How to Buy Shower Doors

You're thinking of replacing those old, worn out sliding shower doors with a new pivot-type of shower doors. There are lots of things to consider while selecting the right type of shower doors for your shower. Here's how to buy the right type of shower doors the first time so you don't have to make an extra trip to the home improvement center.

Instructions

1. Get a general idea of what's available in shower doors before you buy the first thing that comes to mind. Going to shopping sites like nextag.com can give you a good general idea of what options are available. You'll find new slider types, pivot types and clear and frosted glass options for shower doors.

2. Check the clearance between the shower door and the opposite wall before you order and buy anything. If you're going from a sliding door to a pivot type, you will need at least 4 feet of clearance between where the door is to be installed and the adjacent wall. Depending on your floor plan, you might not be able to install this type of shower door, so be sure to check carefully.

3. Measure your shower door opening. Be sure to know how wide and tall your shower door opening is so you know what size door to order.

4. Set a bathroom upgrade budget. Most likely you will be doing a few other things in the bathroom while you replace the shower door. Consider painting, fixing any broken tile and re-caulking the tub while you have the old set of doors out and before you put the new set in. Allow about 300 dollars for slider doors, 600 for pivot doors and another 100 for any other minor upgrades to enhance your new shower doors.

5. Consider professional installation when you buy the shower doors. You may get a discount on installation with your purchase. You could install the shower doors yourself, but having someone else install them will limit your time commitment and headache count.