Having a shower door is beyond the apparent function of privacy or even screening the bathwater from the other parts of the room. It also adds to the aesthetics of the bathroom. But like all beautiful things, shower doors are also subject to damage, and you will have to make the hard choice of replacing them, or if you are lucky, it would only need some repairs.
Let’s take you through all you need to know about choosing to repair or replace your shower door.
When your shower door starts to show signs of damage or dwindling value, the decision to repair it often takes precedence over pricing the shower door replacement. Still, sometimes the choice is taken from your hands when the damage is beyond repair.
Taking note of the things that could damage the door and the extent of its effect might save you the expenses of making multiple repairs when you should replace the door.
What Can Damage Your Shower Door?
Your shower door may seem impervious to rust and other effects of water, but it is not entirely invincible. The doors would often lose their color, show cracks or even shatter (sometimes explode) due to some of these factors:
Mineral Deposits
Most shower doors don’t mind the effect of water unless it is hard water. However, when water contains high calcium, magnesium, and lime concentrations, it may leave residues on your glass door, making them filmy if left uncleaned for a long time. The minerals from hard water can also make your door frames rust.
Despite being coated, door frames are still subject to the effects of concentrated chemicals. Prolonged exposure to soap scum or mineral deposits can quickly erode your door frames.
Faulty Manufacturing
This is one of the less likely causes of damage to your shower door. These doors are made through meticulous processes and undergo the most rigorous tests to ascertain their durability, but there is often one that slips through the cracks.
Installation Errors
This is one of the often recorded causes of damage to shower doors. When the door is wrongly installed or some of its components like the screws or fittings, it could cause cracks or even shatter the glass door.
When To Repair Or Replace Your Shower Door
Choosing to repair your broken items is often an easy choice. If it looks fixable, you could get someone to do it or even flex your DIY muscle. If not, you definitely need to replace it.
The case is not too different with shower doors, you can easily spot damage on most doors, and you can decide if it can be repaired or discarded. Replacing your shower door is usually the best way to deal with damages, but sometimes repairs are all you can afford, and it may just be enough.
Check out this list of damages and the best decision to deal with them.
Cracks In Door
This is a hard call to make. Cracks could come from different sources and in various forms. The extent and type of crack help you decide if to repair or replace the door.
If the crack is from screws and the installation process, your best option is to have the door replaced as it would only branch out into more cracks until it eventually shatters. The same choice applies to cracks from the manufacturing process.
However, if the crack is only a small, perhaps “hairline” or something similar, your expert can advise you on whether to repair or replace it.
Discoloration
When your previously clear glass door starts to look filmy, stained, or completely discolored, this is sometimes repairable. The stains and discoloration are from soap scum or just mineral residues that could have been wiped off if noticed early.
You can easily take up the task of cleaning easier stains with some DIY spray and commercial cleaning agents. However, the more hardened stains may need more professional cleaning before they can be clear again. Therefore, the choice to replace discolored shower doors is reserved for the unlikely impossible ones.
Leaking Door Frame
When your shower door permits puddles and wet patches outside the shower, it is usually because of a fault in the frame. Your technician can quickly seal the frame to stop it from flooding your bathroom. However, if the puddles persist after being fixed, you need to either replace the door or your technician.
Corroded Frames
Like discoloration, this decision is based on the extent of the damage. Frames get corroded after being in contact with hard water or just over time, and it becomes a risk for the glass it is holding in place.
Frequent inspection can help you detect these corrosions and manage them before it becomes unable to bear the glass. However, while you can manage corrosion, too much of it will leave you with the choice to replace the door.
A Less Expensive Option
Choosing to repair or replace your shower door is usually a question of how much damage has been done to it. Enjoy your shower doors for longer by inspecting and cleaning them regularly. If they still get damaged despite the care, you can be sure that you had your money’s worth.
FAQs
How Do I Prevent Discolouration on My Shower Door?
Like every other water-related damage to your door, discoloration results from hard water and soap scum residue on the glass. Prevent this by cleaning the screen regularly. In addition, using regular bathroom cleaning agents is a safe option against discoloration.
Will I pay to replace the door damaged from the Manufacturing Process?
This depends on the terms of the purchase warranty. If your retailer has a refund and repair warranty, you may replace the door without having to pay a penny.
Will my warranty cover damage that occurred during installation?
Unless your retailer was involved in the installation process, they would not be responsible for damages during installation. However, most warranty options allow for the replacement of damaged doors within a specific timeframe as long as it wasn’t a result of mishandling or human error after it was delivered.
