Modernize Your Shower with a Sliding Glass Door (6 Reno Tips)

Your bathroom is where you start your day, so it makes sense to make it look and feel nice.

The question is how?

Do you have a walk-in shower, tub/shower combination, or corner shower? The problem with walk-in showers is that they have no door or curtain so provide no privacy. A bathtub/shower combo is a great option but requires high-maintenance as you have to clean both the tub and shower. And since corner shower takes up little floor space, you have a higher risk of water overflowing because there is less surface area for water if the drain clogs.

So, if you are looking for a modern yet practical shower solution, consider installing a sliding glass door in your Toronto-area home’s bathroom.

Renovate Your Shower with a Gorgeous Sliding Glass Door

A glass shower door is a smart and stylish solution for any bathroom. It gives your space a chic look and increases your property’s value. Moreover, there is a lot of room for customization.

Many homeowners choose sliding glass doors because they can be installed in small bathrooms and make them look bigger as glass reflects light and brightens up the space. In addition, it has a safe and unique opening and closing mechanism.

In this post, we will discuss how to replace your old glass shower door with a sliding one.

1. Gather All the Tools 

To replace your shower door with a sliding one, you need the proper tools. These include:

  • Screwdriver
  • Cordless drill
  • Some extra quarter-inch screws
  • Hacksaw
  • Measuring tape
  • Metal file
  • Silicone caulk

2. Pre-Installation Prep

Before you start the installation, you need to carefully remove the current shower door. Make sure you don’t damage the walls. If you have a framed glass door, lift the glass door out from the track and cut the caulking along the edges of the old frame. Then pull the jambs out starting from the top. Remove the screws from the side and bottom of the track. When the door is removed entirely, clean the whole area so no caulk residue remains.

3. Measure the Door

After cleaning the entire space, measure the height and width of your shower door at the top, middle, and bottom.

  • The top width (distance from wall to wall at top of the shower door)
  • The bottom width (distance from wall to wall at the bottom of the shower door)
  • Height is the distance from the shower base to the top of the wall where you want the sliding door to be located.

Take these measurements carefully. Even a small mistake can create a problem when installing your sliding door.

4. Set Up the Bottom Track and Wall Jambs

After taking the measurements, set up the base plate. Ideally, the length of your track should be ¼” less than the actual distance between each wall to allow space for the hardware.

Mark this distance on the bottom track and use your hacksaw to cut the length. Once you cut the base track, you may notice uneven edges. Use a metal file to smooth these out.

Once that is done, place the base track at the centre of the ledge. For the time being, you can use masking tape to hold the base track. Mark the track with a pencil around its edge and at either end so you can align it afterwards.

Next, prepare the wall jambs. To ensure appropriate plumb installation, use a level. Make pencil marks on the wall where the screws will go. Then drill ¼” holes where you made the marks. Install the wall anchor hardware into the holes, then install the door jambs and secure them to the anchors with the screws. Tighten them with a screwdriver.

Take off the bottom track that has been taped and apply a bead of silicone caulk to the underside. Then align it with the prior markings. Set up all the required hardware.

5. Install the Top Track

As you did with the bottom track regarding measurements, follow the same procedure for the header to allow room for hardware. Mark the measurements and trim them with a hacksaw. File down the rough edges.

Following the same procedure as you did for the bottom track, install the top track over the wall jamb. After you are done setting up the top track, secure the screws with a screwdriver.

6. Assemble the Sliding Glass Door

Once the top and bottom tracks are ready, it is time to put the sliding glass into place. To set up the door, install the provided rollers with the help of bundled screws. Once the hardware is installed, hang the doors on the top track. Ensure that if they are coated, the uncoated side faces out. Then slide the door back and forth to check that the shower door operates smoothly.

If the door does not slide smoothly, adjust the brackets by using different mounting holes. For additional support, apply silicone on all sides of the wall jambs. Wait for them to dry for 24 hours. Then you can enjoy your new shower space.

Follow these steps to convert your bathroom into a brand-new, gorgeous shower space. Or contact Shower Lagoon to get the best sliding glass doors. Want a different look? You can get custom shower doors in our Toronto showroom. Give us a call at 905-265-1476 or visit our showroom.