How to Install a Pivot Shower Door | 10 DIY Steps for All Beginners

It is often very simple to install a shower door. It is easy to learn how to install a pivot shower door. Many pivot doors can be installed on either the left or right side of the enclosure. You should ensure that the door can swing open freely without hitting any obstructions. For some acrylic or fiberglass shower stall enclosures, the non-hinge end of the threshold track might need to be filled in. Pivot shower doors can swing inwards and outwards, unlike hinged doors.

How to install a pivot shower door

Installing a pivot shower door is as simple as choosing which side to install. Most manufacturers recommend installing the pivot on the opposite side of the showerhead. You can install the pivot door in any direction you like, but you need to ensure that it swings freely and doesn’t hit anything. It is highly recommended that you carefully read the instructions before installing a pivot door. These steps are based upon the manufacturer’s recommendations for installing a Sterling-pivot shower door.

Step 1

Installing a pivot shower door is as simple as choosing which side you want it to pivot. Place the pivot on either the shower head or far sides. Most manufacturers recommend that you place the pivot on the far side. You should also ensure that the door swings open freely from either the outward or inward direction, regardless of which side you choose.

Step 2

You will need to measure the bottom of your door track before you can cut it. Place a tape measure on the flat side of the shower ledge. Be sure to check for curves in corners. You will need to measure the length of the shower platform, also known as the ‘cut length’. Add 9/16 inches to the size of your cut length measured from the pivot side. Make sure you cut only the right side of the track. Cut the end with a hacksaw or miter saw. Make sure to file the edges or sand them smooth.

Step 3

The U-channel, a small piece of metal that secures the glass shower door, slides over the bottom track. Trim the excess hollow seal before sliding on the U channel. To make installation easier, grease the non-pivot track of your door with silicone lubricant. Place the U-channel in line with the way and slide it into position.

Step 4

Place the bottom track on your shower ledge and ensure that there is at most 1/4 inch between the shower wall & the non-pivot track end. Install some tape on the track to hold it in place once it is placed on the shower ledge’s flat side. Mark the shower track with a pencil. Now, insert the bushing supplied on the pivot hole and the plastic plug in the non-pivot hole.

Step 5

Once you have taped the bottom track, prepare and drill the fastening holes to attach the wall jambs (vertical frames). Place the strike jamb, the wall jamb with slots — against the wall — on the wall. Make sure the spaces are facing the shower side. You can use a bubble level to ensure the jamb is vertical. Also, you can use a pencil to mark where you will place the screws on the tile.

Take out the strike jamb and put on safety glasses. Use an awl to lightly punch the markings. This will make drilling the holes easier. Now prepare the holes in the shower tile using a 3/16″ masonry drill bit. You should thoroughly clean the area with isopropyl alcohol or another similar product. After cleaning, place the plastic plugs in the holes provided with the door.

Step 6

Now it’s time to install the bottom rail. Turn the track over and apply caulking to one side of the front lip (the outside of the shower). Use the pencil mark to attach the shower track to the shower ledge.

Step 7

Start with the pivot jamb on the opposite side of the shower head. Insert the bottom end of the track and align the holes. Before tightening the screws fully, secure the jamb using the provided screws. Continue this process with the strike jamb. After the wall jambs have been fastened to the wall, you can apply silicone caulking at the junction of the bottom door track and wall jambs.

Step 8

After caulking, the corners of the wall jambs, measure and cut the top track for the shower door, and measure the distance to be cut by placing the full way over the wall jambs. Add 1/32′ to the space and mark the strike point of the top track. Like the bottom track, cut off excess material from the striking end (not at the pivot end). The glass door won’t fit properly if the pivot end is removed. Like the bottom track, you will need to file or sand it.

Step 9

Place the pivot block in the top track on your pivot side. The smaller side of the pivot blocks should be first. Securely place the top track over both wall jambs. Use a 1/8″ drill bit to make a hole in the groove, through the way, and into the posts on the opposite sides. Now you can attach the screws to the pits. Line up the screws and slide the expander jamb provided into the strike jamb. To make it level, use a bubble level. Secure the expander jamb to strike the frame using the screws

Step 10

Apply a little caulking to the U-channel’s underside. Slide into the U channel at the bottom and top tracks by lifting the narrow glass panel. Once the glass panel is installed, it’s time to attach the pivot bushing bolt and bolt. Secure the bushing bolt. Assemble and secure the top pivot according to manufacturer instructions. Now, it is time to attach the main glass pivot doors. Make sure the bottom of your glass door is not touching the seal.

You will need to align the door properly. To prevent water damage, you should caulk the area where the tile wall meets the wall jambs. Caulk the edges of the bottom track and the inside of your shower ledge. Caulk any other sites that the manufacturer recommends. As a home inspector, I ensure the shower enclosure or door isn’t leaky. Turn on the shower and spray the water at the entrance to check for leaks.

Conclusion

Because of the complexity and size of the pivot assembly, pivot shower doors can be more difficult to install than hinged doors. It will be necessary to measure, adjust, and follow manufacturer instructions. The main challenge will be drilling holes in the tile to allow water to flow through the holes. A helper is required when attaching the glass shower door and fixed glass panel onto the lower/upper tracks.