Sure, you can replace an old shower curtain with a new one, but a more impressive upgrade is installing a hinged shower door. A door instead of a curtain is an attractive improvement that makes it a permanent enclosure that won’t go unnoticed. When we made the switch in a small bathroom, it gave the room an immediate aesthetic upgrade — and the door did a better job of containing water spray than a curtain. The clean lines of the door made the modest room seem larger too.
At bath and home centers, there’s a large selection of shower doors with a choice of finishes and styles to fit most any decor. A shower door is made of several components: a door, a bottom track, a wall and strike jamb, a hinge and jamb, and seals. There are also end caps, anchors and screw covers in a plastic bag of hardware that can be intimidating. When assembled, you caulk and seal the exterior joints and the shower is ready for use.
A carpenter will charge $407, which includes labor and material, to install a good quality 36-inch-wide hinged shower door. You can buy the unit for $270, install it, and pocket a 34% saving. You’ll need carpentry tools, including a drill, a tape measure, a screwdriver, a miter box, a hacksaw, caulk and a caulk gun. Before you begin, lay out all the parts so you can identify them; and read the instructions thoroughly to learn how they all go together. Then reread the instructions before you begin the installation.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com.
Pro Cost — DIY Cost — Pro time — DIY Time — DIY Savings — Percent Saved
$407 — $270 — 3.2 — 4.0 — $137 — 34%
©2021 Gene and Katie Hamilton. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
