If your shower screen is leaking at the hinge, don't worry — you're not alone. This is one of the most common and frustrating leaks we see on frameless and over-bath shower screens.
The good news? You usually do not need a whole new screen. In many cases, the fix is a correctly fitted seal, a small threshold strip, or a simple adjustment around the hinge-side corner.
In this guide, we’ll help you identify the most common hinge-side leaks, including a shower door leaking at the hinge, a bath screen leaking at the wall end, water escaping below the hinge, or a small leak between the shower screen and hinge fitting.
Quick Answer: How Do You Stop a Shower Screen Leaking at the Hinge?
First, find the exact leak point. If water escapes from the bottom hinge corner, a clear threshold strip is often the best fix. If water sprays through the vertical gap beside the hinge, a trimmed H-type seal is usually more suitable.
If water is running down behind the wall profile, the problem may be failed silicone rather than the seal itself. Do not seal moving hinge parts with silicone.
P-Shaped Bath Screen Hinge Leaks
On P-shaped bath screens and curved over-bath screens, water often appears near the hinge because several parts meet in one place: the curved glass, hinge fitting, bottom seal and bath rim.
First check whether the leak starts from the vertical hinge-side gap or the lower bath-side corner. A vertical gap usually needs an H-type seal, while a lower corner leak should be treated as a bottom hinge corner problem.
Confirm Your Hinged Leak Type
Before replacing anything, dry the hinge area and run the shower gently for 30 seconds. Hold a dry tissue near the hinge-side corner, wall profile, bottom seal end and vertical gap. The first wet spot usually shows where the leak starts.
Hinge-side leaks usually fall into a few common types, and each needs a slightly different fix:
| Leak Type | Where You See Water | Likely Cause | Best First Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom hinge corner leak | Water escapes at the bottom hinge or bath/tray corner | Bottom seal ends before the hinge, or no raised barrier | Add a clear threshold strip |
| Vertical hinge-side leak | Water sprays through the vertical gap beside the hinge | Open side gap between glass and wall/panel | Fit a trimmed H-type seal |
| Wall profile leak | Water runs down behind the wall channel | Failed silicone or loose wall profile | Reseal the fixed wall profile |
| Spray-direction leak | Leaks only when shower is aimed at hinge | Water pressure is forcing water into the hinge area | Adjust shower head angle first |
Shower Screen Bottom Hinge & Corner Leak
This is the most frequent culprit when homeowners ask how to stop a shower screen leaking at the hinge. It usually happens when the bottom seal leaves a tiny, vulnerable gap right where the glass meets the hinge fitting.
While it looks like a major issue, the solution is often simpler than you think. A threshold strip is frequently the "missing piece" needed to divert water back into the tray. Even if your door isn't faulty, adding this secondary barrier is often an effective way to help stop water escaping at the hinge corner.
A bottom seal alone may not always cover the final few millimetres near the hinge, especially where the hinge plate or pivot block interrupts the seal.
If the water is escaping mainly from the lower corner rather than the hinge gap itself, see our guide to stopping shower screen corner leaks.
Pivot Shower Door Leaking at the Bottom Hinge Case 1
This applies when the bottom seal cannot run continuously because the pivot block or hinge plate gets in the way.
Is your pivot hinge blocking the seal like the photo below? When the door axis gets in the way, a standard seal can't cover the gap properly.
The Solution: You'll need to custom-trim the seal to "wrap" around the hinge. Since this intricate trimming process can be tricky, we've filmed a dedicated video guide to help you get a water-tight finish.
Need a hand? Feel free to message SIMBA if you're stuck!
Pivot Shower Door Leaking at the Bottom Hinge Case 2
- Trim the seal around the hinge area
- Add an extra seal strip around the hinge for better water protection
For further assistance, please contact our online customer service.
Vertical Side Hinge Leak
If you're wondering how to stop a shower screen leaking at the hinge along the vertical edge, the answer is a custom-trimmed H-type seal strip. This profile is specifically designed to block water escaping through the side gaps where the glass meets the wall or another panel.
Essential Tools
- Marker pen & Measuring tape
- H-shape seal (Pick the one that matches your glass)
- Sharp garden pruning shears
Critical Advice: In most frameless hinge-side gaps, an H-type seal is the most reliable option because it can be trimmed into sections around the hinge plates.
Visual Step-by-Step
Prefer to watch? Here’s exactly how to tackle that vertical hinge leak and achieve a watertight finish:
Measurement & Fitting
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Sectioning: If you have two hinges, cut the seal into three sections to fill the gaps between the hinge plates. This is a key step in sealing a shower screen at the hinges.
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Installation: Press the trimmed sections firmly onto the glass. Crucial: Ensure the flexible long fin points inwards to block the water flow. Job done!
Whether you have an Aqualux, Coram, or Victoria Plum enclosure, these trimming techniques work for almost all frameless hinges.
Trade Secrets for a Perfect Fit
Before you snap the seal into place, double-check that you aren't making these 11 common installation blunders that lead to early failure.
- Sizing: Choose a seal marked as compatible with your glass thickness. For example, if your glass is 6mm, a seal listed for 6–8mm glass may be suitable only if the profile and fitting position match your hinge gap. This extra snugness is a great tip for preventing shower screen hinge leaks.
- Warmth: If the seal is stiff, soak it in warm water (under 70°C) to make it more pliable for easy snapping.
FAQ: Frameless Hinge Leaks
Why is my shower door leaking at the hinge?
A shower door leaking at the hinge usually means water is escaping from one of three places: the bottom hinge corner, the vertical gap beside the hinge, or behind the fixed wall profile. A bottom seal may help if the leak starts along the lower glass edge, but hinge-corner leaks often need a threshold strip or a trimmed H-type seal.
Can I fix a leaking shower screen hinge with a standard DIY store seal?
Sometimes, but only if the seal profile matches the leak point. A standard bottom seal may not solve a hinge-side leak if the water escapes around the hinge plate or wall profile. For bottom corner leaks, a threshold strip is often more effective. For vertical hinge gaps, a trimmed H-type seal is usually a better fit.
Is a leaking shower screen hinge a common UK bathroom problem?
Yes. Hinge-side leaks are commonly discussed by UK homeowners because the leak often appears after the screen has been fitted for some time. The cause is usually not the hinge itself, but the small gap around the bottom seal end, wall profile, or vertical hinge-side edge.
How do I stop water leaking through the shower door hinges?
First identify whether the leak starts at the bottom hinge corner, the vertical hinge-side gap, or behind the wall profile. Bottom corner leaks often need a threshold strip. Vertical hinge gaps usually need a trimmed H-type seal. If water runs behind the fixed wall profile, check the silicone instead of sealing the moving hinge parts.
Do all H-type seals work for hinges?
Not all. You need a seal with a flexible long fin to clear the hinge plates without obstructing the door. Our H-shape range is specifically sourced for this flexibility.
What if my setup is unique?
If your door axis or hinge placement is unusual, send us a clear photo! We provide tailored technical advice to all SIMBA customers to ensure a dry bathroom.
Ready to Fix That Leak?
If water escapes from the bottom hinge corner, start with a clear threshold strip.
If water passes through the vertical hinge-side gap, browse H-type vertical shower seals.
Still unsure? Send us a photo of the hinge area and we’ll help identify the leak point.
Shop Hinge Shower Seals at SIMBA