Frameless Shower Door Leaks: What Causes Them and How to Repair Them

Regarding style and size, a frameless shower door provides more options than framed enclosures, which appear dated and constrained. Frameless shower doors make a bathroom seem more prominent and create a more open atmosphere in the room. Because of their advantages, these types of doors have become the new industry standard.

Mishaps occur from a poor installation or because something has broken down over time, and water may leak from the shower door. If certain precautions are not taken at the start of the repair process, repairing a leaking shower can be a difficult and costly task.

This article will discuss why shower doors leak and how to fix them. Continue reading!

The Reasons for a Leaking Shower Door

Imagine exiting your steamy and relaxing shower only to discover a massive puddle of water on your bathroom floor. You may feel frustrated or stressed, but don't worry; shower doors and shower enclosures can leak water for various reasons. This can happen with both new and old showers.

Shower door water leaks are typically caused by the following:

1. Improper Installation

Not only do old shower doors leak, but your new shower door may leak as well. If your shower door is misaligned or incorrectly installed, you may see leakage on your bathroom floor or wall.

Improper installation may be one of the causes of a leaky shower. Custom frameless shower doors usually have seals installed on the vertical edge that meets the stationary pane to keep water from exiting through the crack while still allowing the door to swing.

2. Poor Quality/No Caulking

Prevent puddles of water from exiting the shower. The edges of both framed and frameless shower doors are sealed with silicone caulk. A shower door seal, like caulk, prevents shower leaks. Worn-out, poor-quality, or missing caulk can let moisture escape your frameless shower glass door.

Caulk is a flexible material to seal air leaks through cracks, gaps, or joints. Experts suggest you choose pure silicone caulk for a more stable job that won't come in contact with paint afterward.

3. Incorrectly Inclined Shower Curb

A shower curb is a threshold you must cross when entering and exiting the shower. It is usually only a couple of inches tall, but keeping water inside the shower is crucial. Water will leak through the shower door if the shower curb is incorrectly inclined. Shower curbs act as a barrier and have a 5-degree slant so that water that falls on top of the curb runs into the shower.

The curb height is measured vertically from the floor to the top of the curb on the outside of the shower.

4. Broken or Improperly Installed Shower Door Sweep.

Another common shower leakage is the incorrectly installed shower door sweep. Frameless shower doors generally have sweeps attached to the bottom of the door, which keeps water from exiting the shower underneath the door.

Solutions to Repair Leaking Frameless Shower Doors

Nothing is more aggravating than a misaligned glass shower door. Water leakage can occur when shower doors are not correctly adjusted. Almost always, the solution is to change the shower door hinges, which homeowners can do themselves. You only need a few wood shims and a Phillips screwdriver.

Leaks from shower enclosures can be costly causing damage if not repaired quickly. Below are a few solutions for fixing leakage from a frameless shower door:

1. Shower Wall Leakage

Water leakage along the shower wall is rather sneaky and unnoticeable. To avoid water stains on your wall or water spots, apply caulk evenly to the required areas to prevent water from escaping. If there is caulk already, scrape away the bad silicone and reapply the new caulk. Remove excess chalk and clean the area when dry.

2. Under Shower Door Leakage

Bottom leaky shower doors of your frameless or framed showers are easily repaired by silicone caulking. For about $10, you can easily purchase transparent caulk sealant. In framed shower doors, leaks are always at the bottom of the shower door. Clogged drain holes most likely cause these leaks.

Pro Tip: Apply the shower door edges with silicone caulk. Remove excess caulk by scraping as much residue as possible with a razor blade. Remember, insufficient sealing can cause water leakage, so always apply caution.

3. Water Leakage near Glass Joint

If you notice water leaking where the glass panels meet, you must install a door seal between the glass panels. This is an easy fix.

Shower seals are used for horizontal and vertical application to frameless and framed shower door glasses. Shower seals are used to waterproof gaps between glass shower panels, bath rims, tiled surfaces, and shower trays.

Prevention

Shower door leaks can be challenging to detect. Keep in mind that the leak could be coming from several places. Begin by turning on the water in the shower and watching where the water appears from outside. Because water always flows downward, it could come from higher up than you think.

If you are installing your shower door, ensure you correctly position your shower door glass during installation; of course, you need to ensure there are no gaps. And that your shower curb is precisely inclined.

As the famous Ghostbusters saying goes, "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!"

Since "Ghostbusters" may not be able to fix your damaged shower door, we highly suggest you contact Shower Door Experts to assist you in repairing your leaking frameless shower door.

Take care of your leaky shower and enjoy your relaxing shower experience without the stress of water puddles and water damage on your floor tiles.

Contact GCS Glass & Mirror 

Contact GCS Glass today for a free quote or to schedule an appointment for a shower door replacement and to begin designing your custom shower door and enclosure. We look forward to hearing from you and assisting you in designing a custom frameless shower door and enclosure that will instantly transform your outdated bathroom into the type of beautiful, modern bathroom you've always desired.