Planning Guide

To receive an accurate quote for your shower enclosure please follow these simple guidelines to measure your opening. You will also be asked what finish you would like on the hardware. The finish you choose will usually match the other fixtures in your bathroom, popular selections are brushed nickel, polished chrome, brass, polished nickel and oil-rubbed bronze. With 35 standard options and custom colors to match any décor the choices are limitless. The type of glass you choose will also be a variable in pricing. Basic enclosures use 3/8” clear tempered glass, ½” clear glass is also available along with a multitude of specialty glasses with different levels of obscurity. Go to Old Castle and GGI for the wide range of specialty glasses that are available for viewing. When using clear glass the Guardian Shower Guard is also an option. This product allows minimum effort for the cleaning process, and includes a 10-year warranty. It is proven to allow your glass to pass the test of time and continue looking new for many years to come with minimal maintenance.

We will template the finished opening for precise measurement. For the purpose of receiving a quote, measurements to the nearest inch will be adequate. With a frameless glass enclosure the height can be determined by visual appeal. When using a framed enclosure there are standard heights of approximately 71” tall for a shower, and 58” for a tub enclosure. However framed enclosures can also have custom heights.

Shower Doors
Simply measure the width of your door from tile to tile. The height can be anything you want. Most common is 72” -76” for a frameless enclosure. Standard heights for framed enclosures are 71-1/4’ or 70-7/8”. It is usually determined by where it lines up with your tile detail, to ensure it is visually pleasing.

Shower Enclosures with Panels
You will need to measure the width of the both sides of glass. The side that includes the door and the side that meets it at an angle – this is called the return. Measure the height you would like the enclosure to go to. If you have a seat in the enclosure or the return sits on a knee wall or a Jacuzzi platform you will also need to measure the rise and depth of the seat or wall. The rise is the measurement from the sill to the top of the seat or platform. Your measurements will be a factor in the type of hardware that can be used. Once we know the approximate measurements we can determine what options you have to choose from for the type of hardware and the design of the enclosure. You should consider where the door will be placed. The swing of the door is typically the factor to ensure that it does not hit another object such as a vanity or lavatory. If there is confusion on measuring your enclosure for a quote, you can always sketch it out and fax or e-mail it to us.

Neo-Angle Shower Enclosures
Neo-angle shower enclosures typically have three sides, the door placed in the center and a fixed panel on either side. You can also have a 2/3 Neo-Angle, which would consist of a door and one fixed panel. In either case you measure the width of each side and the height you would like the enclosure to be. All Neo-angles require a header at the top of the glass, unless you take the fixed panels to the ceiling for stability. This would create a transom above the door that can be left open or enclosed with a fixed or venting transom.

Sliding (or Bypass) Doors
Sliding doors are typically used when space is limited to allow for the swing of a hinged door. They are also very popular for tub enclosures. Measuring for this type of opening is also quite simple. You will need to measure the width from tile to tile, and the height you would like to make the enclosure.

Spray Panel
Spray panels can be configured for walk-in showers, or to partially enclose a tub. When using a spray panel on a bathtub you can use a fixed panel or choose to have the panel hinged so when bathing children or cleaning you have full access to the area.

Bi-Fold Doors
This style of door is used when the opening is narrow and there is no room for the swing of a door. The door is made of two pieces of framed glass that fold similar to an accordion, allowing for full access to the shower.