this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2024
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Home Improvement

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Hey, apologies if I'm not using the correct terms, I'm going to do my best to describe the issue.

This is a photo from my shower. There's a glass "wall" and a glass door. The door is connected to the glass wall by a hinge. The glass wall was glued to a metallic frame but it looks like the glue is not holding it in place anymore.

Is it a DIY job for a new homeowner after the millionth thing broke down this month and is ready to step into traffic? Or should I just hire someone? What profession am I even looking for to get it fixed?

If it's an easy enough fix, what keywords do I use to look up a fix and the materials needed?

Any other useful information or advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

Update: thank you all for the comments. I don't think I have the skills to do this project by myself and don't want to risk glass all over the bathroom floor. I've contacted some people who fix windows and stuff, and they've agreed to this work at a reasonable price.

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[–] IMALlama 15 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Largely agree with the others with one exception. Don't put adhesive inside the channel. It will make future removal basically impossible.

Cut whatever adhesive you can see with a razor, slide the glass out of the channel, clean the channel and glass well, and then reinstall. Run a bead of silicone around the seam. It will be more than enough to hold the glass in place. That's the same way stone countertops are installed - there usually isn't glue between the countertop and the cabinets. The silicone/caulk beads are enough to hold it in place.

Things to keep in mind:

  • it's glass, so you'll want to avoid bumping it into things. Put down thick towels/blankets in your work area and wherever you want to put it down. Be very wary of dinging the bottom on the floor/ceiling
  • wear PPE. At a minimum leather shoes/boots, thicker pants that aren't skin tight (no skinny jeans), long/heavy/baggy sleeves, leather work gloves, and safety glasses
  • it's going to be somewhat heavy. You could measure the panel size and plug it into an online calculator for a decent number. I suggest buying heavy duty suction cups that come with vacuum pumps. These will make moving the glass around a lot easier and they're not that expensive

Good luck!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Run a bead of silicone around the seam. It will be more than enough to hold the glass in place.

I don't think so, the shower door is hanging from the side of that glass panel. Silicone caulk is not an adhesive, it's just a sealant. Opening and closing the door will break it free again.

[–] IMALlama 2 points 1 month ago

Ah, for some reason I thought the glass what was moving was the stationary side. I should have taken a better look at the photo. Thanks for the correction!

[–] scrion 3 points 1 month ago

Granite counter tops also rest on a sturdy base, the caulk used to attach them doesn't have to resist a lot of force trying to push the slab around, the caulk is mostly there to prevent liquids spilling into the cabinets and to provide a decent appearance. Yes, the caulk also somewhat attaches the slab, but keep in mind how hard it is to move to begin with, given the weight of the counter top.

Here, the weight of the glass door pulls the panel out of the rails via the hinges. Silicone won't provide a lasting solution.