Getting the perfect custom-fit bathtub shower door often seems deceptively simple, leading many DIYers to overlook proper measuring techniques. However, inaccurate measurements can lead to doors that don't close properly, leak, or even need to be reordered - mistakes that can cost hundreds of extra dollars.
This step-by-step guide will walk you through the essential process of measuring for a watertight, flawlessly functional tub door that avoids these frustrating and expensive errors. We will cover precisely how to measure your tub lip, interior width, interior height, and wall alignment.
With the help of clear diagrams, you’ll learn pro tips for taking precise measurements so you can order a bathtub shower door that slides smoothly into place on the first try. Accurately sizing up your tub opening is easier than you think when you follow this guide to avoid the most common measuring mistakes that sabotage getting a perfect custom fit.
Why Accurate Bathtub Shower Door Measurements Are Crucial
A custom-sized bathtub shower door is only as good as the measurements that are used to create it. Incorrect tub opening measurements will lead to doors that simply do not fit right, no matter how well-designed or meticulously constructed they may be. The consequences of inaccurate measurements are both frustrating and costly. Doors that are sized wrong can have large, unsightly gaps, fail to close properly, bind against the tub lip, or completely fail to seal against water leaks.
Getting measurements wrong by even a fraction of an inch can cause clearance issues leading to expensive reworking or reordering of the door, major delays in completion, and installation charges for a second attempt. Water leaks resulting from even small alignment issues can cause moisture damage and mold over time. The goal is to get a door that slides smoothly into place, latches with a satisfaction click, maintains a tight water barrier, and enhances the beauty of your bathroom for years to come.
Achieving this perfect, leak-free fit that looks like it was custom-made for your exact tub requires careful measurement of the tub lip, interior width and height, and alignment of walls and plumbing. With the proper technique and right tools, accurately measuring for your dream shower door is very attainable. This guide will ensure you get it right the first time.
Tools You’ll Need for Measuring Your Bathtub Shower Door
Gathering the right tools ahead of time will make accurately measuring for your bathtub shower door much easier. The basic gear you’ll need includes:
• Tape measure
• Level (at least 24 inches long)
• Pencil and paper (to record measurements)
• Camera and/or cellphone (for taking visual reference pictures)
• Helper (optional, but useful for holding the level and taking pictures)
As long as you have these essentials, you’ll have everything necessary to measure the critical dimensions which will determine the custom shower door that’s right for your tub. Now it’s time to learn how to utilize these tools properly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Measuring for a Bathtub Shower Door
Once you have all the tools you need, follow this step-by-step guide and let’s learn how to proceed with measuring your bathtub shower door.
Understanding Your Bathtub Lip (The Critical Starting Point)
The tub lip is the projecting outer flange that runs around the rim of your bathtub, separate from the tub walls. This lip provides the sealing surface that shower doors press against to prevent leaks. Because shower doors sit on and seal against the lip, its width and height form the foundation for determining the optimal door size and type for your tub.
The lip has two critical dimensions that must be measured properly:
• Lip Width
This is measured by running a tape measure across the full exterior width of the tub lip, then marking the exact measurement. Get very precise, even a 16th of an inch matters.
• Lip Height/Overhang
Place one end of the tape measure vertically against the outside tub wall under the lip, then measure horizontally up to the outermost protruding edge of the lip itself. For doors that seal directly to the lip, this overhang measurement determines the threshold clearance required.
Carefully gauge these tub lip dimensions, as they anchor all the other measurements and factors in choosing a watertight, structurally sound shower door.
Measuring the Width of Your Bathtub Shower Opening
Once you have your tub lip measurements locked in, it’s time to accurately gauge the interior width of the shower opening from wall-to-wall along both the front and back of your bathtub. It is imperative you measure the width at both the top front location where the future door will hang over the tub lip, as well as at the unobstructed back portion where the sealed edge of the door will meet the return wall. Here are the detailed steps:
Step 1
First, measure across the full span of the tub’s front opening, placing the tape end precisely against one wall, extending it horizontally across the lip, and marking the exact measurement where it meets the opposite wall. Be sure the tape remains perfectly level the entire way across. Repeat 2-3 times and record all numbers to ensure accuracy.
Step 2
Next, perform the same width measurement at the rear point where the shower door will form a vertical seal against the wall. Stretch the fully extended tape tautly from wall-to-wall at the maximum unobstructed back area. As above, keep the measuring tape as level as possible and take the measurement 2-3 times for averaging purposes.
The reason you must measure both the front and back widths is that walls are often not perfectly parallel, meaning you could have a slightly larger width at the top than the sealed door edge near the back. Since shower doors can’t seal or function properly with gaps, you must use the smallest back width dimension to determine the maximum door size.
After step 1 and 2 carefully record the smallest of your consistent back-wall width measurements, as this real-world width capacity is what you must work with for a properly-sized door.
Measuring the Height of Your Bathtub Shower Opening
The next vital measurement is determining the optimal height for your shower door based on your tub and bathroom dimensions. Follow these key steps:
• Step 1
Measure from the top outer edge of the tub lip up to the ceiling. If you don’t want a full height door, measure instead to the desired height mark you place on the wall. Repeat the measurement several times using a level and record the measurements.
• Step 2
Consider the door type—sliding, pivot, barn door style—and track or hardware when gauging height. For example, sliding doors require 3-4 inches of ceiling clearance for the track. Or if installing a header across the top, measure that piece so the door height leaves room.
• Step 3
Account for the tub lip overhang when calculating clearance. For instance, if you measured 60 inches from the tub lip to the ceiling, and your lip height is 1 inch, then you’d order a 59-inch-tall door to fit the opening vertically. Also, factor in any slope or angled corners in the ceiling around the tub, going with the shortest height measured to ensure clearance.
Other height considerations that determine the ideal door size include obstructions like partially recessed lights, vents, or plumbing pipes hanging down. Make sure to measure any obstruction’s location and reduce the ordered door height to provide adequate room above or below. With pivot doors that don’t have a track, you may have more height flexibility if no obstructions exist.
Carefully measuring and recording these tub opening height metrics according to your planned door type allows you to determine the absolute maximum height possible before hitting an obstruction. Order to this exact full height so your shower door elegantly fills the entire vertical space without bumping into anything once installed. This makes your measurements well worthwhile!
Checking Wall Alignment and Squareness
Walls in older homes especially often deviate from perfectly plumb and square orientations across a tub opening. This means the walls may tilt slightly inwards or outwards rather than aligning perfectly vertically. Also, the side walls may not form a precise 90-degree angle where they meet the back wall. Either issue can cause shower door fit, sealing, or operation problems if the alignment is significantly off. So, checking for plumbed and square walls is imperative.
First, use a 4-foot level to check each wall section bordering the tub entrance for vertical plumb alignment. Place the level fully against the wall vertically and slide it top to bottom noting any deviation. Even a small 1⁄4 to 1⁄2 inch variance over several feet can mean an out-of-plumb condition.
Next, measure diagonally corner-to-corner across the tub opening, crossing from the front top left to the bottom right back corner for one measurement. Then take the same diagonal measurement from the top right front across to the bottom left back corner. For a square orientation, these two diagonals should be within a 16th of an inch or less of each other.
If either check reveals the walls are more than around 1⁄4 inch out from plumbed or square, you’ll need to account for this when designing and sizing the door. Using careful hands-on dry fitting once the door arrives is key for slightly unsquared walls. For more pronounced out-of-alignment walls, consider having a door specially made with mitered edges or other corner compensation in the frame. This avoids leaving noticeable gaps or seal issues after installing a standard square-cut rigid frame.
Documenting Your Measurements: Tips for Accuracy
Carefully record all your tub measurements in an organized manner for reference. Taking close-up pictures with annotations on the photos noting dimensions is extremely helpful. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to forget an exact measurement during the often multi-week period between measuring and installing the door.
Double and even triple checking each metric against your previous numbers also instills high confidence you’ve gauged properly. Make notes on any irregularities like unusual alcoves or off-angled ceilings that affect sizing. These documentation habits confirm accuracy when the custom-cut shower door arrives, letting you double check fit precision before finalizing the transaction.
Common Measuring Mistakes to Avoid (Costly Errors!)
Even veteran DIYers make silly measuring mistakes occasionally when prepping for a new shower door. By learning from others, you can dodge these common blunders:
• Not Accounting for Tub Lip Size
Forgetting to measure and factor in the height and width of the lip overhang leads to doors that bind, gap, or leak. Always base measurements off the tub lip as the starting point.
• Assuming Walls are Square and Plumb
Tubs in older homes especially often have walls that tilt and corners out of square. Failing to check alignment means the door frame may twist or make gaps appearing after installation.
• Measuring Only Once
Single quick measurements often miss by enough to require redoing work. Measure every dimension like width, height, and diagonal twice at minimum for accuracy.
• Forgetting to Consider Door Hardware
Know if you need a pivot or sliding door and account for the additional height track kits require before measuring. Missing this can mean realizing ceilings are too short after ordering.
• Rushing the Job
Moving too quickly leads to Transposing numbers, smudged notes, and photos too blurry to decipher later when ordering. Slow down and be meticulous with a helper assisting if needed.
Avoiding these common measuring pitfalls takes a bit more time upfront but saves huge hassles later. By being diligent with your tape measure and tools, your new shower door will install seamlessly in one perfect piece.
Choosing the Right Shower Door Based on Your Measurements
Now that you have captured all the necessary tub measurements to within 1/16th of precision accuracy, it’s time to select the optimal shower door. Use your interior width calculations to determine whether a sliding or hinged pivot door fits best, factoring in ease of entrance and any space limitations.
Your adjusted interior height after accounting for the tub lip and overhead obstructions indicates what the maximum size door your bathroom can structurally accommodate.
Compare your measurements against manufacturers’ standard size offerings first to potentially simplify installation. If your measurements differ significantly from typical sizes, having a fully customized door fabricated to your exact bathroom openings using the measurements you gathered eliminates any guesswork and ensures a perfect hassle-free fit.
Carefully collected tub data allows picking an ideal shower door saving huge headaches compared to estimating dimensions. With measurements in hand, you can confidently proceed confident the ordered door will slip right into place.
When to Call a Professional: Beyond DIY Measuring
While armed with basic tools most homeowners can measure their own tubs adequately, a minority of bathroom scenarios exist where seeking professional help ensures success. For instance, if your walls tilt dramatically requiring complex mitered cuts or your 1960s metal tub lip features uneven height profiles, a skilled contractor may need to tackle measurement intricacies. Tubs chiseled into diagonal lathed corners also often benefit from an extra set of hands.
If merely glimpsing your unique bathroom setup gives you pause about executing measurements accurately yourself, don’t chance frustration by guessing. Call a reputable pro willing to lend their expertise for an hour or two to map shower door configurations outside most DIY comfort zones.
Conclusion
Carefully measuring your unique bathtub opening and lip dimensions serves as the crucial first step in selecting and installing any custom-cut shower door. Rushing this process risks gaps, leaks, misalignment, and other functionality issues with even 1⁄4 inch measurement mistakes proving problematic. So, take your time, double check all numbers, document thoroughly, and match these metrics against Sunny Shower Online Shop to find an elegantly sized, watertight door solution for your home.
With precise measurements guided by the tips above, installing and enjoying your new black shower door becomes an afternoon’s work rather than a weekend of frustrations. Contact Sunny Shower’s sizing experts today to discuss transforming your tub into a relaxing oasis, perfectly framed for generations to come.
