Short answer: Complete the waterproofing, screed and tiling first, then take final site measurements for custom glass. Hidden support and fixing zones must be planned earlier, but the glass should follow the finished opening—not an unfinished one.
This is the part that tends to get lost in showroom comparisons: the glass is only one component. The finished opening, water path, hardware limits and installation boundary decide whether the result works day after day.
| Decision area | What to record |
|---|---|
| Design stage | Select layout, door handing, support zones and interfaces |
| Finish stage | Complete waterproofing, screed, kerb and tile |
| Survey stage | Measure level, plumb, square and finished clearances |
| Handover | Test operation, water management and care instructions |
Do not approve an option only because its photograph looks close. The same appearance can be produced with different support, glass processing and service access. The written configuration is what the fabricator and installer can actually follow.
The approved record should show finished dimensions, wall and floor variation, glass thickness, door handing, hardware, finish, fixing substrate and interface responsibility. Once tempered glass is made, site cutting and drilling are not acceptable adjustments.
If finishes are incomplete, record who converts structural dimensions into final glass sizes. That single responsibility avoids two teams each assuming the other allowed for tile, adhesive and tolerances.
For Should Tiles or the Shower Enclosure Be Installed First?, start with the condition that would make the first answer wrong. Stone veins and hollow tiles need more care than a generic drill instruction suggests. Follow the sealant maker’s stated cure conditions.
Photograph any cracked, hollow or uneven finish before the survey. Reused hardware may not match the new glass hole pattern or weight. That observation should appear on the drawing or survey sheet instead of being left for the installer to discover.
Protect the wet-area membrane and record any penetrations. Record the drain centreline and the direction in which the floor falls. Together, these two checks connect the room layout to a fabricatable panel rather than treating the enclosure as loose furniture.
Drilling without substrate information risks both brittle finishes and hidden services. Scan or verify fixing zones and hidden services before drilling. A short review call around the marked-up drawing often prevents a costly site workaround.
Measure ceiling height only when it affects bracing or ventilation. Keep finish samples or codes with the purchase record, not only in a chat thread. The result is a decision another person can review without relying on the original conversation.
Before approving the preferred glass arrangement, verify the fixing surfaces. Attach the site photos to that revision.
The proposal needs a response if A production drawing can be correct while the site opening continues to change. Approve door handing, gaps, hardware and finish on one drawing. That check belongs in the approval record.
At the site review, Note whether the substrate is concrete, masonry, framed wall or unknown. The approved quotation should say what happens if the survey changes the configuration. Name the person responsible for closing the point.
For the question “Should Tiles or the Shower Enclosure Be Installed First?”, the goal is not to collect more options; it is to remove untested assumptions. That is the point at which a quotation becomes comparable.
Waterproofing, screed, kerb and tile should form a coherent wet-area system before custom panels are released. BCA guidance is clear that tiles and grout alone are not the waterproof barrier.
At handover, operate every panel and run a controlled water test that respects the intended spray direction. Record any limitation of an open or frameless configuration instead of promising absolute watertightness.
The practical value of an industry guide is not a single magic dimension; it is the discipline of matching panel geometry, hardware, substrate and use. Keep that chain visible in the approval record.
A useful next step is to mark up the ForgeWin shower enclosure range with what would need to change for the project. The custom shower enclosure page provides additional context for that conversation.
Complete the waterproofing, screed and tiling first, then take final site measurements for custom glass. Hidden support and fixing zones must be planned earlier, but the glass should follow the finished opening—not an unfinished one.
For custom work, take final measurements after the relevant tiles, kerb and finishes are complete. Support zones and layout must be planned earlier, but production dimensions should reflect the finished opening and its actual level, plumb and square.
Send a dimensioned plan, straight-on and corner photos, project location, preferred door action, glass look, hardware finish, finished or unfinished status, installation scope and any access or accessibility constraints.
Complete the waterproofing, screed and tiling first, then take final site measurements for custom glass. Hidden support and fixing zones must be planned earlier, but the glass should follow the finished opening—not an unfinished one. The reliable next step is a measured drawing and an itemised proposal that names the glass, hardware, finish, installation scope and limitations. The cited dimensions and practices are reference points, not automatic approval for a particular project or jurisdiction.
Technical note: Requirements vary by country, building type and project. Confirm the current local code, supplier data and site conditions before fabrication or installation.
2026-09-14
2026-09-06
