How Do You Adjust a Shower Door?

Problems with a shower door can be more than just an inconvenience—they can cause serious issues, including water leaks, mold, and mildew growth. Learning how to adjust a shower door is a great skill to have in your back pocket, especially since most showers require small fixes sooner or later. Here are methods for troubleshooting your misaligned shower door.

Why Do I Have to Adjust My Shower Door?

It’s wise to adjust your shower door whenever you start noticing issues. Ignoring the problem and just dealing with the nuisance will lead to costly repairs down the road. For example, if you get in the habit of using extra force to pull or shut your door, you could potentially break the glass. 

Another common issue is water leaks, which cause puddles on the floor every time you shower. This water damage, over time, can seep through the walls or into the subfloor. If you end up with a mold and mildew problem, it can cost thousands to fix.

How Much Does It Cost to Adjust a Shower Door?  

Hiring a shower door installer costs $60 per hour, and a basic shower door alignment takes an hour to complete. Ask your installer if there are warranties that cover the costs. Keep in mind that these only apply when there is a manufacturer’s defect or if your installer offered a warranty for their original installation.

How to Prep for Adjusting Your Shower Door 

Before you get started, turn off the water to your shower to prevent water from flooding your home. Also, grab a towel and dab up wet spots on the floor to prevent slipping.

Next, figure out what the issue is. Common signs that your shower door needs adjustments include:

• Your door is saggy and doesn’t shut properly

• It’s noisy when you open or close the door

• You notice water puddling on the floor outside of the shower

Once you identify the issue, you can proceed to the steps below to fix it. You’ll need basic tools like a Phillips screwdriver, a level, and a ladder. Depending on the condition of your door, you may need replacement shower door wheels, shower seals, or shims.

How to Adjust a Shower Door With a Few Simple Steps

Most shower doors only need minor adjustments to get back into good working order. Depending on your issue, here are the steps to take. 

Adjust a Sagging Door

It’s difficult to close a sagging shower door all the way. Shower doors can sag due to the hardware and screws coming loose over time. Below are directions on how to make adjustments depending on your shower door type.

Frameless Shower Doors With Hinges

To fix shower doors with hinges, start by grabbing five shims. Take a stack of two shims and place it beneath the door on the right side, and do the same on the left side. Grab the remaining shim and install it between the door and the adjacent glass panel. These will help keep the door level as you work.

Locate the top hinge and use a screwdriver to loosen the two screws holding the glass together. While most adjustments can be made by fixing the top hinge, you may need to loosen the screws on the lower hinge if the door is crooked.

Once the screws are loosened, lift the door slightly into its correct position. Before you proceed, it helps to have a second person there to check the adjustment with a level. Slowly tighten the screws on the hinges. It’s normal to hear squeaking noises as you do this.

Showers With Rollers

To fix a sagging shower door with rollers, loosen the roller screws on top of the door. After you do this, you’ll be able to lift or lower the door until it’s level. When it’s in the right spot, tighten the screws.

Framed Showers With Hinges

If you have a framed shower door on hinges and it’s not shutting properly, you’ll want to adjust the bracket on the top hinge. Loosen the screws on the top plate closest to the wall. Next, remove the screw that connects the door to the hinge, being careful to have a good grip on the shower door. 

You can now move the door however you need to. Remove the plastic cap from the bracket and adjust it to the correct position. Once the door is perfectly level, reinsert and tighten the screws. If the door still isn’t level, you may need to repeat this process with the lower hinge.

Leaking Shower Doors

Adjusting and leveling a shower door can stop some leaks. However, if you’re still noticing shower leaks and your door is perfectly positioned, check for a worn-out door seal. These last for one to five years, so plan to swap them out fairly regularly. Run your fingers along the bottom of the seal to check its condition. If it’s bumpy, brittle, or crumbling, you’ll need to install a replacement.

To purchase the right size seal, measure the thickness of the shower door. Then, trim the seal down to size, which you can do with sharp shears. Removing the old one is as quick as grabbing it on one end and pushing down. To install the new seal, simply pop it into place.

Noisy Shower Doors

Noisy sliding shower doors happen because of worn-out wheels. Before you replace them, try cleaning grime and debris out of the track and lubricating the wheels. If that doesn’t fix the issue, install new ones. Shower wheels have a long lifespan of 15 to 20 years, but begin to deteriorate after that. 

The first step is to lift the shower door up and off the tracks. To make this job easier, undo the top track on one end to give your door room to move. Once you’ve removed the door, you’ll be able to unscrew the wheels. Measure the wheels so you know which size to get when purchasing replacements.

Installing the new wheels is as easy as screwing them into place. If you have more than one sliding door, repeat the steps above with the second door. Next, reinstall the doors and tighten the tracks as necessary.

Mistakes to Avoid When Adjusting Shower Doors

The biggest mistake you can make when making adjustments to your shower doors is accidentally damaging them. You need to be particularly careful when working on frameless shower doors since they weigh over 100 pounds. Unless you have experience working on shower doors, have a second person present to help you hold the door and prevent slips and breakage.

Secondly, if you’re working on fixing a leaky door, double-check your work before calling it good. Use the showerhead and spray both corners of the shower door for a few minutes to check for leaks.

DIY vs. Hiring a Pro 

DIY shower door adjustments are possible if you have the know-how and strength. Depending on the type of door and its size, shower doors can be surprisingly heavy. Most framed shower doors weigh 50 pounds or less, and large frameless ones weigh as much as 170 pounds. Before tackling the project, make sure you have a good idea of how heavy the door is.

On the other hand, if you’re not an experienced DIYer, you could put a lot of time and effort into an adjustment, only to find out that it didn’t fix the problem. If you’re not confident you can DIY this project and hold up a potentially heavy shower door, a shower door installer near you will have the know-how and tools to make adjustments. Plus, they’ll be able to easily spot the issue and fix it for you. 

It’s also worth noting that if your shower door has adjustment issues and it’s fairly new, the problem may be an installation issue. In this scenario, contact the installer and have them come take a look.