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There’s no better way to unwind than to step into a nice warm shower!
However, nothing ruins a shower quicker than a door not closing, and your shower being shared with the whole bathroom. Suddenly that relaxing shower has turned into a frantic mopping and questioning how it all ever went so wrong!
Thankfully, there’s a few ways we can fix a shower door that doesn’t close. I’ve put together all of them in this guide to help you fix your shower door on your own.
One question is always asked first though, which is…
How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Shower Door?
“Why should I fix my shower door on my own?” must be your next question. To answer this, you’ll need to know how much money you can actually save by going the DIY route.
Let’s see how much it costs to fix a shower door that won’t close the whole way.
First of all, you can save money by NOT calling a repair expert to examine your shower door. Calling someone to assess the problem alone can cost a few hundred dollars.
Once the problem has been identified, the technician will provide you with an estimate for the repairs, which can range anywhere between $200 and $600.
Now you have an idea of how costly it can be to get your door repaired, and how much money you can save by fixing it on your own. In the mean-time, apart from a full door replacemen, the methods below won’t cost you more than $10 to fix the issue. So without further ado, let’s do it ourselves!
Fixing a Sliding Shower Door That won’t Close Properly
If your bathroom has a sliding door that won’t close the whole way, then there are certain steps you can try to fix it yourself.
Let’s have a look at the steps you should follow to make sure you don’t get blasted by cold air in your shower ever again.
Cleaning the Door Tracks
As is the case with every sliding door, the tracks accumulate a lot of dirt and dust, causing it to block the door from opening and closing properly.
To solve this problem, all you need is white vinegar. Pour the vinegar into the tracks and leave it for up to 10 minutes.
If you notice that the vinegar drains away faster than usual, then block the weeping holes of the door, which are designed to let water escape from the tracks.
Once the vinegar soaks the entire track, move the door back and forth a few times and then rinse with water. This should cause all of the dirt to wash away.
Scrubbing the Door Tracks
If the white vinegar and rinsing method didn’t solve your problem, then it’s time for plan B. For this, can use another lubricating solution that’s infused with minerals.
Coat the entire track with this solution, and then use a stiff brush to scrub the entire area and remove all of the grime.
If the dirt deposit is a little too stubborn and doesn’t get dislodged with a brush, then you can use something with a rigid edge to remove the dirt.
Make sure to not use a screwdriver or something sharp, as it can scratch the surface of your shower door.
Removing Debris from the Door Tracks
Before you try anything else, a good idea would be to remove all of the visible debris from the tracks by using tweezers, chopsticks, or toothpicks.
Even if you’re unable to remove the debris properly, you’ll still be able to loosen it up. It can be removed by using white vinegar and scrubbing.
Examine the Door Rollers
Sliding doors are nothing without their rollers or wheels, which are responsible to ensure that your shower door opens and closes smoothly.
You can examine them to check if they’re rolling properly, or if they’re getting stuck after moving a little.
If you feel you have to put in a little more effort to close the door completely, it may also mean that the rollers are stuck. Remove the shower door from the tracks, and clean the rollers with vinegar or the aforementioned solution.
It’s also a good point to check if the wheels are rolling. If they are free but don’t roll, the door is out of level, not necessarily dirty. More often than not, the spindle on the roller rusts, so the roller can’t spin.
Also clean the rollers to remove all of the dirt and any rust.
Reposition the Door
If the door doesn’t perform any better, you can remove the door from its tracks and see if there are any visible blockades or hurdles.
Once you put the shower door back into place and slide it open and close, it should be able to close properly.
Adjust the Rollers
If your sliding door isn’t closing all the way, chances are the door roller isn’t aligned properly. You need to adjust its level.
This can be done by tweaking the door rollers. These which will raise or lower the height of the shower door. Once the door is at the correct level, it’ll begin to open and close properly.
Fixing a Swinging Shower Door That Won’t Close Properly
If you have a swinging shower door in your bathroom, it can succumb to wear and tear pretty quickly. Here are some steps you can apply to fix the problem on your own.
Tighten the Screws
The shower door is joined to the wall through a frame. Examine the screws and if some are loose, grab a screwdriver and tighten the screws.
However, if the screws don’t tighten properly, then you should remove them and drive longer screws into the frame that’s attached to the wall (just make sure to check if there’s anything behind the wall first). If that doesn’t work, then remove the framing, drill new holes into the wall and reattach it.
Apply New Adhesive
If your shower door is held in place with an adhesive, maybe it has gotten weaker over time and causes the door to get disbalanced.
You can remove the glue and sealant by prying it away using a knife or screwdriver. Then, remove all traces of the glue by using rubbing alcohol. However, if you have a fiberglass tub, be careful as this can damage the tub.
Once the glue is removed, you can place the frame back with a new adhesive, using a level to make sure the door is plumb. Then use a sealant to properly seal all the edges.
This should help if the shower door is unbalanced or leaning to one side. Hopefully, it should also allow the door to close properly.
Clean the Hinges
Often, the door hinges get dirty due to soap buildup. This causes it to make a strange sound while moving. It can also prevent it from closing all the way.
You can prepare a vinegar and water solution, dip a toothbrush, and scrub the hinges properly.
By doing this, you should be able to clean out the hinges properly and bring them at level. The door should be able to close properly.
Can you Cut a Glass Shower Door?
If there’s a crack or hole in your glass shower door, there’s a workaround you can try. It involves cutting the part of the glass door that has the crack.
So yes, you can cut a glass shower door, whether you need to replace all of it or just a small part.
However, if you don’t have any experience in working with glass, I’d suggest you don’t do it yourself. You’ll be risking injuries, and this isn’t like normal glass. Shower doors are often made out of tempered glass, which is a no-go for DIYers as it requires specialist tools.
Conclusion
It’s never a pleasant feeling to feel cold air on your body as you’re taking a warm shower. This is why you need your shower door to close all the way.
In fact, you need your privacy when showering too! So, no peeking!
There are small issues that cause it to remain slightly open. They aren’t worth spending hundreds of dollars on.
Moreover, you can easily repair the shower door on your own, and most of the time, you can get it to work properly in no time at all.
I hope this article teaches you how you can fix your shower door on your own.
If you found this post helpful, feel free to check out similar articles on our site.
Thanks a lot for reading, and have a great day!
-Craig
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