How to Install Frameless Glass Shower Door Panels – A DIY Guide

It’s the era of self-empowerment. We believe in doing everything on our own. The DIY trend has enabled us all to explore our creative selves. We are now positive about doing the simple things for which we used to hire professionals. Amazing progress, right! However, sometimes it could be disastrous, so don’t go overboard!

It’s important to identify which tasks you can do on your own and which things require professional expertise. So don’t overestimate your skills and don’t shy away from asking for help. 

We will cover the installation of frameless glass shower panels in this guide. Yes! You can install a frameless glass shower panel on your own. However, you need some elaborate step-by-step instructions to help you through the process.

We are assuming here that you have already bought the frameless shower door that matches your bathroom dimension and you are all ready to install it. So let’s get right into it!

Things to Consider

As the name suggests, frameless shower doors lack any solid metal framing. They are all-glass shower doors so handling a frameless glass shower door can be a bit tricky. The glass used in frameless shower panels is thicker to support the operation without getting damaged. Thicker glass translates into more weight so make sure to get help from a friend, sibling or preferably a person with some professional experience. 

Frameless glass shower doors come as two glass panes. One is typically a stationary or fixed panel while the other one swings along the fixed hinges to allow entry or exit from the shower area. 

Make sure to follow a suitable DIY guide for frameless shower door installation. Complete each step nicely and slowly. Don’t skip any instructions. 

What you’ll need for this project!

You will require some simple everyday tools to complete the frameless glass shower panel installation project.

• Masking tape 
• Tape measure
• Marking Pencil
• Level
• Electric drill and drill bits
• Screw anchors
• Screwdriver
• Utility knife

Installing the Frameless Glass Shower Panels

Installing a frameless shower door is an intricate task. Let’s go through each and every step in detail.

Step 1: Clean the Space

Start by cleaning the shower area. Clear the shower walls and floor as well. Place the required tools within reach before starting the installation process. 

Step 2: Mark the Centerline on the Shower Curb

Take the masking tape and paste it on the shower curb and the respective wall where door hinges are to be installed. Take a marking pencil and draw the line along the masking tape. It will provide reference points for hinges or mounting brackets. Use the level to see if the line is straight. 

Step 3: Drill Holes for the Mounting Brackets

Check the notches of your frameless glass panel. Set the mounting brackets on the marked line on the curb according to the distance between the notches on the glass panel. Now mark screw holes on the line with a marking pencil. Remove the mounting brackets from the curb and drill holes on the marked screw holes. 

Once you have drilled the holes in the curb, remove the tape. Set the mounting brackets in their specific places and screw them to the curb using the bracket screws. 

Tip: If your shower floor has tiles or stone curbs, use masonry bits for drilling. Use wooden bits for acrylic or fiberglass shower curb.  

Step 4: Set the Wall Brackets for Fixed Panel

Now that the horizontal mounting brackets are fixed in place, it’s time to set the vertical brackets in position. 

Set the brackets against the marked line on the wall. Make sure that the brackets are spaced according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Mark the holes on the tape and remove the brackets. Drill holes on the marked points, remove the tape and screw the brackets into the wall with steel screws. 

Step 5: Install the Fixed Panel

Fit the gaskets that come with the installation hardware onto each mounting bracket. Take the glass panel with the help of a friend and set the edge of the panel against the wall such that the mounting brackets align with the notches on the glass shower panel. Now fit the gasket on the other half of the mounting bracket. Take a screwdriver or Allen wrench and screw the two pieces of each bracket together. 

Step 6: Fix the Hinges

Take each hinge and fit the gaskets onto each hinge. Set the hinges on the notch of the door and fix the two halves of the hinges together on the door with the help of screws. Make sure to tighten the screws enough that they can support the door operation. 

Step 7 Set the Door 

Take the frameless shower door and align it along the vertical line you’ve drawn on the wall. Mark the screw holes to fix the hinges on the wall. Set the door aside and drill holes on the marked points. Remove the tape from the wall and set the door back on the shims. Fix the hinge to the wall with screws. Make sure that the screws are not too tight to hinder the operation of the door by pulling out the door while tightening the screws. 

Step 8 Install the Shower Sweep

Open the door and install the plastic door sweep. This door sweep helps in keeping the water inside the shower area. 

Your frameless glass shower panel is installed and all ready to radiate its brilliance in your bathroom!