It's that time of the day that you have to take a shower. But you noticed that the hinge in the shower door is broken. How could you fix a continuous hinge shower door? What causes such damage? Just relax! We did comprehensive research to answer your questions.
The structure of a door shower is crucial for safety. The most common problem with a continuous hinge is the gapping caused by an imbalance on one side. As a result, the gap between the door and its frame is getting wider. This will make the door difficult to close and open.
Simply follow the steps below on how to fix a continuous hinge in a shower door:
- Inspect the hinge from both ends. See if dents or a torn portion seem to be the problem.
- Get a screwdriver and unscrew the hinge from top to bottom. Unscrew the middle part last to prevent the door from falling. However, never detach the door if you don't know enough to fix the damage. It's better to leave it to a professional, as the door is quite challenging to reinstall once removed.
- Unscrew the hinges and carefully set aside the door in a safe place.
- Use a pair of pliers to straighten the dents.
- You'll find a small plastic material on the screw hole. This prevents the door from sliding off the hinge. Keep this material aligned by screwing it in place.
- Get a soft cloth to wipe the edges and corners of the hinge. If there's a rusty part anywhere, soak it with soap and degreaser.
- Measure the hinge if it fits enough to cover the edge of the door. You may need to replace the hinge if the damage is too severe.
- Check the door frame and make sure there's enough space for screwing. If the frame is made of concrete, you can repair the damage by reapplying a concrete solution.
- See if the screws are loose or too rusty. Lubricate stiffened screws to smooth out the motion. You can also replace ineffective screws to ease the door movement.
- Reinstall the door by aligning the hinge on the frame and screwing the door back in place.
We'll learn throughout this article the steps in fixing a continuous hinge shower door. We'll also provide some issues the hinge might have and how to resolve these issues. Of course, you'll learn more about relevant topics we should talk about. Be ready, and let's read up to the end!
How to Fix Continuous Hinge Shower Door
A continuous hinge also referred to as a piano hinge, is a long strip of hinges that's usually installed between the door and its frame. Hinges are basically what make the door swing close and open.
Continuous hinge is common in glassdoors like what we can see on convenience stores, offices, and showers.
The primary purpose of this extended set of hinges is to match the door's height. It can hold heavier weight compared to common hinges that cover only two spots of the frame. Also, a continuous hinge supports a distributed weight of the door.
Most shower doors are made of glass. That's why a continuous hinge is a wise choice, considering that glass doors are heavier than regular wooden doors.
Why the Hinge Breaks?
Aside from gapping, you might encounter other issues that will arise due to regular shower use. You may refer to these issues below and how to fix them accordingly.
Misalignment
There might be a problem during the installation of a continuous hinge, like a misalignment. Misalignment can happen normally or due to the abrupt door swinging when you use it.
You should be gentle enough not to smack the door against its frame. Otherwise, the continuous hinge may get out of shape.
It's advisable to fix such an issue as soon as possible to avoid serious accidents while you shower. You might need to replace the continuous hinge depending on how severe the misalignment is.
Loose Screws
Over time, the screws may get loose due to corrosion. You need to renew the screws and check the door frame if the screwing spots went weak. You may follow the steps below to fix this issue:
- Remove the faulty screws.
- Get some toothpick and drip it on wood glue.
- Insert the toothpick in the hole to make it narrower.
- Let the glue dry, then cut the toothpick off.
- Tighten the new screws in place.
Squeaky Sound
A squeaky sound in door hinges is caused by poor lubrication. This results in a hard, stiffened motion whenever you use the door. You can fix this with a few drops of lubricant on the door corners. The door's motion should be smooth afterward.
How Much Weight a Continuous Hinge Can Carry?
A typical glass shower door weighs around 45 to 70 pounds or more, depending on thickness. This is good for a continuous hinge that can carry a load of 200 pounds.
Since the weight of the glass is distributed along the hinge, it makes a continuous hinge more durable than a single hinge. However, this will depend on how heavy the door is.
The installation also plays a factor in weight distribution. A misaligned door may become heavier on one side.
Should Shower Door Be Glass?
It doesn't mean that shower doors should be made of glass. Instead, you can use alternatives such as a screen panel, curtain, aluminum, and more. However, changing the door type will require you to remove the existing one.
You can also consider a doorless shower. It will be easier to access and will be safer for kids. You just have to be careful not to shatter the shower's glass wall.
Or else, you can renovate the shower area with a concrete wall. Make sure there's another door within the entire bathroom area for the security of the user. Otherwise, you can't go doorless in a shower.
Ideal Measurement For a Shower Door
Shower doors can be wide as 22 to 36 inches. Too wide doors are heavier and riskier, especially glass doors. On the other hand, too narrow doors may cause a person to get trapped inside.
When it comes to thickness, you can consider 3/8 to a half inch, while a height of 72 inches is just fine. Remember that you should aim for a lighter weight yet efficient door size fit for the shower room.
Framed Vs. Frameless Shower Door
Take a look at your shower door. Is it framed? Or is it frameless? Understanding the difference between a framed and a frameless shower door is significant. This will also tell what you need to consider in taking care of the door. See below for the comparison.
Framed Door
The main difference is the material along the edges that support the door. The frame is usually made of rubber. The door is then mounted in concrete or wood to secure the gaps on four edges.
A sealed shower door tends to restrict the odor from escaping and can also soundproof the shower area a bit. The framed door has thinner glass and does not corrode due to the use of rubber or plastic along the edges.
Frameless Door
On the other hand, a frameless door is supported by stainless or metal pieces. Its glass is thicker than a framed door and has a higher risk of corrosion.
Unlike a framed door with sealed edges, a frameless door leaves the top edge open, while the bottom edge often has a rubber strip to block the water.
You'll need a professional to install a frameless door, especially since there's less supporting material in mounting the glass.
However, a frameless door is elegant and space-saving. This is ideal for a minimalist style of interior and a clearer view of the shower room.
Conclusion
We learned how to fix a continuous shower hinge and added more solutions to different problems like a loose screw or a squeaky sound.
You learned the ideal measurement of a shower door and if you can remove it for convenient access. You then realized alternatives to a glass shower door, like a curtain or screen panel.
At last, we shared with you the difference between a framed and frameless shower door. Keep in mind that you need accurate assessment should you want to switch from one door to another.
Do you want to open a new door of knowledge? Try visiting us here:
