Barn-style simplicity in your bathroom

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/10/2017 (2929 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s a bathroom revolution going on — I’ve witnessed it first-hand! Gone are the days of tubs and shower combos and with there, the finicky shower curtain that always seems to rip and tear from the curtain rod with an overly enthusiastic tug. Potential clients requesting a bathroom renovation have decided to abandon their tubs completely in favour of a walk-in shower. And the shower curtain, a distant memory, has been replaced with my favourite loo reno trend — the sliding glass barn-style shower door.

Surprisingly, these shower doors are relatively easy to install — provided ample time has been given to read the step-by-step instructions thoroughly. Although individual manufacturers have slightly differing installation specifics for their respective barn-door mechanisms, they all seem to follow the same concept once fully installed: a smooth chrome supporting rod is attached to either end of the shower stall, whereby one glass panel remains static while the other handled glass panel glides effortlessly along the rod, creating an entry point into the stall.

It is important to note that the glass panels are quite heavy. Dropping a glass panel, or even nudging the corner of one, can result in damage to either the panel itself, or the surface on which it is dropped. The majority of shower stalls I’ve completed have been tiled — drop cloths and padding were used in most instances to avoid any mishaps. It is also necessary to point out that drilling into tile during the installation process is highly probable, so using high-quality ceramic drill bits always is recommended to facilitate these steps.

For a retro install, drilling into and through the tile may not always produce a location with solid backing. Anchors are usually provided. For the bathroom renovation that starts with a full gutting of the space, it is best to frame the walls with the shower door support in mind. I like to add an extra stud on either end of the shower stall, exactly where the shower door will be placed. It’s always nice to hit a stud when fastening the shower door brackets to the walls.

Generally, the installation process rarely deviates, no matter the manufacturer. Firstly, a vertical channel is secured to the wall on the side where the static glass panel will sit. This glass panel is placed into the vertical channel and set onto a door guide that rests on the lip of the shower base. The chrome rod is fastened to the upper edge of the static glass panel and secured to the wall with a bracket. The rod, once perfectly level, is secured to the opposing wall with the other bracket.

The glass panel that serves as the door is set into the door guide and permanently mounted to the chrome rod using two sets of rollers; the upper rollers support the weight of the glass door as it moves along the rod, and the lower rollers will prevent the door from jumping off the rod. Small adjustments to the upper rollers allow the door to glide effortlessly along the rod. I usually set the outer roller slightly lower, which allows the glass door to gradually “want” to close on its own. A vertical bracket with a magnetic strip is secured to the opposing wall to receive the glass door and keep it closed. The final steps include installing weatherstripping on all exposed edges of the glass, following instructions on where to apply silicone in an effort to prevent the escape of water from the stall while the shower is in use.

Most barn-style shower door kits provide a range of shower-stall lengths, which allows for adaptability. In my experience, however, shower-door options seem to lessen once the shower stall length surpasses five feet. And the cost seems to increase drastically at this point as well. Regardless, a shower-door application best suited for any given walk-in shower project is always attainable… with a little research.

With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, it’s no wonder the walk-in shower has become so popular. And the barn-style shower door makes it that much easier to jump in, get wet and jump out. After all — we’ve all got people to see and places to go… no time to waste. I mean, who has time to fill a tub for a good soak? The walk-in shower in my home has become invaluable — I’m always in a hurry! I must admit, though, it’s comforting to know my jacuzzi tub is still there patiently waiting for me, even if I rarely get to use it.

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