Ordering a custom glass shower enclosure means making three decisions most homeowners have never made before: how the enclosure is measured to fit a real (rarely square) wall opening, which layout works in the space, and how the design keeps water inside the shower instead of on the bathroom floor. This guide walks through what to expect at the on-site measure, the five common layouts, the four design decisions that prevent leaks, and the short checklist to have ready before the quote conversation. Moffat has measured, fabricated, and installed custom glass shower enclosures across Northern Colorado since 1921. Custom glass shower enclosures involve four planning decisions: an on-site measurement that captures the as-built opening, the layout (alcove, corner, neo-angle, curved, or walk-in), a leak-prevention spec (curb slope, sweep and gasket selection, panel sealing, drainage layout), and the hardware finish pairing.
The on-site measure is the moment the custom shower stops being a design idea and becomes a fabricable spec. A Moffat fabricator visits the home with a digital laser measure, captures the alcove or corner dimensions at multiple points top to bottom and side to side, checks the tile or substrate for flatness and plumb, confirms ceiling height, identifies the drain location, and documents door-swing clearance and adjacent fixtures. The appointment typically runs 30 to 60 minutes and produces the dimensional spec that fabrication is cut to.
Customer-supplied measurements rarely produce a panel that fits the first time. Real wall openings are rarely perfectly square, plumb, or level: variation is often 1/4" to 1/2" top-to-bottom or side-to-side, well within construction tolerance but well outside what a tempered glass panel can absorb. A panel that arrives 1/4" too long for an out-of-square opening is unusable, has to be re-fabricated, and adds 1 to 2 weeks to the timeline.
The buyer's prep work is short but specific: tile (or planned tile) installed to the alcove dimensions; drain location confirmed; ceiling height final; planned plumbing relocations complete; and a sense of door-swing preference. Frameless residential shower doors swing outward per most residential building codes for emergency egress, which constrains the layout in tight bath plans.
After the on-site measure, the dimensional data feeds directly into in-shop fabrication and tempering in Northern Colorado, the same data point that underpins Moffat's lead-time on custom shower work.
Most custom glass shower enclosures fit one of five layout patterns. Picking the right layout for the space is the second planning decision.
Alcove Enclosure. The most common residential layout: a single fixed panel and a swinging door fitted into a three-wall alcove (typically 30" to 60" wide). Standard spec is one fixed panel plus one out-swinging frameless shower door with a flat-polished edge profile. The right layout for most primary and guest baths bounded by three existing walls. The semi-frameless alternative suits alcoves where the buyer wants a thinner glass profile.
Corner Enclosure (Two-Panel L-Layout). A two-panel layout wrapping a corner of the bathroom, with one panel on each wall and a door at the corner intersection. Standard for showers built into a corner rather than an alcove, freeing the opposite walls for a vanity, tub, or window.
Neo-Angle Enclosure. A three-panel layout with two side panels meeting at 135-degree angles to a corner-facing door, producing a diamond-shaped footprint that tucks into a square corner. The most space-efficient choice for tight primary baths where neither alcove nor full corner space is available.
Curved (Radius) Enclosure. A curved-glass layout where one or more panels are radius-bent in the shop to produce a continuous curved footprint. The premium aesthetic choice for walk-in spa-style designs where the enclosure reads as a sculptural element. Available in 3/8" and 1/2" heavy glass.
Walk-In Enclosure (Open / Door-Less). A single fixed panel (or two fixed panels meeting at an inside corner) with no door, where the shower entry is left open to the bathroom. Requires enough run-off space and floor slope to keep water in the wet zone without a door seal. Standard for spa-style primary baths with curbless or low-curb thresholds; benefits from careful drainage planning.
Final layout is confirmed at the on-site measure, where alcove dimensions, drain location, ceiling height, and door-swing clearance all influence which layout produces a clean install.
Preventing water from leaking out of a custom glass shower comes down to four design decisions made at the planning stage: curb height and slope, sweep and gasket selection, panel-to-panel and panel-to-wall sealing, and drainage layout inside the wet zone. Each decision is locked at quote and on-site measure, before fabrication starts.
Decision 1: Curb Height and Slope. The curb is the threshold the door panel and seal sit on. Standard residential curb height is 4" to 6", with a slope of roughly 2 degrees back toward the inside of the shower so water hitting the curb drains into the wet zone instead of onto the floor. Curbless showers replace the curb with a continuous floor slope and a linear drain, locked at the bath design stage, not after the glass is ordered.
Decision 2: Sweep and Gasket Selection. The bottom of the door panel needs a sweep (the flexible strip sealing the gap between door and curb); the side and head jambs need gaskets. Sweep options include drip-rail, magnetic, and clear-vinyl profiles in different durometers for different curb heights and floor conditions. Both are wear items; selecting the right durability spec at quote time means fewer replacements.
Decision 3: Panel-to-Panel and Panel-to-Wall Sealing. Where two glass panels meet, and where a glass panel meets a tile wall, the joint is sealed with a continuous bead of clear silicone after install. The bead is small and barely visible, but it is the primary watertight seal at that joint. Silicone is a maintenance item that lasts years in normal use; inspect annually for cracking and refresh when it goes.
Decision 4: Drainage Layout. Where the drain sits shapes how water moves through the shower. Centered drains work for square or rectangular footprints; offset drains work for walk-ins where the entry zone needs to stay dry; linear drains work for curbless showers and large walk-ins. Drain placement is a plumbing decision made before tile is laid; confirm it with the bath designer before the on-site measure.
Moffat pairs every custom shower install with CRL (C.R. Laurence) sweeps, gaskets, and hardware spec'd to the panel and curb.
The four planning decisions above turn into a short checklist the buyer brings to the quote conversation. Working through it before the on-site measure shortens the appointment and keeps the spec aligned with the bath plan.
Confirm the alcove or corner dimensions at the bath design stage, before the glass quote: the on-site measure validates the as-built opening, but the bath plan should already reflect a workable shower footprint. Decide on layout (alcove, corner, neo-angle, curved, or walk-in) based on the bath plan and door-swing clearance available; the layout influences glass thickness, hardware count, and timeline. Confirm curb design (standard curb vs. curbless) and drain placement with the bath designer so the glass layout reflects the drainage plan.
Pick a hardware finish family (polished chrome, brushed nickel, matte black, brushed brass, or other finishes Moffat fabricates with) so door pulls, hinges, and clips coordinate with bath fixtures. Plan for tile completion before the on-site measure: re-tiling after the glass arrives can offset dimensions and create a refit cycle. Bring photos of inspiration showers, designer references, or existing fixtures so the spec match is built into the measurement appointment.
With the checklist in hand, the on-site measure becomes a 30-to-60-minute working session where layout, leak-prevention spec, and hardware finish are all confirmed together.
How do you prevent leaks in a frameless shower enclosure?
Preventing leaks in a frameless shower comes down to four design decisions: curb height and slope, sweep and gasket selection, panel-to-panel and panel-to-wall sealing with continuous clear silicone, and drainage layout inside the wet zone. Standard residential curb slope is roughly 2 degrees back toward the drain; the silicone bead at panel joints should be inspected annually. All four decisions are locked at the on-site measure, before fabrication. Schedule an on-site measure to walk the spec.
What's the difference between an alcove, corner, neo-angle, and walk-in shower layout?
An alcove fits a three-wall opening with one fixed panel plus a door; a corner enclosure is a two-panel L wrapping a corner; a neo-angle is a three-panel diamond that tucks into a square corner; a walk-in uses one or two fixed panels with no door, sized for run-off. Confirm the layout at the on-site measure.
Can I take my own measurements for a custom shower enclosure?
No. Moffat performs the on-site measure on every custom glass shower enclosure because as-built wall openings are rarely perfectly square or plumb, and a panel that arrives 1/4" off has to be re-fabricated, adding 1 to 2 weeks to the timeline. Request a quote to schedule.
How much space do I need for a walk-in shower without a door?
A door-less walk-in typically needs at least 36" to 48" of run-off space between the entry and the nearest opposite wall or fixture, depending on layout and drainage spec. Linear or offset drains move water away from the entry. Confirm the spec at the on-site measure.
How long does it take to get a custom glass shower enclosure installed?
Typical timeline is 1 to 3 weeks from approved on-site measurement to install, depending on layout, glass spec, and hardware availability. Moffat fabricates and tempers in our Northern Colorado shop, which holds the timeline tighter than installers who outsource fabrication.
Measurement, layout, leak prevention, and the pre-quote checklist are the four planning decisions that shape every custom shower enclosure, and the right choices depend on the bath plan, the as-built opening, and the design intent. Moffat measures every custom shower on-site, fabricates and tempers the panels in our Northern Colorado shop, and walks layout, leak-prevention spec, and hardware finish at the on-site measure appointment. Over a century of Northern Colorado glass craftsmanship, with three locations serving Larimer and Weld County (Evans, Loveland, and Fort Collins). Request a quote with your bath plan, or give us a call to schedule the on-site measure.
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