Alternatives to CRL Shower Door Seals: Matching a Seal Direct from the Factory
C.R. Laurence (CRL) is one of the best-known suppliers of shower door seals to glass shops, so “CRL seal” has become shorthand for a whole family of profiles: T seals and wipes, H jambs, magnetic pairs, bulb seals and drip rails. Most of these are standard shapes that several factories extrude. If you buy enough of them, buying direct from a factory can cut the cost per metre and let you specify the compound and packaging.
GoldRays is not affiliated with C.R. Laurence. CRL is a trademark of its owner and is used here only to describe the type of seal.
Match by profile, not by part number
We don’t publish part-number equivalents, because a seal that looks the same can differ in channel width, fin length or hardness. Instead, match on four things:
- Profile type: the shape seen end-on (T, H, L, bulb, magnetic, drip rail).
- Glass thickness: usually 6, 8, 10 or 12 mm (1/4″, 5/16″, 3/8″, 1/2″).
- Gap: the space the fin or bulb must close.
- Angle, for magnetic and glass-to-glass seals: 90°, 135° or 180°.
Send us the CRL part number and, ideally, a 10 cm offcut or an end-on photo next to a ruler. We confirm the closest standard GoldRays profile, or quote a new one.
Common profile types and where to find them at GoldRays
| What you’re replacing | What it does | GoldRays range |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom seal / sweep / “T seal and wipe” | Seals the gap under a hinged door; drip rail turns water back in | Bottom seals |
| H jamb / glass-to-glass connector | Joins two panels edge to edge (180°) or at a corner | Glass connectors |
| Magnetic seal pair (90°, 135°, 180°) | Holds the door closed against a panel or wall | Magnetic seals |
| Side seal / bulb seal / L jamb | Seals the hinge side or the strike side | Swinging door seals |
| Sliding door seals | Seals the overlap and edges of sliding doors | Sliding door seals |
| Clear seals that must stay clear | Same shapes in an anti-yellowing compound | SuperClear seals |
| Anything else | Custom profile from your sample or drawing | Custom profiles, tooling typically USD 300 to 400 |
When a factory makes sense, and when it doesn’t
Stay with your distributor if you buy a few lengths a month or need seals the same day.
Buy direct if you fit the same profiles every week, sell seals under your own name, or want a profile nobody stocks. At GoldRays the guide minimum is 500 m per model, standard orders take 3 to 4 weeks, and samples up to 1 m long are free.
Quality you can check
Our clear seals are tested by SGS: no yellowing after 300 hours of ASTM G155 xenon-arc exposure (maximum colour difference ΔE 0.75), a growth rating of 0 in ASTM G21 and ISO 846 mould and bacteria tests, and no damage after the bleach and glass-cleaner test in CSA B45.5 / IAPMO Z124. Report numbers are on our testing page.
Frequently asked questions
Are GoldRays seals compatible with CRL hardware? Seals fit the glass and the gap, not the hinge brand. If your glass thickness and gap match, a seal of the same profile type works with CRL, FHC or other frameless hardware. We confirm each match from your sample before you order.
Can I get a list of CRL part numbers you match? We match one part at a time from a sample or drawing, so each answer is checked rather than guessed.
How much cheaper is buying direct? It depends on the profile and volume. Send the part numbers and yearly quantities and we quote factory prices.
Get a match
Email goldrays@showerdoorseal.org with the CRL part number, your glass thickness and a photo of the seal end, or use the contact page.
About the author
GoldRays technical team
The GoldRays technical team writes these guides at the GoldRays factory in Foshan, China, where clear PVC and polycarbonate shower door seals have been made since 2001. The team works with more than 40 production lines and more than 3,200 moulds for 4 to 15 mm glass, and answers trade questions about fit, materials and testing.
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