A custom shower door is not something you pick off a shelf. It is cut for one opening. That means a few steps have to happen in a certain order. None of them are complicated, but knowing them up front makes the whole thing easier to plan around a remodel.
Here is how it works, start to finish. Our process page has the short version if you want it.
Step one: the short form
It starts with one short form. It takes about two minutes. You tell us the town, the door type you are leaning toward, the layout, and where the project stands. Photos help but are optional.
You do not need measurements. You do not need to know the glass thickness. If you are not sure whether you want frameless or framed, say so. That is a normal answer.
Step two: the reply
We reply in about 1 business day. The reply is either a price range or the questions standing between us and one. Sometimes a photo of the curb or the ceiling height is all we need. Sometimes the layout is unusual enough that we want to talk it through.
The range is an honest early picture. It is not the final price, because the final price depends on the opening after the tile is in.
Step three: the template, after the tile
This is the step that makes a custom door custom. Once your tile is finished and set, we come out and template the opening on site.
Why the template waits for finished tile
Tile changes everything about an opening. The tile itself has thickness. So does the setting bed behind it. Walls that looked straight in framing can lean once they are covered. Curbs settle. A corner that was square on paper might not be square in real life.
If glass is measured before the tile goes in, it is measured for a room that no longer exists. Gaps show up. Seals get stretched to cover them. Doors rub or drift.
Templating after tile means we measure the real walls, the real curb, and the real angles. Our guide on measuring and out-of-plumb walls goes deeper on what we check and why.
What happens at the visit
We record the opening, check plumb and level, note the curb and slope, and confirm hardware placement. If something will affect the glass, like a wall that leans or a niche close to a hinge, this is where we catch it.
What you can do to help
A few small things make the template visit go smoothly. Let the tile and grout cure. Keep the shower clear so we can reach every wall. If you have already picked a hardware finish, have it in mind. If you have not, we can talk through options while we are there. Brushed and polished finishes both work at the Shore with regular rinsing.
Step four: fixed price, then fabrication
The price is fixed after the template. Before that, you had a range. After it, you have a number for the glass and hardware that will actually fit.
Nothing about the price changes because a wall turned out to lean or a curb turned out to slope. Those things are already in the template. Then the glass goes into fabrication. That is typically 2 to 3 weeks. Each panel is cut, edged, and tempered to the template, along with any notches for hardware or out-of-square walls.
Step five: a half-day install
When the glass is ready, install is a single half-day visit. Because the glass was cut to the template, the work on site is setting it, not trimming or adjusting it.
We set the panels, hang the door, align the hardware, and check the swing and seals. Then we walk you through care. That usually includes a word on protective glass coating, which reduces cleaning in humid shore bathrooms. It does not eliminate it.
The full timeline
Put together, quote to install is roughly 3 to 5 weeks. Here is how it breaks down:
- Form: about two minutes.
- Reply: about 1 business day.
- Template: scheduled once the tile is finished.
- Fabrication: typically 2 to 3 weeks.
- Install: one half-day visit.
Some projects move faster and some take longer, mostly because of the tile schedule, not the glass. Late spring runs toward the longer end. A lot of shore houses want glass in before summer, especially rentals. If you are remodeling in the fall or over the holidays, the calendar tends to be easier.
The tile schedule matters most. Send the form early, even before the tile is in. That way the reply and the planning are done, and we can template as soon as the tile is ready.
Where we work and where to start
Towns we cover
We cover Monmouth and Ocean Counties, from the north end of Monmouth down to Forked River. In Toms River, many projects are full bathroom remodels where the glass is the last piece. In Wall Township, larger homes often mean bigger openings and more involved custom shower doors.
Before you start
If you are still deciding on a style, read frameless or framed. If you know you want frameless, the next question is glass thickness. If you are working with a contractor, they can fill out the form too, or you can send it together. Either way, the first step is the same: one short form, and we take it from there.
Questions people ask
- How long does a custom shower door take?
- From quote to install, plan on roughly 3 to 5 weeks. Fabrication alone is typically 2 to 3 weeks after the template. Late spring runs toward the longer end because so many shore houses are getting ready for summer.
- Why can't you measure before the tile is in?
- Tile changes the opening. Thickness, setting bed, and small shifts in the walls all move the numbers. Templating after the tile is finished means the glass is cut for the room you actually have.
- When is the price final?
- You get a price range early, based on what you tell us in the form. The price is fixed after the on-site template, once the exact sizes and hardware are known.
- How long is the install visit?
- Install is a single half-day visit in most cases. The glass arrives cut to the template, so the work on site is setting it, not adjusting it.