Frameless Shower Doors in Cupertino, CA

Our shower doors in Cupertino tend to be bigger investments than average, and the numbers explain why. Census estimates put the median owner-occupied home value at $2,000,000 or more, 60.6% of homes are owner-occupied, and 83.2% of residents lived in the same house a year earlier. People here often remodel once and expect it to last, so we lean toward frameless glass in 3/8-inch or 1/2-inch thickness, solid brass or stainless hardware, and a protective coating applied at the factory.

What the City of Cupertino asks for

Cupertino's Building Division publishes a policy on residential kitchen, bath and laundry remodels, revised in January 2023. It is stricter than many neighbors about when a permit is needed: a building permit is required for all bath remodels, with the exception of work limited to cabinets or countertops that doesn't touch electrical, plumbing, mechanical systems or walls.

The same policy spells out several points that touch shower glass:

• Safety glass, tempered or laminated, is required for all glass shower doors and partitions
• Shower compartments need at least 1,024 square inches of finished interior and room for a 30-inch circle
• Thresholds must allow a clear egress opening of at least 22 inches
• Shower walls must be waterproof to 72 inches above the drain
• Bathrooms with a tub or shower need a fan of at least 50 CFM, switched separately from the lights

We meet the glass and opening requirements on every door we install. The waterproofing, fan and valve items belong to the larger remodel, and if your project includes those, we coordinate so glass goes in after the shower surround is finished and inspected.

From orchards to Eichlers to newer tracts

Cupertino incorporated on October 10, 1955 as Santa Clara County's 13th city, on land that had been prune, apricot and cherry orchards. Its housing comes in layers. About 224 Eichler homes from the 1950s sit between Stevens Creek Boulevard, Miller Avenue, Bollinger Road and Lawrence Expressway. Monta Vista and Rancho Rinconada were built before they were annexed in 2004 and 1999. Seven Springs dates from the late 1980s and Oak Valley from around 2000.

Each layer brings a different shower. Mid-century homes often have a small stall or tub alcove where a clean frameless door makes the room feel larger. Late-1980s and 2000s homes tend to have larger primary baths with corner showers, where neo-angle enclosures or floor-to-ceiling panels with a steam-ready transom are common requests.

Water and glass care

Cupertino appears on San Jose Water's service-area map. That utility's report lists groundwater at an average 288 ppm hardness, local mountain water at 151 ppm and Valley Water surface water at 99 ppm, and Valley Water calls water over 180 mg/L very hard. Your supply may come from a mix, and some addresses may be served by a different utility, so check your bill. A coated glass panel paired with a daily squeegee is the easiest way to keep a large frameless enclosure clear.

Services for Cupertino homes

• Frameless doors and enclosures with heavy glass and premium hardware
• Semi-frameless doors for secondary or kids' bathrooms
• Sliding doors on tub-shower combos
• Fixed panels and walk-in glass for curbless showers
• Tub glass doors and screens
• Repair and replacement, including re-leveling sagging frameless doors and replacing seals

Cost expectations

A large frameless enclosure in 1/2-inch glass with a coating is at the top of the typical price range; a semi-frameless door for a hall bath is near the bottom. We send a written quote with each option priced separately. Call (408) 604-0313 or ask for a measure.

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