How to fix misaligned shower door?

[laurielad]

my shower door won't shut or open easily. i have loosened the two adjusting screws that are on the top hinge side of the door which should allow me to slide the door to adjust it. But the door wont slide at all. Have you any tips to adjust the door ?

[MitchellMc]

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @laurielad. It's tremendous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about shower doors.

It sounds like you’ll need to do a bit of troubleshooting, as it’s hard to say exactly why the door won’t open or shut properly just from the description. I would start by slowly opening and closing the door and paying close attention to where it seems to freeze up or become difficult to move. Try to see if there’s any physical obstruction — like a point where the door is rubbing against the frame or another part of the shower. Check carefully around the frame and the hinges to see if anything looks out of alignment or if screws have worked loose.

If there’s no obvious contact or physical obstruction, it’s possible that the hinge mechanism itself is binding internally, especially if it has become corroded or seized up over time. Sometimes applying a little lubricant to the hinge can help free it up, but you need to be cautious — if the hinge is badly worn, forcing it could make it worse.

One important thing to keep in mind is that glass shower panels can shatter unexpectedly if too much pressure is applied or if they are under tension from being misaligned. I’d strongly recommend getting a professional to have a look if you're unsure, just to stay on the safe side.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell
 

[laurielad]

Hello Mitchell,

It sounds like a simple 5 min job-But alas; I'll keep you informed.

Laurie Lad.

[laurielad]

Mitchell,

I said that I'd keep you informed; well here it is.
I tried loosening the screws and applied oil but nothing is working.
I'll rethink what to do but alas I may have to get a tradie to fix it.

laurielad

[JacobZ]

Hi @laurielad,

Where exactly is the door catching? Pivot hinge doors will usually bind if they are touching the frame at the bottom. Is it touching at the bottom?

If it is catching at the bottom, there may be a height adjustment screw somewhere that will allow you to lift the door.

Could you have a look around the frame and take some additional photos? If you can find a location where it is binding, please take some photos so I can have a look.

I am happy to assist further if you'd like to keep trying.

Jacob

[laurielad]

Thanks for helping. I'll send some photo's.

The door won't close at the bottom right side; you have to lift the door up to close. It's hard to lift over.

You can see on Photo B3 that the top side has room to move to the left which would bring the bottom right side up higher.

laurielad

  

[EricL]

Hello @laurielad 

Have you tried to manipulate the door frame itself? For example, lifting one side of the door to see if it provides clearance. This will then verify to you that perhaps the hinge has worn down and might need replacement. Please note that working with glass is dangerous an accidental hit with a tool or when too much force is applied could cause the glass to shatter and cause injury. Please make sure to wear personal protection such as gloves and goggles when handling glass. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[laurielad]

EricL,

I've tried lifting the low side up with wedges but it didn't work.

I'm going to start again and see what I can do this time; should only take 10min,

Laurielad