CAFSD is a specialized glass company that custom designs and installs glass and mirror applications for the residential and interior commercial markets.
We specialize in:
Frameless Shower Enclosures
Semi-Frameless Shower Enclosures
Framed Shower Enclosures
Mirrors with Floating Glass Shelves
Backsplash Mirrors
Vanity and Bar Mirrors
Correctly installed shower enclosures are designed to prevent leaks under normal shower conditions. Both excessive water pressure and shower spraying directly at the door can result in leaks, as these situations are not normal to most shower enclosures. As well, cleaning your shower enclosure with the spray nozzle also produces excessive water pressure. If puddles of water collect on the floor outside of the enclosure clean it up as soon as possible or it could damage your flooring.
Door Installation/Replacement
Drywalls
The other method of tile/stone installation uses products such as Hardiebacker and Wonderboard. These products are installed in the same fashion as drywall, but with different screws. The tile/stone is then attached to this surface with thinset. With these types of installations, CAFSD definitely recommends using a header. With either of these installation methods, the most important issue is that the tile/stone needs to be installed so that the water flow is directed towards the inside of the shower rather than out onto the floor. This can be accomplished by sloping the sill to the inside of the shower by approximately 3/16″ on a 6″ sill. Believe it or not, despite the crucial nature of directional water flow, this slope is often overlooked by tile installers.
Framing
Means that there is framing all around the glass plus on the sidewalls, bottom and top depending on the style of the door.
Tile Installation
Fireplaces
CAFSD designs and installs a variety of decorative and functional mirrors including mirrors on bathroom vanities, bathtub walls, ceilings, fireplaces, bar areas (often with clear glass “floating” shelves), wardrobe doors for closets, multi-paneled walls of mirror, and beveled mirrors of all kinds and shapes–just about anything you can think of.
Another situation where a header should be considered is on a remodel installation, where there is no practical way to be certain what type of construction is behind the wall to which the enclosure will be anchored. On new construction, correct planning can insure that the additional wood support exists upon which to mount the tile/stone where the hinges of the shower door will be attached–a door that can weigh from 80 lbs. to 140 lbs. Said support is necessary to install a header-less, heavy, glass, frameless, shower door. Without this support, in all likelihood, the tile/stone will crack either under the weight of the glass door itself or during installation.