Dear James: I'm tired of the musty old shower curtain that always leaks, so I want to install shower doors. What is the best way to install them on tile walls? — Alex G.
Dear Alex: Your problems with just a shower curtain are not uncommon, and installing shower doors is the best solution. It will certainly look much more modern and will keep the bathroom floor cleaner. If your children are like most, they never quite get a shower curtain tightly closed, so the bathroom floor gets wet.
A shower curtain can also be a source of mold spores and mildew in your home, even if you are diligent about keeping it clean. The folds stay damp, as does the lower section that rests against the bathtub. When you mix moisture with soap and oil residues, there is no telling what might start growing there.
Before going ahead with your project, consider a few situations where installing shower doors may not be advisable. If you have young children who need help in the bathtub, a shower door will block half of the opening and reduce access. The elderly may also require more access than a shower door will provide.
Assuming you decide a shower door is for you, purchase a shower door kit at your home center store. Most bathtubs are a standard size, so you should not have any problems finding a kit to fit your bathtub. You will probably be surprised by the vast array of aluminum frame finishes and glass patterns.
The typical glass patterns are clear, etched and frosted. The etched ones are very attractive, but clear ones are easier to clean. Over time, a soap residue will build up on the glass. All of the glass doors use safety tempered glass, so if it breaks, it just shatters into a mass of rounded chips.
Most shower door kits come with detailed installation instructions, but you may find you have to make some adjustments when fitting the frame. Use a hacksaw and a miter box to cut the frame members. This produces 45-degree cuts for a more professionally installed look. Once all the parts fit together, remove them and use a fine-toothed file to smooth sharp or rough edges.
Drilling into the tile on the side walls can be tricky. Use a center punch and gently tap a mark on the tile. Without the mark, the drill will walk and you may miss your mark. Use a masonry drill bit and drill very slowly to minimize the possibility of cracking a tile.
The screws are usually secured into plastic anchors that are pushed into the drilled holes. If you run into a wood stud inside the wall when you are drilling, stop. Switch to a smaller drill bit so the screw can be screwed into the wood stud.
Place two strips of tile caulk under the bottom track that rests on the bathtub. This will hold it securely and eliminate water leaks. For a good seal and a clean look, apply caulk along the inside edge of the bottom track, up the vertical sides along the wall and the side/bottom joint.
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