Shower door repair and replacement
Most shower door problems come down to worn parts or loose hardware. Here's what can be fixed, and when the glass has to go.
Shower doors get opened and closed thousands of times a year, and the small parts wear out first: plastic sweeps, clear vinyl seals, magnetic strips, rollers and hinge screws. Many of those parts can be replaced without replacing the glass.
Common repairs
- Sagging or dragging doors. Hinges that have loosened or slipped can often be re-set and adjusted.
- Leaks. New bottom sweeps, side seals or a drip rail usually solve water on the floor, if the floor slopes correctly.
- Loose handles. Handles can loosen as their washers wear and may need new hardware.
- Sliding doors that stick. Worn rollers and bent tracks can be replaced on many systems.
- Old caulk and stains. Removing failed caulk around frames and resealing helps keep water out of the wall.
When does the glass need replacing?
- Any crack in a tempered panel, however small
- Chips on the edges, especially at corners or hinge cutouts
- Glass that's scratched or clouded beyond what cleaning can fix
- A panel with no visible safety glazing mark
Tempered glass can't be cut, drilled or re-edged after tempering, so a damaged panel is replaced with a new one made to size. If the door is old, matching hardware may be hard to find, and replacing the whole door can be the simpler fix.
If the glass breaks
Tempered glass is designed to break into many small pieces instead of large shards, but it can still cut. Keep everyone out of the bathroom, wear shoes and gloves to clean up loose pieces on the floor, and leave glass still in the hinges or clamps for the installer to remove. Don't shower until it's dealt with.
What to tell the company
Photos of the door, the hinges or rollers, and any label on the glass help them bring the right parts on the first visit.
The glass company prices the job after it measures the opening and you settle on glass, hardware and finish. We don't quote prices, and a number given before anyone has measured is only a rough starting point.
Where we connect you with help
Common questions
Why did my tempered shower door break on its own?
Edge damage from a bump, a chip near a hinge, or stress from hardware that's too tight can all lead to a break later. An installer can look at the hardware before a new panel goes in.
Can I replace just the sweep or seal myself?
Often, if you can find the matching part for your glass thickness. If the door is sagging or the hinges are loose, have a pro adjust it first.
Related services
- Frameless shower doors
- Semi-frameless and sliding doors
- Custom glass enclosures
- Tub glass doors and screens
More background: Bozeman shower glass guide.
Remodeling the bathroom, or tired of a door that drips and sticks?
Call and a local shower glass company will set up a time to measure and give you a written quote.