Shower Screens & Doors Guide - Express Toughening Ltd

Shower Screens & Doors

In some situations, the off the shelf shower screens just won’t fit your spaces so we can provide the bespoke glass panels with all of the fittings such as hinges, handles, knobs, seals, channels and tie bars. We can manufacture toughened glass in clear or obscure to suit your requirements in any shape or size. Whether you are looking for a wet room screen, shower screen, bath screen, shower door or even the full enclosure we can assist you.

Recommendations

It is usually recommended that you use 8mm or 10mm toughened glass. This glass will be connected to the walls or each other using channels, hinges or bracket of which we can supply. If fixing to walls they should be solid or if stud walls extra studs will be required. We can offer an invisible shield (Ritec Coating) as anti-limescale treatment for the screens upon request. Fixed Panels usually sit inside channels but you can use brackets if preferred. In certain situations we also recommend using a tie bar for extra stability. Doors are usually hinged with 2 hinges but we recommend 3 when over 2 metres tall. Do not stand the glass on a hard surface like concrete – it will shatter! All fittings should be protected from the glass edges using supplied isolators.

Measuring Guide

Click through our Measuring Steps below.

1. How to measure

Take measurements from finished surfaces only. Tiling and shower tray / wet room floor must be installed and level.

2. Accuracy

Measurements need to be accurate as toughened glass cannot be altered.

3. Reductions for fittings

Reductions for fittings are shown on our tech sheets but please don’t hesitate to call our Sales Department if you require assistance on 020 8500 1188. If you are more confident to template please use a hardboard and it is advised to order the fittings in advance.

Installation Guide - Fixed Panel (using brackets)

Click through our Installation Guide below.

1. Attach the wall brackets

Attach the wall brackets to the glass & gently tighten so they sit in the correct orientation, keep as central as possible in the hole to allow for maximum adjustment at a later stage.

2. Attach the floor bracket

Attach the floor bracket to the bottom of the glass make sure the bracket is not too tight at this stage as it will be removed during the following steps.

3. Place packing on the tray

Place 6mm packing on the tray; make sure the bottom bracket does not sit on the packing it should be just touching the tray when the glass is offered up.

4. Level and prepare

Move the glass toward the fixing wall, using a spirit level make sure the glass face is perfectly plumb. Mark the bracket hole positions through the brackets. Whilst still in the same position draw the foot print of the floor bracket.

5. Install & apply fixings

Remove the glass & brackets from the tray, drill the wall & insert plastic plugs ready to receive the screw fixings. Remove the bottom bracket from the glass, sit it on the foot print drawn on the tray earlier & mark the fixing hole. Drill & plug the hole, apply silicone to the base of the bracket & plastic plug, screw the bracket down to the tray, be careful to only tighten this gently over tightening will damage the tray & serves no purpose, this bracket will provide lateral restraint only.

6. Lift glass in to position

Place a 1mm packer on the floor bracket, now lift the glass back in to position standing it on the 6mm packers as before. The glass is manufactured square so any discrepancy in the building work will be seen at the wall. Using a spirit level on the outside edge of the glass make sure it is plumb, any discrepancy here indicates the tray is not level. The glass must be installed plumb as the adjoining panels will also be square & have no adjustment if the gaps are to be kept even.

7. Secure the brackets

Slacken slightly the wall to glass fitting brackets then secure the bracket firmly to the wall followed by tightening the glass clamping screws top & bottom. Then fit the bottom side plate fixing & tighten

8. Finalise

The tie bar can now be positioned & secured ensuring the glass is plumb in both planes. The wall fixing is concealed within the tube/sleeve.

Installation Guide - Door Panel

Click through our Installation Guide below.

1. Attach hinges to the glass

Attach hinges to the glass & gently tighten so they sit in the correct orientation, keep as central as possible in the hole to allow for maximum adjustment at a later stage. IMPORTANT: If using adjustable hinges make sure the pivot clamps (‘hump-back bridges’ top and bottom of pivot pin, see image below) are level at this point or they may restrict the clamping force applied by the hinge and use all supplied gaskets up to 10mm glass. With all 4 loose you can change the finishing position of the hinge then tighten them to set where the glass will spring close to. Use this feature to set at an angle from the wall or overclose to add more pressure to closure seal.

2. Fit 6mm packers

Fit 6mm packers to the top of the tray where the door will sit.

3. Level and mark glass

Sit the glass on to the packers make sure the door is sitting upright by using a spirit level on the face of the glass once achieved mark through the hinges to identify where to drill.

4. Drill holes

Remove the glass out of the way & carefully drill the holes. BEWARE the door is heavy & will require a very secure fixing surface, we do not advise fixing in to plaster board, it is the fitters responsibility to ensure the fixing point is suitable to carry the weight.

5. Finalise

Once drilling is complete insert plastic plugs then present the door with hinges still attached in to the opening, sit back on top of original packers to ensure alignment is maintained, fasten the screws completely in to the wall, then tighten the glass clamping screws firmly on to the glass, open the door & remove the temporary packers.

Andrew Cooke

Superb customer service from the Express Toughening team – when I made a mistake on my order online, they dealt with the issue quickly organising partial refund immediately. My order arrived quickly and their courier messaged me before delivery to check I was in. Quality product at the best price I found online.

Kiron Kular

A massive Thankyou to Helen from Express Toughening for being so patient, co-operative and helpful with my orders. She resolved a re-make without any fuss and in an extremely timely manner. If you want glass – go to Express Toughening and ask for Helen!

Andy Beviere

Extremely easy company to deal with, glass ordered weeks ago and asked for a specific delivery date due to glass testing and no one being onsite. Delivered on time and when asked for other types glass stated they couldn’t help but recommended an equally helpful company!!

Wouldn’t hesitate to use again.

Brian White

I’ve used Express Toughening twice now and have been very impressed with the glass they have supplied and also the helpfulness of the staff. The first job was a couple of years ago when they supplied me with a 6mm satin frosted toughened glass door for our shower room. From my measurements they supplied a fabulous door which had the hinge and lock holes cut out and also took into account the out of square measurement of the door frame. It fitted a treat and is stunning to look at.

More recently (late last year) they supplied me with painted toughened glass splash backs (7 items altogether in 6mm glass with the biggest being 2.1 metres long), all cut to my sizes and with numerous switch and socket cut-outs. My local glass supplier said they could not cut out the close together sockets and switches, but Express did and got it spot on!

As with the glass door, the splash backs were delivered to me by Expresses’ own transport and without any problems and quality issues.

After the scary bit of fitting them all the result is faultless and stunning. Thanks go to Alex who helped me with the ordering process and technical aspects of glass splash backs.

David Convery

4mm toughened glass for greenhouse. Although slightly dubious about ordering from a company I’ve never heard of and not local (300mile away) I’m so glad I took the plunge. A great customer service from Helen and the team from start to finish, clearly there was nothing for me to worry about.

Their website is easy to use and made ordering online a doddle and for those shapes, they don’t have on their website a quick email and rough diagram sorted any issues there. All glass arrived on time well packed and with no breakages.

It’s a company I wouldn’t hesitate to use again and I’d definitely recommend it to others who need quality glass cut to size.

Tony Fields

Excellent product.
Exactly what it says on the tin.
Brilliant, friendly service from Helen.
Definitely recommended.
(And we’re on the Scottish border)

Tony Owen

Fantastic service, fantastic prices and fantastic products – I could not recommend Express Toughening highly enough – I got an immediate response to my request for a quotation, and Helen was so helpful in answering my questions. Order placement was easy and everything arrived exactly on time and as promised. I won’t look anywhere else for my next order – great prices (way cheaper than other quotes) and great service!

Thank you!

Sam Richardson

We have been using Express toughening for a number of years, mainly for glass screens and Toughened Glass for balustrade. The company are always reliable, deliveries always on time and friendly helpful service.

Shower Screens & Doors

Recommendations