There is always a cheaper quote. No matter how many glaziers you call, someone will come in lower. And for a lot of homeowners, especially those working within a renovation budget, that lowest number is hard to ignore.
But a shower screen is not like a tin of paint or a set of tapware. It is a structural piece of glass installed in a wet area of your home, used multiple times a day, and expected to last for years. When the installation is done cheaply, the problems do not show up on day one. They show up three months, six months, or a year later, and they cost more to fix than the money you saved.
Here is what actually goes wrong.
Problem 1: Incorrect Measurements
A proper shower screen installation starts with precise measurements taken on site, after tiling is complete. The glazier measures the walls, checks whether they are plumb, measures the base, and accounts for any irregularities in the tile surface.
A cheap installation often skips the on site measure. The installer takes rough dimensions from the builder’s plans or from a quick tape measure, then orders a standard size screen that is “close enough.” Close enough means gaps. Gaps mean water on the floor.
Fixing this after installation usually means removing the screen, ordering a new one or adding filler strips, and reinstalling. That is a second visit, additional materials, and more labour.
Problem 2: Poor Waterproofing at the Base
The junction between the shower screen and the shower base is one of the most important waterproofing points in your bathroom. A well installed screen uses a combination of the right sill or channel, proper silicone application, and correct glass positioning to keep water inside the shower.
A rushed installation often relies on silicone alone to bridge gaps that the screen or channel should be handling. Silicone is a sealant, not a structural waterproofing solution. It degrades in wet environments, especially in high use showers with daily exposure to soap, shampoo, and hot water.
When the silicone fails, water seeps under the screen and onto the bathroom floor. If your bathroom has timber subfloor framing (as most homes in the Macarthur region do), repeated water exposure can lead to swelling, warping, and eventually structural damage.
Problem 3: Misaligned Doors
A shower screen door needs to sit perfectly in line with its frame or fixed panel. If the hinges are not set correctly, the door will not close flush. If the rollers on a sliding shower screen are not aligned to the track, the door will catch, grind, and eventually damage the rollers.
Misalignment is one of the most common signs of a rushed installation. The door looks fine when it is open, but when you close it, you notice a gap at the top or bottom, a catch in the track, or a door that does not stay closed.
Adjusting misaligned hardware can sometimes fix the issue, but in many cases the mounting points were drilled in the wrong position, and the only real solution is to remount the hardware, which means patching and redrilling into tile and wall.
Problem 4: Wrong Glass for the Application
Australian Standard AS/NZS 2208 requires that glass in shower screens be toughened safety glass. This is non negotiable. But within that requirement, there are choices: glass thickness, edge finishing, and whether the glass has been correctly graded for the size of the panel.
A cheap installation may use glass that meets the minimum standard but is not appropriate for the specific panel size. Larger panels need thicker glass to prevent flex. If a 6mm panel is used where a 10mm panel should be, the glass will bow under steam pressure and put stress on the hinges and brackets.
This does not mean the glass will shatter. Toughened glass is designed to be safe even if it breaks. But it does mean the screen will not perform well, and the hardware will wear out faster because it is compensating for glass that is too flexible.
Problem 5: No Follow Up or Warranty Support
Reputable glaziers stand behind their installations. If something is not right, they come back and fix it. They provide a warranty on both the product and the installation.
A cheap provider often operates on volume. They install, they leave, and if you call back with a problem, response times are slow or non existent. Some operate without a fixed business address or use subcontractors who are not accountable to the quoting company.
This matters most when something fails. A leaking seal, a misaligned door, or a loose bracket needs attention quickly in a wet area. If your installer is unreachable, you are paying another glazier to diagnose and fix someone else’s work, which is always more expensive than getting it done right the first time.
What a Proper Installation Looks Like
A quality installation from a glazier who builds screens to order follows a straightforward process.
First, the glazier visits your home after tiling is finished and takes precise measurements. They check the walls for plumb, the base for level, and note any features that affect the screen design.
Second, the screen is manufactured to those exact measurements. This means no standard sizes, no filler strips, and no “close enough” gaps.
Third, the installation is done by the same team that measured and built the screen. They know the measurements, they know the configuration, and they are accountable for the result.
A custom built shower screen costs more upfront than a mass produced screen installed by the lowest bidder. But the total cost of ownership, factoring in callbacks, repairs, water damage, and early replacement, is almost always lower.
The Three Question Test
Before accepting any shower screen quote, ask these three questions:
Will you measure on site after tiling is complete? If the answer is no, the screen will not fit properly.
Do you manufacture the screen to my measurements or supply a standard size? If it is standard size, you are paying for a compromise.
What is your warranty, and who do I call if there is a problem? If there is no clear answer, there is no accountability.
Talk to a Glazier Who Builds to Order
Casse Glass manufactures every semi frameless and frameless shower screen in house, measured to fit your bathroom. No standard sizes. No shortcuts. Contact us for a free quote.
