Tub Shower Doors in Greater Seattle

Tub doors are tricky because the geometry is constrained. There’s the tub edge below, the spout and faucet on one wall, the existing curtain rod that has to come out, and often a window above the tub that limits how tall the panels can run. We measure for all of this before fabrication and lay the door swing or slide path to clear every fixture.

The most common configurations: a bypass slider for wider tubs (typically 5+ feet), a single hinged glass door with a fixed return panel for narrower tubs or where the bath geometry suits a swing, and a frameless slider for higher-end installs where the framed bypass look would feel dated against the rest of the bathroom.

For frameless sliders specifically, the engineering matters. The roller hardware has to be rated for the heavier glass, the top track has to anchor into wall framing (not just into the substrate), and the panels themselves are heavier and need correct handling on install. We’ve installed these in primary baths across Greater Seattle for the past decade and the look at the 5-year mark is still clean. Bypass tracks accumulate gunk over years of use, but the frameless rollers stay cleaner because they’re exposed and easier to wipe.

Replacing framed bypass tub doors

Tub-door replacements are some of the most common calls we get. A framed bypass is 15 years old, the hardware is seized, and the glass is scratched. The homeowner wants the same opening filled with something cleaner. We pull the old unit, measure the existing opening, and spec the new door to match. Most replacements turn around in 1 to 1.5 weeks because the opening is known.

For new installs as part of a tub refresh or full bath remodel, we measure only after the tile and faucet are in, because wall positions move before that, and build to spec.

Measure, fabricate, install

1. Design. In-home measure with Tim. He notes tub edge, fixture clearances, wall plumb, and existing rod removal. Configuration chosen: bypass slider, hinged with return, or frameless slider.
2. Fabricate. Glass cut and tempered to the opening, track and roller hardware specced to glass weight. Typical lead time: 1 to 2 weeks.
3. Install. Track anchored into wall framing, panels hung, sweep aligned to tub edge. Most installs finish in a half-day.