Exploding shower door....

jungle_jeff

It’s another of these posts. We were woken up at 4.12am by what sounded like an explosion (or the roof falling off!!) after searching high and low in the house slightly bewildered we got back in to bed. I went via the en-suite and as I opened the bathroom door was greeted by a mass of shattered glass that had covered everything.

So clearly the door has gone bang in the night. From searching online this doesn’t appear that rare. The door was installed 14 months ago, and was as far as we we’re aware, totally undamaged.

Is this something the manufacturer is required to replace (if I can find the receipt....) or would we be expected to fork out for a new one? Would we be expected to pay for reinstallafion? I hope this is a quick cheap easy fix but suspect it may turn in to a protracted “oh sorry we don’t make that enclosure anymore...” sort of argument.

Any advice appreciated.

theonlywayisup

Does it have a warranty?

As far as your consumer rights go, as it is more than 6 months old it is down to you to prove the item had an inherent fault at time of purchase.

[Deleted User]

jungle_jeff wrote: »

Is this something the manufacturer is required to replace

Understand that glass does not just "explode" spontaneously. Generally speaking it has to have sustained a physical knock prior to failure. This won't have happened 14 months ago when the door was fitted and so is difficult to argue as an inherent fault.

I think you'll have to pay for a replacement yourself in this case.

LadyDee

Have you searched this forum for similar experiences? There are quite a few, going back some time.

Just read through some of the earlier threads. I just skimmed one of them and at least one person got a new shower screen (didn't read any further).

43722

Definitely had this happen-twice. It was a curved,sliding door. The first one went, and was renewed for free by the supplier. Only it went again. Eventually we decided we had no confidence in the fitter. We got someone else in, who fitted a modified screen. It was worth paying for the peace of mind, although poor that the original fitter could not do the job

POPPYOSCAR

This happened to our daughter's boyfriend in his flat he bought from new.

It nearly gave him a heart attack he thought someone had smashed their way in!

I think the flat was about 18 months old.

He did have to argue the point with the developer but in the end they agreed to replace it but wanted to charge to have it fitted.

He was so fed up with arguing with them that he just let them send it and he fitted it himself.

George_Michael

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Understand that glass does not just "explode" spontaneously. Generally speaking it has to have sustained a physical knock prior to failure.

Tempered glass most certainly can "explode" spontaneously without a prior knock.
This can happen if there are tiny inclusions (bits of debris or minute air pockets) inside the glass.
It's not very common for this to be the cause but not very common means that it's not impossible.

Another reason is if the glass hasn't been fitted in the frame perfectly. This can cause a bit of extra stress and combined with thermal changes can be enough to cause shattering.

Both of the above can and do happen but actually proving one of them to be the case will be impossible to do.

[Deleted User]

George_Michael wrote: »

Both of the above can and do happen but actually proving one of them to be the case will be impossible to do.

Which is why I used the disclaimer, "generally" rather than saying it was impossible.

jungle_jeff

Thanks for the replies guys.

So it sounds like it’ll be an argument with Plumbworld and then I may or may not have to pay for a replacement door.

I have no idea about the warranty but would suspect it’s only a year (seems the standard on most things).

They should be well aware of this being something that happens nowadays. As the posts above show, it does happen. It was installed professionally but again this may make no difference.

moneyineptitude wrote:

Understand that glass does not just "explode" spontaneously. Generally speaking it has to have sustained a physical knock prior to failure. This won't have happened 14 months ago when the door was fitted and so is difficult to argue as an inherent fault.

Now this would be frustrating as with only my wife and I using the shower (ever) in fact I do at least know it hasn’t been knocked by us. Yes could always have happened at installation but that would agai;have been 14 months ago.

pinkshoes

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Understand that glass does not just "explode" spontaneously. Generally speaking it has to have sustained a physical knock prior to failure. This won't have happened 14 months ago when the door was fitted and so is difficult to argue as an inherent fault.

I think you'll have to pay for a replacement yourself in this case.

I disagree with this.

If the glass was under strain during the manufacturing process and/or when fitted then it is a sitting duck waiting to 'explode'. A small knock followed by cooler temperature over night could cause this. A shower screen should easily withstand these sort of knocks.

Mis-use causing it to smash would be an impact and it would smash there and then.

The fact it shattered in the middle of the night indicates the glass was under stresses/strains when manufactured and/or installed.

Gers

One of my shower doors spontaneously shattered whilst I was using the shower. Just 'blew'. As it was a couple of years old and fitted by my OH I didn't fancy a fight with Bathstore - just lived with missing door. My theory was that the metal towel holder (hanging over the top of the door) MAY have caused the shattering - heat, expansion, pressure? It's tenuous and unscientific, I know.