I did it!

My new shower screen was delivered this morning on a pallet. I’d hoped to get it fitted today but my initial reaction on seeing that the glass alone weighed 45 kg (99 lb) was that I’d need help just getting it off the pallet, let alone safely unpacked, raised vertical and installed in the bathroom.

Nevertheless, me being me I decided to give it a go anyway as it appeared that the glass was pretty well protected, on its edges especially, and by scooching the pallet round so it was aimed towards the front door, carefully sliding the package off the pallet onto the floor of the house and then slowly sliding it on its edge along the corridor, I eventually got it into the bathroom.

I was then able to cut away the packaging, gingerly remove the sheet and walk it across the room on its long edge until I could lean it against the handbasin.

The next step – raising it to vertical – was the most critical as I didn’t know if the glass was strong enough to support its own weight if laid flat and then raised to vertical from one end. But first I had to attach a stiffish cushioned rubber U-channel along what would be its bottom edge on which it would eventually stand when placed upright on the tiled floor.

This was very easy to do in its current position and then I decided to have a go but hedge my bets by holding it about two-thirds of the way along its length, pivoting the sheet on one corner and lifting it at the same time and taking as much of its weight as possible until the short edge with the rubber channel was on the floor. Then it was fairly easy to raise it to fully vertical and lean it against the bathroom wall.

That was the hardest bit done. All I then had to do was drill and attach the vertical metal channel that would hold the glass to the wall, slide the glass across the floor (kudos to the tiler for making the floor tiles so level and flat) into it so it was supported, mark and drill the floor for a little foot that would secure the corner of the glass farthest from the wall and stop the glass moving away from it and the job was complete. Complete, that is, apart from finally fixing the horizontal bar that secures the top of the glass to the other wall.

So yet again I managed to achieve my aim single-handedly which I was very pleased about. I took another cold shower just before starting to type this and I must say it’ll be nice when I have the choice of hot water to help ease some of my aching muscles. It shouldn’t be too long now 😉