Most shower screen quotes look easy to compare until you look at what is actually included.
One quote may be based on a proper review of the bathroom, including photos, approximate measurements and layout details. Another may be a quick estimate based on rough sizes, with the important details worked out later.
One quote may allow for custom measured glass made to suit the finished tiled area. Another may be based on standard stock glass that only works well if the bathroom happens to suit it.
The quality of hardware and the type of fittings used can also affect the quote.
That is why comparing shower screen quotes on price alone is misleading.
This guide explains what to look for before choosing a shower screen installer, what questions to ask, and how to understand what is actually included in the price.
1. Did they have enough information to quote properly?
For an accurate shower screen quote, a shower screen business needs more than a rough size.
Useful details include photos of the bathroom layout, approximate widths, the type of shower screen you are considering, any specific glass height, hardware finish and how you would like the glass fixed.
Access details can also matter. Parking, stairs, lifts and difficult site access can all affect how the glass is handled on installation day.
Photos are especially helpful because they help visualise the space and show whether the initially requested design is actually the best fit for the bathroom.
For example, a hinged door may look good in theory, but the photos may show that it would swing too close to a vanity or toilet. A walk in panel may look clean and simple, but the photos may show the shower area is too short to control water properly.
If a business gives a quick price without asking enough questions, the quote may not reflect the real job.
At Famous Frameless, we ask for the details needed to quote properly from the beginning. We would rather be upfront early than surprise you later.
2. Are they quoting custom measured glass or standard stock glass?
This is something many homeowners do not realise they should ask.
A cheaper shower screen quote may be based on standard size imported glass. There is nothing wrong with stock glass when it suits the job. The issue is whether it is actually suitable for your bathroom.
Sometimes stock glass works fine. If the bathroom layout is simple, the opening is suitable, the floor is reasonably level and the walls are close enough to plumb, a standard panel may be a practical way to save on cost.
The problem is when stock glass is quoted blindly before the space is properly checked.
For a proper fit, the shower screen needs to suit the finished tiled area. Even if the bathroom has been professionally renovated, it is risky to assume that the walls will be perfectly plumb and the floor will be level. Niches, vanities, towel rails, shower heads and door swing clearance can also affect the final layout.
If a stock shower screen is quoted for a bathroom that is not suitable for it, there are usually two outcomes.
The first outcome is a poor finish. The screen gets forced into a space it does not properly fit, which can leave uneven or large gaps, messy silicone work and a door that does not sit correctly.
The second outcome is that the price changes later. The original quote looks cheap, but once someone finally comes out to measure properly, the job is re quoted at a higher price. At that point, it may feel like it is too late to back out.
What matters is transparency.
A customer should know what they are paying for. If one quote is for imported stock glass and another is for custom measured toughened safety glass, those are two different products, with different levels of detail, measurement and manufacturing involved.
Custom glass allows the shower screen to be made to the finished tiled area. That matters when the walls are out of plumb, the floor is not level, or the shower base does not suit a standard size panel.
A custom measured screen helps achieve more consistent gaps and better alignment. It allows for more flexible configurations. It also allows for more choice with hardware options, glass height and overall design. For example, the glass height may be made to better line up with a doorway, tile height or other bathroom features, which can create a cleaner finished look.
When comparing quotes, ask:
- Is this quote based on custom measured glass or standard stock panels?
- Is my bathroom suitable for stock glass?
- Can the shower screen be measured to suit a non standard height, for example 2120mm instead of a standard 2100mm height?
If the shower screen company has genuinely quoted for a custom shower screen, the cost difference for a small height adjustment should usually be minimal, if there is any difference at all.
At Famous Frameless, we quote custom measured glass by default. That can make our quote look higher than a quote based on imported stock glass, but it means the screen will be measured for the bathroom, not pulled out of a box.
In bathrooms where stock glass is suitable, we can discuss that option to help save on cost.
For frameless shower screens, we use 10mm toughened safety glass, measured to suit the finished bathroom. If low iron glass, reeded glass or a special hardware finish is required, we explain the options clearly before the customer commits.
3. Are they actually qualified glaziers?
Do not assume every shower screen installer has the same trade background.
The glazing trade has formal qualifications, but not every business offering shower screen installation employs people who hold them. It is worth asking, because the difference in measurement precision, glass handling and installation quality between a qualified glazier and someone without that background can show up clearly in the finished result.
Installing large sheets of toughened glass is not just about drilling a few holes and fitting brackets. A good installer needs to understand the required glass tolerances, the limitations of the material and how glass behaves under pressure.
Poor measurement or poor installation can lead to ugly gaps, messy silicone work, cracked tiles, leaking issues, doors that do not sit properly, or a screen that simply looks wrong once installed.
For new builds and renovations that require a building permit, the builder or building surveyor may also ask for a glazing certificate. This is a letter confirming that the correct glass was used and that the shower screen was installed in accordance with the relevant Australian Standards.
That certificate is not just paperwork. It shows that the installer understands the glass being supplied, the standard it needs to comply with and the responsibility that comes with installing toughened safety glass in a bathroom.
We are qualified glaziers, and we measure and install our own work. We do not sell the job and then hand it over to whoever is available. We can also provide a glazing certificate on request, either for your personal records or for your building surveyor.
When comparing quotes, ask directly:
Are you a qualified glazier, who will actually be measuring and installing the screen, and will you provide a glazing certificate?
4. Are they recommending the right layout, or just happy to supply what you asked for?
A good installer should not blindly go ahead and supply a shower screen just because that is what was first requested.
For example, a customer may ask for a hinged door because they like the look of it. But once the bathroom is checked properly, that door may swing too close to a vanity, toilet, towel rail or bath. In that case, a sliding screen, a different door position or a different door swing may work better.
The same applies to walk in screens. They look clean and minimal, but they need enough length to control water properly. If the bathroom is too tight, the screen may look good in a photo but perform badly in daily use.
This is where proper layout advice matters.
The best result usually comes from choosing the right shower screen for the bathroom, not just the cheapest glass configuration, or whatever is easiest or most profitable for the shower screen installer.
At Famous Frameless, we help work through the layout before anything is ordered, because a screen that suits the bathroom properly looks better and works better every day.
5. What warranty is included?
A warranty is only useful if it covers the right things and the business actually honours it.
Some shower screen warranties are short. Some only cover parts. Some exclude installation issues. Some sound good until you actually need someone to come back.
At Famous Frameless, we offer a 3 year warranty on product and workmanship. If something needs adjusting or rectifying within that period, we come back and sort it out.
That matters because a shower screen is not a throwaway product. It is part of the bathroom, and it should be installed properly the first time.
When comparing quotes, ask:
- What does your warranty cover?
- How long does it last?
- Does it cover workmanship?
- What happens if something needs adjusting after installation?
The answer will tell you a lot about the business.
6. Are the lead times realistic?
Lead times are another area where customers get caught.
Some businesses say what the customer wants to hear to win the job, then the customer ends up chasing updates later. That is frustrating, especially when the bathroom renovation is already waiting on the shower screen to be finished.
A reliable installer should be upfront about timing before you commit.
Custom made glass lead times can depend on seasonality. In rare cases, unexpected factors such as machine breakdowns or stock shortages can also affect timing.
At Famous Frameless, we are honest about lead times before the job is locked in. If something may affect timing, we explain it early.
7. Does the quote explain what could affect the final price?
A quote should not feel like a trap.
If there are things that could affect the price, the customer should know early. Examples include difficult access, stairs, unusual layouts, extra hardware, old screen removal, non standard finishes or bathroom conditions that require a different approach.
We prefer to be upfront from the beginning.
It may not always make us the cheapest quote, but it avoids surprises later.
A clear quote should help you understand what is included, what is not included and what could change.
Questions to ask before choosing a shower screen installer
Before you accept a quote, ask these questions:
- What layout do you recommend for this bathroom, and why?
- Is this quote based on custom measured glass or stock glass?
- Have you seen the bathroom, or checked photos and measurements properly?
- What glass is included in the quote?
- What hardware is included in the quote?
- Who will actually measure and install the screen?
- Will it be installed by a qualified glazier?
- Will you provide a glazing certificate?
- What warranty do you provide on product and workmanship?
- What is the realistic lead time from measure to installation?
- Is there anything that could affect the final price?
A good installer should be able to answer these clearly.
Final thought
The cheapest shower screen quote is not always the best value.
A shower screen needs to be measured properly, made for the space, installed carefully and backed by a business that will come back if something needs attention.
That is especially important with frameless glass, where small mistakes are easy to see. When it is measured properly, installed properly and looked after, it should last the lifetime of the bathroom.
If you are comparing quotes and something does not add up, it is worth asking more questions before you commit.
At Famous Frameless, we install custom frameless shower screens across Melbourne west, north and inner Melbourne suburbs. We measure carefully, help choose the right layout, use quality glass and hardware, and back our work with a 3 year product and workmanship warranty.
If you want to understand what is actually included in your quote, send through your bathroom photos and rough measurements. We can help you work out the right shower screen layout before anything is made.
Comparing shower screen quotes?
Send through a few photos, rough measurements or bathroom plans. We can help explain what type of screen suits the space, whether custom measured glass is needed, and what hardware or glass options may affect the quote.