Most people searching how to install shower screen panels want one of two things. Either they want to know whether the job sits within reach, or they want to know what they are paying a glazier to do. This walks through the second, step by step.

Because a shower screen holds water back from the rest of your house, the install matters as much as the glass. So here is the full process, from the first measure to the moment you can finally use it.

How to Install Shower Screen Glass: The Short Version

A professional install runs in four stages. First we measure and quote. Then we order the glass to suit your bathroom. Next we prepare the area and set out the fixings. Finally we fit the panels, seal them and check the whole thing works.

Typically the measure takes half an hour, the glass takes a few days to arrive, and the fit takes a few hours in one visit.

Stage One: The Measure and Quote Before We Install Your Shower Screen

Everything depends on this visit, so we take our time over it.

What we check on site

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  Width at three heights. Openings taper. Consequently we measure top, middle and bottom, then work to the tightest figure.
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  Plumb and level. We check each wall for plumb and the hob or base for level, since older Adelaide homes rarely sit perfectly true.
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  The substrate behind the tile. We locate studs and noggings, and we note where the waterproofing and any pipework runs, so nothing gets drilled that should not.
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  Tile and hob condition. Drummy tiles, failed grout or a chipped hob all need attention before the glass goes anywhere near them.
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  Door swing and clearances. We check the vanity, the toilet and the towel rail, because a door that fouls something is a door you will resent daily.

Choosing the style and the glass

Next we talk through framed, semi frameless and frameless, along with hardware finishes and whether you want a door or a walk in panel. Generally semi frameless screens use 6mm toughened glass while frameless screens use 10mm, since the thicker panel supports itself.

What the quote covers

Our quote lists the glass, the hardware, the labour and the removal of the old screen, so nothing arrives as a surprise later. Quotes cost nothing, carry no obligation, and we beat any written quote by up to 10%. See the full range on our shower screens Adelaide page.

Stage Two: Preparing the Area for a Shower Screen Install

Once the glass arrives, preparation takes up more of the day than the fitting does. That is normal, and it is where a lasting install gets made.

Stage Three: How We Install and Seal the Shower Screen to Australian Standards

AS 1288 covers the selection and installation of glass in buildings, and it requires grade A safety glass in a shower. Everything below works to that standard.

Drilling and fixing

We drill tile with a diamond bit at low speed, using water to keep the tip cool and the tile intact. Then we seal each hole with silicone before the fixing goes in, so water can never track through the hole into the wall. Fixings land in studs or solid substrate wherever the layout allows.

Fitting the glass

We lift the panel into the channel on packers, then adjust until it reads plumb in both directions. After that we tighten the hardware to the specified torque, since over tightening a clamp is a reliable way to break a panel.

Sealing the right face

This detail separates a dry bathroom from a wet one. We seal the outside of the screen where it meets the tile, which means any water that does get behind the channel drains back into the shower rather than into your wall. We use neutral cure sanitary silicone, because acetic silicone corrodes metal hardware over time.

The final check

We swing or slide the door through its full travel, confirm it holds position, water test the seals, then clean the glass and take the rubbish with us.

After the Shower Screen Install

Give the glass a squeegee after every shower from day one, since preventing mineral build up is far easier than removing it later. Meanwhile, avoid abrasive pads and strong acid cleaners, because both attack the hardware and the seals.

If anything shifts, drags or drips in the first weeks, call us. Our workmanship stands behind the install, and a small adjustment early beats a repair later.

The Short Answer on How to Install Shower Screen Panels

So, how to install shower screen glass properly? Measure the opening at three heights, order toughened glass to suit the room as built, strip and prepare the surfaces, drill and seal every fixing, set the panels plumb, silicone the outside face, then wait 24 hours.

Miss any one of those and the screen either leaks, racks or breaks. Get them all right and it will outlast the bathroom around it.

Shower Screen Installation FAQs

How long does it take to install a shower screen?

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Most installs take two to four hours on site once the glass arrives. However, the glass itself usually needs a few days to come through, because the factory makes each panel to your measurements.

How do you install a shower screen on walls that are out of square?

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Wall channels and packing absorb the variation, which is exactly why we measure at three heights first. On badly out of square openings a semi frameless system copes better than a fully frameless one.

Do you seal the inside or the outside of a shower screen?

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The outside, where the screen meets the tile. That way any water that gets behind the channel drains back into the shower instead of tracking into the wall cavity.

What glass do you use in a shower screen?

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Toughened safety glass in every case, typically 6mm for semi frameless screens and 10mm for frameless. AS 1288 requires grade A safety glass in this setting.

Can you install a new shower screen without retiling?

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Usually yes. Provided the tiles and grout stay sound and the waterproofing holds, we fit the new screen to the existing surfaces. Of course, we tell you honestly on the day if something needs attention first.

Do you remove and dispose of the old shower screen?

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Yes. Removal and disposal come as part of the job, and we leave the bathroom clean.