I recently experienced a terrifying situation where my glass shower door exploded randomly. It was about four years old and likely installed when my house was built. After cleaning up the mess, I'm curious about what to expect for replacement costs and any warning signs I should look out for while shopping. Also, are there any recommendations for safer alternatives that won't explode like this one?
3 Answers
I've noticed that hinge doors seem more prone to exploding due to stress points at the hinges. Maybe switching to a sliding glass door could be a better option? They seem to have fewer potential failure points. Just a thought!
Curious about the thickness of your original glass? I recently replaced my shower glass and opted for 10mm thick while the old one was probably around 5mm or less. Ironically, as I moved the old piece, it shattered into a million pieces. I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but you want breaking glass to just shatter instead of being a jagged potential hazard. If something fails, you want it to disintegrate rather than fall like a solid chunk!
For replacements, you might want to consider laminated safety glass. It holds up much better and won't scatter everywhere if it breaks, similar to what you see in car windshields. It's definitely a safer choice!
That’s exactly what I feared! My wife was in there when it shattered, and it was so loud and sudden. We had just used it without any apparent issues. I understand how tempering works and that something must have caused it, but I’m looking for options that are less likely to create such chaos!