Shower screen quotes can look similar on paper, but the glass, hardware, measuring process and installation may be quite different.
A lower price may be based on standard stock panels or limited information about the bathroom. A more complete quote may include custom measured glass, suitable hardware and a layout checked against the finished space.
Before choosing an installer, make sure you understand what is included, who will measure and install the screen, and whether the suggested layout will actually suit the bathroom.
Five things to compare before accepting a quote
These are the main details worth checking before comparing prices.
Did they have enough information to quote properly?
A reliable shower screen quote needs more than a rough width.
Useful details include photos of the bathroom, approximate measurements, the type of screen being considered, the preferred glass height, hardware finish and how the glass will be fixed.
Information worth providing
- Clear photos showing the full bathroom layout
- Approximate opening widths and heights
- The preferred shower screen style
- Nearby vanities, toilets, baths and towel rails
- Parking, stairs, lifts or difficult site access
Photos are especially useful because they can show whether the requested design will actually suit the room.
A hinged door may swing too close to a vanity or toilet. A walk in panel may look clean and simple, but the shower area may be too short to control water properly.
At Famous Frameless, we ask for the details needed to quote properly from the beginning. We would rather explain the likely cost clearly than surprise you later.
Are they quoting custom measured glass or standard stock glass?
This is one of the most important things to check, because two quotes may look similar while allowing for completely different products.
Standard stock glass can be a practical, lower cost option when the bathroom suits it. The opening needs to be suitable, the walls reasonably close to plumb and the floor or shower base level enough for the standard panel size.
The problem is when stock glass is quoted before the finished space has been properly checked.
If the bathroom does not suit a stock panel, the result may be uneven gaps, excessive silicone, poor door alignment or a price increase once the site is measured properly.
Custom measured glass is made to suit the finished tiled area. It allows the panel sizes and door position to account for walls that are out of plumb, floors that are not level, nearby vanities, towel rails, shower heads and door swing clearance.
It can also provide more flexibility with glass height, hardware, panel layout and overall alignment. For example, the screen height can be adjusted to line up more neatly with a doorway, tile line or another feature in the bathroom.
Questions to ask
- Is this quote based on custom measured glass or standard stock panels?
- Has someone checked whether my bathroom is actually suitable for stock glass?
- Can the glass height or panel sizes be adjusted without a large price increase?
- What glass thickness and hardware are included?
At Famous Frameless, we quote custom measured glass by default. This can make the quote look higher than one based on imported stock panels, but it means the screen is measured for the bathroom rather than selected from a standard box size.
Where stock glass is genuinely suitable, we can discuss that option as a way to reduce cost.
Our frameless shower screens generally use 10mm toughened safety glass measured to suit the finished bathroom. Options such as low iron glass, reeded glass and different hardware finishes can also be included where required.
Are they actually qualified glaziers?
Not every shower screen installer has the same trade background, so it is worth asking who will measure and install the glass.
Installing large sheets of toughened safety glass involves more than drilling holes and fitting brackets. Accurate measuring, safe handling, suitable tolerances and careful installation all affect how the finished screen looks and performs.
Uneven gaps, excessive silicone, cracked tiles, doors that do not sit correctly, water control issues or a screen that simply looks wrong once installed.
A qualified glazier should understand the limitations of the glass, the clearances needed around fittings and the importance of installing the screen without placing unnecessary stress on the panels or surrounding tiles.
For some new builds and renovations, a builder or building surveyor may request a glazing certificate. This confirms the type of glass supplied and states that the installation has been completed in line with the relevant requirements.
Whether a certificate is required can depend on the project, so it is better to ask rather than assume.
Questions to ask
- Are you a qualified glazier?
- Who will actually measure the shower screen?
- Who will install it?
- Can you provide a glazing certificate if the builder or surveyor requires one?
At Famous Frameless, we measure and install our own work rather than selling the job and handing it to whoever is available. We can also provide a glazing certificate on request where it is needed for the project.
Are they recommending the right layout, or just supplying what you asked for?
A good installer should check whether the requested shower screen actually suits the bathroom before anything is ordered.
A hinged door may look right in theory, but once the space is checked it may swing too close to a vanity, toilet, towel rail or bath. In that situation, a sliding shower screen, a different door position or a different door swing may work better.
The right shower screen should not only look good. It also needs to suit the available space, allow safe movement and help control water properly.
The same applies to walk in shower screens. They look clean and simple, but they need enough length to help contain water. In a small shower area, a walk in panel may look good in photos but perform poorly in everyday use.
The best result usually comes from choosing the screen around the bathroom rather than choosing the cheapest or easiest configuration.
Questions to ask
- Will the door have enough clearance to open safely?
- Is there enough glass length to control water?
- Would a sliding screen or different door position work better?
- Has the layout been checked against nearby fixtures?
At Famous Frameless, we work through the layout before the glass is ordered. A screen that suits the bathroom properly usually looks better, works better and avoids compromises later.
What warranty is included?
A warranty is only useful when the coverage is clear and the business is willing to come back if something needs attention.
Some warranties only cover selected parts. Others exclude workmanship or make it difficult to arrange an adjustment after installation.
A longer warranty does not mean much if it does not explain what is covered, who handles the repair and whether installation issues are included.
At Famous Frameless, we offer a three year warranty on product and workmanship where applicable. If something covered by the warranty needs adjusting or rectifying during that period, we return and address it.
That matters because a shower screen becomes a permanent part of the bathroom. The glass, hardware and installation should continue to work together properly after the job is finished.
Questions to ask
- What parts of the shower screen are covered?
- Does the warranty include workmanship?
- How long does the cover last?
- What happens if the door or fittings need adjustment?
- Are there any important exclusions?
Clear answers to these questions make it easier to compare the real value of each quote rather than looking at price alone.
Are the lead times realistic?
A realistic timeframe is more useful than a fast promise that changes after the job is accepted.
Shower screens are often one of the final parts of a bathroom renovation, so delays can be frustrating when the rest of the room is already finished.
Custom glass lead times can vary with workload, seasonal demand, glass processing, special hardware finishes and occasional supplier or machinery delays.
A reliable installer should explain the expected measure, manufacture and installation timeframe before you commit. They should also let you know if a special glass type, unusual finish or custom detail is likely to take longer.
Questions to ask
- How soon can the site measure be completed?
- What is the current lead time after the final measure?
- Could my glass type or hardware finish take longer?
- When will I be told if the timeframe changes?
At Famous Frameless, we explain the expected lead time before the job is confirmed. If something outside the usual process may affect timing, we would rather explain it early than leave the customer chasing updates later.
Does the quote explain what could affect the final price?
A clear quote should explain what is included, what is not included and which site conditions could change the price.
Extra costs can sometimes come from difficult access, stairs, old screen removal, unusual layouts, additional hardware, special finishes or bathroom conditions that require a different installation approach.
Possible price changes should be explained before the customer commits, not introduced after the job has already started.
Questions to ask
- Does the price include measuring, glass, hardware and installation?
- Is removal of the old shower screen included?
- Could access, stairs or parking affect the price?
- Are special finishes or additional fittings included?
- What circumstances could cause the quoted price to change?
At Famous Frameless, we prefer to identify these details early. It may not always produce the lowest initial figure, but it gives the customer a clearer idea of the real cost and helps avoid surprises later.
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.
Compare the whole quote, not just the number at the bottom
The cheapest shower screen quote is not always the best value.
A good result depends on accurate measuring, a layout that suits the bathroom, suitable glass and hardware, careful installation and clear aftercare if something needs attention.
This is especially important with frameless glass, where poor alignment, uneven gaps and rushed fitting details are easy to notice.
Before you accept a quote, make sure you understand:
- Whether the glass is custom measured or standard stock glass
- Who will measure and install the shower screen
- Whether the proposed layout suits the bathroom
- What is included in the price
- What the warranty covers
- What lead time you should realistically expect
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.