All about shower door seals bottom
Introduction
In this article we are going to talk about Shower door seals bottom, or sweeps as they are also known. We will talk about how to select the right bottom seal for your shower, how to find a leaky one and how to replace your shower door bottom seal.
Your seal will develop tears and cracks from opening and closing the door, and eventually will need replacing and in this article we are going to cover everything you need to know about your shower door bottom seal.
Related article: When do I need to replace the shower door seal?
With more and more families prefering showers nowadays, shower door seal bottoms are becoming very common, but for most of us we don’t know what a bottom seal is.
Related article: what makes a suitable shower door seals bottom.
Perhaps that leaky shower door seals bottom is getting on your nerves and you are thinking of replacing it by yourself but you are confused with how to replace it in the correct steps. This blog will give you the answers for both how to replace your bottom seal and how to choose the right seal for the job!
A suitable shower door seal bottom
When talking about bottom seals the rubber strip is an indispensable part of the shower door seal bottom. The main function of this part of the shower door seal bottom is to protect the glass. This is thanks to glass not being the strongest of materials making it likely to break and shatter from collisions.
Nowadays, the material of the shower door strips tends to be PVC or EVA. Each one has a different role and a different advantage.
Yet as as the same in all industries the quality of the strip is controlled by the quality of the raw materials and its manufacturing process.
The best strips on the market today are EVA strips. Why? Because their performance does not change due to climate change. In summer or a cold winter, theier performance can be guaranteed. A superior rubber strip should have a good guarantee for keeping the wet and dry areas of the shower room seperate.
Check out some of our products for the 100s of different types of seals.
Related article: 80 blogs all about shower door seals
How to select a suitable shower door seal bottom
Fixing a leaky shower door seals bottom
Cause:
Most shower door leaks are caused by improper the shower door seal installation, inadequate caulking, damaged or missing doors sweep or gaskets.
Tools and Material needed:
Caulk gun, Silicone caulk, Razorblade scraper, Utility knife, Finish nail, Rags or sponge, Toothbrush, Screwdriver, Scissors, Putty knife, Rubber gloves, Spray lubricant, Shower door sweep
Solution:
- Use a razor blade scraper to remove all caulking that is on the inside of the shower door frame.
- Inspect the drainage holes and channels, ensuring that they are not clogged with caulk, soap residue or other things. Use a toothbrush and warm water to clean the shower door track along the sides and bottom, clear the holes with a finish nail, needle, or thin wire. If it is not clean enough, use detergent and water for further cleaning, but be sure to dry with a clean dry towel after cleaning.
- Inspect the rubber seals around glass and framework and look for any damage. If your door sweep is damaged you should replace it. Typically, a Philips head screw is inserted on one end of the track to hold the sweep in place. Remove this screw and slide the old sweep out. To install the new sweep, spray a little lubricant on the part that slides into the groove on the bottom of the door, or you can use some liquid soap. Use scissors or a utility knife to trim the sweep to the proper length.
- Look for any gaps between the shower door frame and tile or surroundings. Caulk if necessary. Sometimes cracked tiles or missing grout around the door frame is the source of the leak. The real cause of the leak must be found, otherwise, even if it is replaced, there is no guarantee that it will not leak again.
- Remove any old caulking on the outside of the door track and caulk the outside of the shower door frame using silicone caulk. Make sure you use a caulk that is mildew resistant and matches the color of the tub or shower surround or the tile. Clear silicone can also be used.
How to replace a shower door seal bottom
Conclusion
The perfect shower door seal bottom should not only be waterproof, but also protect the glass and prevent the glass door from colliding and smashing.
These two parts are the most important role of the rubber strip or shower door seal bottom. A rubber strip suitability, is related to the layout of your shower door. If the seal fits your shower door it can and will prevent water leakage.
There are many reasons for water leakage. Some of these reasons are due to the shower door seal installation, or cracks or just general aging of the shower door seal.
Thankfully solving the problem of water leakage is not difficult. If you have the right dressing tools and buy the suitable shower door seals bottom, you can install it by yourself hassle free. Check out some of our products for a huge selection of options
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