When you’re planning a bathroom remodel, every contractor has a different answer for what the shower install timeline will look like. Some say a week. Some say six. The truth is somewhere in the middle, and it depends on a few specific things that are worth understanding before you commit to a contractor.
Here’s the real timeline from the day you accept our quote to the day you take your first shower behind new glass.
Day 1: Quote Accepted
Once you tell us to move forward with the quote, we get you on the measurement schedule. For most residential shower jobs, that happens within 2-3 business days of accepting the quote — sometimes faster if we have a measurement crew already in your area.
No deposit needed for standard residential shower jobs to get on the measurement schedule. Larger custom projects sometimes require a deposit before fabrication begins, but that’s discussed up front.
Days 1-3: Field Measurement
A measurement technician comes to your home to take precise field measurements. This is critical — the glass is cut to those exact numbers, and a 1/8″ error can mean glass that doesn’t fit. The measurement visit takes 30-45 minutes.
We note the curb height, plumbness of the walls, hardware locations, and any out-of-square conditions. This is also when we confirm hardware finish, glass thickness, and any upgrade choices (like low-iron glass or applied treatments).
Days 3-10: Fabrication
Once measurements are in, the glass gets fabricated. For standard residential showers, this typically takes 5-7 business days. Fabrication includes cutting the glass to size, polishing edges, drilling any holes for hardware, and tempering.
Tempering is the longest single step. The glass is heated to over 1,100°F and then rapidly cooled, which makes it 4x stronger than standard glass and required by code for showers. Once glass is tempered, it can’t be modified — so accuracy at the measurement step matters.
Ready to start the clock on yours? Text photos of your space to (504) 368-8826.
Day 10-14: Install Day
On install day, our installer arrives with the glass, hardware, and tools. A typical residential frameless shower install takes 1.5 to 3 hours on site — whether the install is in a Bywater shotgun bathroom or a Lakefront primary suite. We test fit the panels, install the hardware, set the glass, and apply the sealants.
You should plan to be home (or have someone home) for the install. We don’t need help, but we’ll have questions about exact hardware placement preferences.
Same Day: First Shower
Sealants need 24 hours to cure before you use the shower. So if we install on a Tuesday, you can shower Wednesday evening. That’s it. No 72-hour wait, no overnight curing schedule as some contractors quote.
What Slows Things Down
A few things can extend the standard shower install timeline by 1-2 weeks.
Custom hardware orders. If you want a specialty hardware finish or style we don’t stock, add 5-10 days for the hardware to arrive.
Low-iron or specialty glass. Standard clear tempered glass we can move fast. Low-iron or specialty patterns add 2-5 days to fabrication.
Oversized panels. Glass panels over 36″ wide or 80″ tall require special handling and sometimes use a different fabrication line. Add a few days.
Measurement issues. If we get to the measurement appointment and find the curb isn’t installed yet or the walls aren’t done, we have to come back. Coordinate with your other contractors before scheduling our measurement.
What We Can Speed Up
If you’re working a tight timeline, tell us up front. We can sometimes prioritize jobs through our fab schedule and same-day install in the right circumstances. The standard timeline is built for typical conditions — rush jobs are possible, just usually at a small premium.
Why Other Shops Take Longer
Some glass companies quote 4-6 weeks for the same job we’d do in 2. Reasons we hear: they outsource fabrication, they don’t have their own measurement techs, or they batch jobs in a way that slows individual customers down. We fabricate in our own shop on Westbank Expressway, have full-time measurement techs on staff, and run our own install crews. That’s why the shower install timeline is what it is.
Ready to Get Started?
Star Glass Inc. serves Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and the greater New Orleans metro. Reach us any way that works best for you:
Call or text: (504) 368-8826 Email: glass@starglass.com
Visit us: 1000 Westbank Expy, Gretna, LA 70053