Most leaking shower screens in Dubai do not need new glass. A diagnostic guide to seals, sweeps, drainage falls and silicone — and how to tell which one you have.
It is almost never the glass
When a shower screen leaks, the glass is intact and the frame is fine. What has failed is one of four much cheaper things — and knowing which one saves you from being sold an enclosure you do not need.
The four causes, in order of likelihood
- Perished seals. The clear PVC strips along the door edges harden and yellow, typically in two to four years of Dubai water. Once stiff, they stop closing the gap.
- A worn or missing sweep. The flexible strip along the bottom of the door edge is the single most common failure. It takes the most abuse and it is the cheapest part in the whole assembly.
- Silicone failure. Sealant at the wall junction shrinks or lifts, usually where it was applied over a damp or dusty surface. Water then tracks behind the frame instead of into the tray.
- Drainage fall. If the floor falls away from the drain rather than towards it, water pools at the threshold and eventually finds the gap. This is the expensive one — it is a floor problem, not a glass problem.
Diagnosing it yourself in five minutes
Run the shower with the door closed and watch where water appears first.
| Where water appears | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Under the door, at floor level | Worn sweep | Replace sweep |
| Down the vertical door edge | Perished seals | Replace seals |
| Behind the frame at the wall | Silicone failure | Strip and re-seal |
| Pooling at the threshold before it escapes | Drainage fall | Floor works — investigate properly |
What it costs
Seals and sweeps are the cheapest intervention in the whole bathroom, and a reseal is not much more. A drainage fall problem is a different conversation entirely, because it means opening the floor. We give you the honest answer at the visit rather than quoting a new enclosure by default.
Preventing the next one
Squeegee the glass and wipe the seals. Dubai water is hard, and mineral deposit is what stiffens PVC and etches glass. Two minutes after a shower extends the life of both by years.
FAQ
Do I need a new shower screen if it leaks?
Very rarely. Most leaks are a seal, a sweep or failed silicone — all far cheaper than a new enclosure. We diagnose before quoting, and we will tell you when the glass genuinely is the problem.
How often should shower seals be replaced?
Typically every two to four years in Dubai water conditions. Replacing them early is far cheaper than dealing with water that has tracked into joinery or a slab.
Can you repair a shower screen another company installed?
Yes. We service and repair other companies' installations. If the system is proprietary and parts cannot be sourced in Dubai, we will tell you that upfront.
Need this done properly in Dubai? Talk to FixUp Fab.
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