How to Create a Luxury Glass Block Shower with a Frameless Glass Door

Many times the question comes up from contractors and consumers on how can a frameless glass door be incorporated into a glass block wall. In the article below learn a unique approach developed by Linda Ewing of Studio GlassWorks in Middleton Wisconsin along with her installation team to connect the glass door to the glass blocks as well as other cool features of this project.

The frameless glass door and glass block shower walls

 For this luxury shower the homeowner wanted the warmth of an enclosed shower but also the high end look of a thick frameless clear shower door system. This dual desire created the challenge of how to install the frameless door in the middle of a NEO angle designed glass block shower (note – if this customer would have been OK with a semi-frameless door it could have been possible to attach the door through the vertical joints of the glass block wall).

With the assistance of the door supplier a custom 3/16” thick metal plate (mirroring the shape of the shower) was created with tabs on the end and holes running through the metal expanse.

The tabs were used to tie the metal plate to the stud walls at the two ends and the holes on the top of the plate connected this piece to the glass blocks and to the pivoting frameless glass door.

A decorative frame component was used above the door to hide the support plate and provide a finished look.

3 other cool features

 Included below are 3 interesting features which will make the enclosure stand the test of time and make it an easy to use the space for it’s owners as well:

Feature 1 – Glass block shower walls – The glass block walls (supplied by Innovate Building Solutions) where prefabricated using a vinyl component stacking system which not only provides more strength than a traditional mortar with wire installation but the system makes a smaller 1/8” grout joints to minimize maintenance as well. In addition the 3 1/8” thickness glass blocks were selected to provide more room in the shower and a more cost-effective price point.

Feature 2 – Different height his and hers shower heads and niches – To make the space easy to use the builder (JG Development of Blue Mounds Wisconsin) had the shower head, valve and niches placed at ergonomically correct heights on each side of the NEO shower to accommodate both homeowners.

Feature 3 – Frosted glass block shower window with alternating 6 x 8 and 8 x 8 units– To ensure privacy, while still providing a light filled shower, a frosted glass block window was premade with the same vinyl stacking system as the shower walls.

What do you think about the installation approach to incorporate the frameless glass door with the glass blocks? Do you like the 3 features profiled as well? Please comment below.

To learn more about glass block shower walls or windows or get a free estimate visit or call Innovate Building Solutions on a nationwide basis (877-668-5888) or for a local project their divisions including Columbus Glass Block (614-252-5888), Cleveland Glass Block (216-531-6363), West Side Glass Block (216-398-1020) or Mid America Glass Block (513-742-5900) of Cincinnati or Dayton and Akron (330-633-2900).

To learn more about architectural decorative glass projects contact Linda Ewing of Studio Glass Works at 608-836-6500.