What Should I Expect During a Measurement Appointment?
At The Shower Door Place we exclusively provide custom frameless shower door solutions to fit the needs of every project. Before we can order your custom glass we need to take detailed measurements of all of the surfaces of your shower. This article shares some tips for a smooth experience from measurement to install as well as some general information about measurement appointments.
To begin, all tile and curb surfaces must be set and finished before we can come out to take measurements. This is due to the precise nature required for properly installed frameless glass. Any changes to these surfaces between measurement and install will cause issues with the fitment of the glass.
If you are in the beginning stages of your project, one design choice that can really improve frameless glass fitment is tile selection and proper installation. As a general rule of thumb, the flatter the tile the better the fitment. This is because tiles with raised or wavy texture are prone to creating an uneven surface for glass to be installed on as we can only install it as tight as the highest surface on the wall. Even with flat tiles it’s important to ensure that the tile work is installed evenly in order to avoid high spots. A 6 foot level can be very helpful during the tile installation process to ensure that the wall is as flat as possible.
An example of a correctly pitched curb running down hill left to right into the shower
Another detail that can be helpful confirm before scheduling a measurement is the curb pitch. If possible, use a short level on the curb of the shower and ensure that it is correctly pitched inward towards the shower side of the curb. Checking in multiple spots is a good practice as well especially for wider/larger openings. The standard curb should be pitched inward about 5º or ¼” slope. If the curb is level or pitched outwards, the chances of it leaking increase substantially. If your project is a new remodel you should consult with your contractor to have the curb reinstalled correctly before having us come out to take measurements.
If this sounds like too much for you, don’t worry. We will check all of these things during our visit. These are just some simple tips that you as a homeowner can use as a preliminary check but they are not required by any means.
An example of a nice straight wall (left) vs a wall with an outward bow causing larger gaps on the top and bottom (right)
Upon arrival, our measurement professional will begin working in your space to get all of the measurements we need to order glass. This generally will take between 10-20 minutes. During this time he will use specialized tools and levels to check the overall width, out of square walls, curb pitch and check for high tiles among other details related to your project. It’s usually best if you can save your questions for the end as this process requires a bit of concentration to precisely map the layout of your shower enclosure.
Once that step is complete we will walk you through what we found during our measurement and any recommendations or ideas we have that would best suit your shower design. At this time we will answer any questions you may have based on the information we gathered during the measurement. Our measurement professionals are top notch and will give you expert advice to ensure that you get the perfect custom shower door solution. This whole process should generally take no more than about 30-45 minutes unless your shower is particularly custom.
After the appointment, we will send our final estimate to your phone/email. Usually, this is done through our bid software, BidClips. From there you can confirm your selections, accept the bid and pay the deposit to get the glass and materials ordering process started on our end. Once we have received all of the necessary components for your project we will give you a call to schedule a time and date for installing your new shower door.
As always, if you have any further questions related to measurement appointments, frameless glass or anything else, feel free to give us a call or stop by either of our showrooms located in Roseville and Minnetonka.
