Types Of Shower Door Sweeps (Bottom & Side Sweep, Door Jamb)

Sometimes, the shower door sweep gets broken and needs to be replaced. In this article, we’ll talk about the different types of shower door sweeps that you can choose from, as well as the benefits of having one. 

What is a Shower Door Sweep?

It is a polycarbonate and vinyl strip that is snapped onto the edges of shower doors without frames. It prevents water from leaking out of the shower and making a mess on the floor. It keeps the bathroom clean and prevents slips and slides. Besides accidents, it also inhibits active mold and mildew growth and spread by reducing the moisture on the floor. 

Shower sweeps are easily snapped in place. In fact, you only need a few simple tools. You don’t even need any form of adhesive to install them and keep them in place.

Types Of Shower Door Sweeps

There are three types of shower door sweeps. Let’s take a look at their differences and how to install them.

Bottom Sweep

Also called the bottom seal, this sweep runs along the bottom of the door. Here are the steps in replacing a bottom sweep:

1. If you are replacing more than one door sweep, do the bottom one first.
2. Remove the old door sweep.
3. Make sure the edges of the door is clean and dry. When necessary, use a glass-safe scraper to remove any residue and dirt. Clean using a glass cleaner and cloth. Wipe it dry.
4. Measure the replacement sweep against the shower door’s edge. Mark the length you need, then use cutting pliers to cut the required size.
5. There is a drip edge or lip on one side of the bottom sweep. This is the side that will be installed facing the inside of the shower. 
6. Snap the door sweep at the bottom of the door. Slide it into place.

Door Jamb

Also called door stop, this door sweep goes along the side of the door that opens. It prevents the door from swinging inward. When installing a door jamb, take some time to check if your door closes against a wall or glass. This is because there are different types of seals for door jambs. No matter which one you’re using, you should be aware of the thickness of the glass in the shower door. This is important so that you know to get the right thickness. These come in standard thicknesses, such as 1/4, 3/8, or 1/2 inch.

A door jamb can either be glass-to-glass or wall-to-glass. Either of these is very easy to set up. Here are the steps in installing a door jamb: 

1. Remove the old door sweep. Clean the door and the wall or glass. If the door sweep is against the wall, make sure to get rid of any adhesive residue.
2. Measure the new door jamb, starting from the curb of the shower and up to the top of the door. Placemarks and cut to the required size.
3. Place the door jamb facing the right direction: the side with the lip has to face outwards away from the shower. This ensures that the door closes against it.
   1. For wall-to-glass setups, place the door jamb inside the shower, ensuring that the door closes against it. Use a pencil to mark where the door jamb needs to be. Take out the protective cover and place it firmly where it needs to be, referring to the marks as a guide.
   2. For glass-to-glass setups, snap the new door jamb and slide it into place on the glass side panel.

Side Sweep

Also called an acrylic seal, the side sweep prevents water from leaking through the door’s hinge at the sides. It’s pretty to install this type of door sweep. However, be ready for far more marking, measuring, and cutting compared to the first two types. Here are the steps in replacing a side sweep:

1. Remove the old side sweep. Clean the area meticulously, removing dirt, debris, and mildew.
2. Place the new side sweep’s edge on the floor – against the door’s hinge side.
3. Mark the top of the bottom sweep. This mark will help you cut a notch in the side sweep later so that you can accommodate the bottom sweep of the door.
4. Mark the top and bottom of the hinge, as well as the top and bottom of the moving part of the hinge (central opening). Do this for each hinge on the door. You should have four marks per hinge.
5. Mark the topmost edge of the door on the new sweep.
6. Cut the seal into 3 pieces using a pair of cutting pliers.
   1. Do a full cut through the top mark.
   2. Do a full cut through the second and third mark of each hinge. Be careful NOT to cut through the first mark.
   3. Discard small pieces from the center of each hinge. At this point, you have to have the top, bottom, and middle piece.
   4. Cut some notches to allow the sweep to fit around the bottom seal and hinges.
   5. Use the pliers to cut two side lips from the edge of the side sweep, starting from the horizontal mark you did before, and up to the end. Do it on both ends of the middle and bottom pieces.
   6. Cut only one notch for the top piece: on the bottom end. This will accommodate the top hinge.
7. Snap the three pieces into place. Make sure the drip edge, or lip, is facing the interior of your shower.

Feeling overwhelmed with all those steps? We would recommend asking for expert help if you aren’t confident that you can get the job done on your own. Better safe than sorry, after all. But if you think you can DIY with a bit of visual guidance, check out this YouTube video tutorial: