Frameless Enclosure Design Tips

Please discuss these guidelines with your contractor in the early stages of development to ensure trouble free installation of your frameless enclosure . By doing this you can avoid many of the common installation problems before they occur. This will ensure that the focus is on the safety, integrity, function and beauty of your new enclosure:

1. BACKING REQUIREMENTS
Studs should be doubled up behind walls, and should run to the full height of the shower unit
Curbs should meet walls at a 90 degree angle

2. PITCH OF CURBS FLOORS & SEATS
Leaks and standing water are caused by improperly pitched surfaces. All floors, curbs and seats should be pitched away from glass to eliminate leaks or standing water.

3. CURB & BUTTRESS INTERFACES
Always create 90 degree angles to curb buttress faces. This will ensure proper door swing clearances and avoid binding of hinges.

4. NEO-ANGLE CONFIGURATIONS
Glass is measured centerline on the curb. A standard neo-angled configuration uses 135 degree angles. Any other is considered custom. Keeping with the standard angles may avoid additional cost and complexity.

5. STEP-DOWN or WALK-IN SHOWERS
Pitch floor away from door inside the shower. Curbless designs should have a metal threshold for proper bottom sweep function and seal.

6. DOOR & PANEL SIZE RESTRICTIONS
Minimum Door width/opening is 24" tile to tile.
No panel should be narrower that 3 1/2". Code requires all shower glass to be Safety glass, either tempered or laminated (we do not recommend laminated glass). Panels narrower than 3 1/2" may not be tempered, so keep this restriction in mind when designing your shower.

7. GLASS/PORCELAIN TILES
Glass or porcelain tiles are extremely brittle and prone to break or chip when drilled into or when pressure is applied. If possible, do not use either of these in areas that require drilling to mount hardware. There is no guarantee against breakage.

8. BODY SPRAYS
Proper placement of shower heads and body sprays is critical to ensure against leaking. Aim shower sprays away from the glass enclosure and toward tiled walls.

9. STEAM SHOWERS AND OVERSIZED ENCLOSURES
Door heights which exceed 84" will typically require a transom or we suggest that you build down a soffit. In doing so make sure that it is perfectly plumb and square down to the curb footprint. In addition, interior ceiling should be sloped to allow condensation to run off rather than 'drip'.