to us to set up a consultation.