How to repair a shower door seal

Shower door seals keep water inside the shower, and prevent water to damage surrounding areas. The rubber seal becomes cracked over time, and less effective at preventing water damage. Fortunately, it is easy to repair a shower door seal by simply replacing it completely. You can replace the seal within a few minutes and is an easy do it yourself project.

Remove the damaged seal

Remove the damaged seal from around the shower door. You will need to pull it off slowly and gently. If it will not come off easily, you can use a putty knife to push the seal and remove the adhesive. Be careful not to scratch the shower door with the putty knife. Dip a clean rag in isopropyl alcohol or adhesive solvent, and wipe the adhesive residue off. Wash the area with a mild soap and warm water. Dry the area thoroughly before you proceed.

Lay the new seal

Lay the new seal along the door edge while it is dry. Trim and cut the seal with scissors to fit the shower as needed. Peel the adhesive tape off of the pre-glued seal, and then press the seal onto the door surface. Start at one end and smooth the seal down to the opposite end with your fingers. If you have seal without adhesive backing, run a bead of silicone caulking along the door, and then press the seal onto the silicone with even pressure using your fingers from the beginning to the end of the seal. If the adhesive seal seems heavy or starts to droop to one side on the door while the adhesive is still wet, you can use masking tape to brace the seal into its proper position until it dries. Use a clean, damp rag to clean any excess silicone. It is important that you remove the excess silicone now, as it will be much harder to remove later. Let the silicone dry for 36 hours before you use the shower or bath, or expose it to any kind of water. If it gets wet before it dries completely, the sealant will not stick and you will have to start the project over again.