A simple shower door seal replacement turned into a four hour puzzle

I had a job to swap a worn seal on a frameless shower door in a condo downtown. The old seal was fused to the glass edge from years of heat and soap scum. I thought it would pop right off with a blade, but it was stuck like glue. I ended up carefully scoring it with a new utility blade, then using a heat gun on low for about ten minutes to soften the old material. The whole thing, from start to clean-up, took almost four hours for what should have been a thirty minute fix. Has anyone found a better way to remove those really baked-on seals without risking the glass?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_xena28d ago

Heat guns can be risky on tempered glass if you're not very careful. The quick change in temperature might cause it to crack. A safer trick is to soak a few towels in very hot water and wrap them around the seal for a while. The steady, moist heat often softens that old gunk without the shock. A plastic putty knife can then help you pry it off once it's gooey.

caleb_gibson2d ago

Ever tried the towel trick and just ended up with a wet mess? I'm pretty sure I'd find a way to crack the glass with either method.

christopher_wilson28d ago

Actually, I've used a heat gun on tempered glass many times without issue. You just keep it moving and don't focus the heat on one spot. The towels are way slower and messier in my experience.