Meir Shower Door Handles & Screen Brackets

Meir shower screen hardware buying guide

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Meir shower screen hardware is a set of solid brass fittings for frameless glass shower screens: U brackets that hold a glass panel to a wall or floor, round shower door handles, glass to glass hinges and glass to wall hinges. This collection holds those parts in five finishes: champagne, lustre bronze, tiger bronze, brushed nickel and shadow gunmetal. Every part suits 8mm or 10mm glass, and the brass is corrosion resistant. This guide explains what each fitting does, how to read its dimensions, how to choose between a glass to glass and a glass to wall hinge, how to match finishes with Meir tapware and accessories, and what to check before you order. For the full range of shower screen fittings, see shower screen hardware, and for Meir showers, see Meir showers.

How a frameless shower screen is held together

A frameless shower screen has no metal frame around the glass. The glass panels carry the weight and the fittings hold them in position. A fixed panel is held at the wall and the floor by brackets or channels. A door panel is hung on hinges, either from the fixed panel next to it or from the wall. A handle gives you something to pull. Every one of these fittings is a small part with a big job, because it grips toughened glass and must not slip, crack or corrode.

Because the parts are small and visible, the finish matters as well. The hinges, the handle and the brackets sit at eye level in the bathroom, and they are seen with the tapware, the towel rails and the other accessories. A matching finish across them makes the bathroom look finished.

Solid brass construction

All of the Meir parts here are made from solid brass, which resists corrosion. Brass suits a wet room because it does not rust, it is strong enough to carry glass and it takes a plated or coated finish well. Solid brass is also heavy, which gives a hinge or a handle a firm, quality feel.

The finishes are applied over the brass. Most of them have a PVD finish, which is a hard coating applied in a vacuum chamber and used where a finish must resist wear and cleaning. The champagne finish is electroplated. PVD finishes hold their colour under regular cleaning, which is why they are common on bathroom hardware.

Glass thickness

Every part in this collection suits 8mm and 10mm glass. Those are the usual thicknesses for frameless shower screens in Australia, so the parts suit most screens. Check the thickness of your glass before you order. Measure the edge of a panel, or check the glass order, and make sure it is 8mm or 10mm. A part used on glass of the wrong thickness will not grip properly.

The U bracket lists a 2mm material thickness on each side, which gives the bracket its wall. With the glass sitting in the bracket, the metal wraps both faces and holds the edge firmly.

Glass fixing U brackets

The Meir glass fixing U bracket is a small U shaped bracket that holds the edge of a glass panel. It is a glass to floor or wall mount and a shower glass channel mount. It measures 50mm high, 21mm wide and 22.15mm deep, and the material is 2mm thick on each side.

A U bracket is used where a glass panel meets a wall or a floor. The bracket is fixed to the wall or floor, and the glass edge slides into the U. Two or more brackets hold a panel along its length. The size is small and the profile is slim, so it is less visible than a full channel. The bracket suits fixed panels and the fixed side of a door panel.

Round shower door handles

The Meir round shower door handle is a round knob with circular grooves. It has an overall diameter of 25mm and a length of 59.5mm. It is made of two back to back pieces that fix through the glass, so you can pull the door from either side. It comes with screws and installation instructions and a specification sheet to download.

A knob suits a shower door because you can grip it with a wet hand and pull. It sits at the edge of the door where your hand falls naturally. The grooves give the surface a pattern you can feel. The holes for the handle are cut in the glass before it is toughened, so give your glazier the handle's dimensions when you order the glass.

Glass to glass hinges

The Meir glass to glass shower door hinge joins a door panel to a fixed glass panel beside it. It is 115mm wide and 90mm high, with a plate width of 55mm on each side, a total thickness of 20.4mm and a distance between the glass panels of about 7.6mm. It is dual functioning, with the ability to swivel inwards and outwards.

That swing in both directions lets the door open into the shower or out into the bathroom. Many frameless screens swing outwards for safety and space, but the choice depends on the room. The gap of about 7.6mm between the panels is small and neat. Plan the gap with your glazier so the door hangs evenly.

Glass to wall hinges

The Meir glass to wall shower door hinge attaches a door panel directly to the wall. It is 64mm wide, 90mm high and 50mm deep, with a 9mm mounting plate thickness. It is a glass to wall mount in solid brass, for 8mm or 10mm glass.

This hinge suits a door that hangs off the wall with no fixed panel beside it, such as a door in a recess or an alcove. The wall must be solid and able to take the load of a glass door, so the fixings must reach a stud, masonry or a backing plate. Ask your installer to check the wall before you order.

Choosing a glass to glass or a glass to wall hinge

The decision depends on the layout. A corner shower with a fixed panel and a door panel beside it uses glass to glass hinges. A recess shower with the door between two walls uses glass to wall hinges. A shower with a fixed panel and a return panel may use both types in different places.

Count the hinges you need. A door usually takes two or three hinges, depending on its height and weight. Use the same hinge type and finish for all of them, and use the same number on each door.

The five finishes

The range is offered in champagne, lustre bronze, tiger bronze, brushed nickel and shadow gunmetal. Each finish suits a different bathroom.

Champagne is a pale, warm gold, softer than polished brass, and suits a light bathroom with warm tapware. Lustre bronze is a bright bronze with a metallic shine. Tiger bronze is a deeper, richer bronze that suits dark tiles and timber. Brushed nickel is a soft silver with a warm tone and goes with stainless steel and nickel tapware. Shadow gunmetal is a dark grey that suits black or matte tapware.

Check how each finish appears in your bathroom light. A finish looks different against white tile, dark tile or timber, and under a warm or cool lamp.

Matching tapware and accessories

The most reliable approach is to match the screen hardware to the other metal in the shower. If the tapware, the shower head and the rail are Meir in a certain finish, choose the same finish for the hinges and the handle. The Meir hardware sits in the same family as the Meir tapware, so the finish names match.

If the bathroom mixes finishes, keep the screen hardware matching the item nearest to it. The hinges and handle are seen next to the shower tap and the rail, so those two should agree.

Measuring before you order

Write down the glass thickness, the number of panels, the door width and height, the hinge positions and the handle position. Choose the hinge type for each joint. Count the brackets for each fixed panel. Give your glazier the hinge and handle dimensions from the product page, because the holes and cut-outs are made before the glass is toughened.

Toughened glass cannot be cut or drilled after it is made. A hole in the wrong place means a new panel. So the dimensions must be right at the ordering stage, and the hardware must be on hand to check the fit.

Fitting notes

Hinges and handles are fitted by a glazier or an installer who handles toughened glass. Use gaskets or washers where the metal meets the glass, so the glass never touches the brass directly. Tighten the fixings evenly and check the door swing before the installer leaves. Check that the door closes with an even gap and that the hinge screws are tight.

Check the walls and floor. A U bracket on a floor needs a flat, solid surface. A glass to wall hinge needs a firm wall. If the wall is hollow, add backing before the hardware goes in.

Caring for the hardware

Wipe the hinges, handle and brackets with a soft damp cloth after cleaning the screen, and dry them. Avoid abrasive pads, scouring powders and strong chemical cleaners, which can mark a PVD or electroplated finish. Rinse off soap and shampoo, which can leave a film. Do not use bleach on the hardware.

Check the hinge fixings every few months, because daily use can loosen a screw. A hinge that sags or a door that no longer closes evenly is a sign to check the fixings.

Shower layouts and the parts each one uses

The hardware you need follows the layout of the shower. A recess shower sits between three walls and has a single door panel. It needs glass to wall hinges on one side, a round handle on the free edge and U brackets only if there is a fixed panel. A corner shower has two glass sides, one fixed and one hinged. It needs glass to glass hinges between the two panels, U brackets along the fixed panel's wall and floor edges and a handle on the door. A walk-in shower has a fixed panel and sometimes a return panel, and may need only U brackets and no hinge at all.

Sketch the layout and mark each joint where glass meets wall, floor or glass. Each joint takes a particular part. Count them on the sketch, then count the hinges and brackets you need. This list also helps your glazier to quote and to set out the holes.

Which way the door swings

The glass to glass hinge swivels in both directions, so the door can open into the shower or out into the room. Most frameless doors open outwards, which keeps the shower floor clear and makes it easier to get out in an emergency. In a small bathroom, an outward swing can hit a vanity or a toilet, so check the clearance before you decide. In a larger room, an inward swing can work. Test with a cardboard template or a tape on the floor to see where the door travels.

The swing direction decides which side of the glass carries each part of the hinge, so confirm it before the glass is cut.

Door weight and the number of hinges

A frameless door is heavy glass, and the hinges carry all of its weight. Two hinges are common on a standard door, and a third may be added on a tall door. The heavier the glass, the more important it is to use hinges rated for the weight and to spread the load. A 10mm panel is heavier than an 8mm panel of the same size, so a tall, wide 10mm door asks more of its hinges.

Ask your glazier how many hinges they would use for your door and where they would sit. The hinge dimensions are fixed, but the position on the door is set by the installer.

Solid brass in a wet room

A shower is among the hardest places for hardware. The parts are splashed with water, soap, shampoo and cleaning products every day. Solid brass is a good base because it does not rust, but the finish over it still needs care. A PVD coating resists wear and cleaning better than a thin plated layer, which is why most of these finishes are PVD. Even so, avoid leaving cleaning products on the metal.

In a bathroom with hard water, wipe the hardware dry after use. Water marks build up on any finish if they are left, and a quick wipe with a soft cloth keeps the metal bright.

Cleaning around hinges and brackets

Soap and mineral deposits collect in the gaps around hinges and brackets. Use a soft brush or a cloth to clean around the edges. A small, soft toothbrush reaches into a bracket. Rinse with clean water and dry. If the screen is cleaned with a squeegee after each shower, there is less to clean at the end of the week.

Do not use abrasive creams or steel wool on the hardware. They scratch the finish and leave a dull patch that cannot be repaired.

Planning a bathroom in one finish

Choose the finish for the whole bathroom first, then buy the pieces. The shower mixer, the shower head, the rail, the basin tap, the towel rail, the toilet roll holder and the screen hardware all sit in view. A single finish across them makes the room feel planned. Pair the handle with the complete range of Meir bathroom accessories for a cohesive look.

If a finish is not available in a certain item, choose the nearest match and place the two items in different parts of the room. A near match works better when the pieces are far apart than when they are side by side.

Common mistakes to avoid

The first mistake is ordering the hardware before the glass thickness is confirmed. The second is mixing hinge types without a reason. The third is overlooking the wall behind a glass to wall hinge. The fourth is mixing finishes that clash with the tapware. The fifth is forgetting that holes must be cut before toughening. The sixth is using too few hinges for a tall door.

A short list avoids each: glass thickness, hinge type, wall, finish, hole positions and hinge count.

Our recommendation

For a corner shower with a fixed panel, choose glass to glass hinges. For a recess, choose glass to wall hinges. Use U brackets where a fixed panel meets the wall or the floor. Add the round handle in the same finish. Choose the finish by matching the tapware, with shadow gunmetal for black fittings, brushed nickel for silver, and champagne, lustre bronze or tiger bronze for warm metals.

Confirm the glass thickness, give the glazier the dimensions and check the wall. Then the screen will hang square and last.

Questions about Meir shower screen hardware

What glass thickness do the Meir parts suit?

It suits 8mm or 10mm glass.

What are the Meir shower hinges made from?

They are corrosion resistant solid brass with a PVD or electroplated finish.

Does the glass to glass hinge swing both ways?

Yes. It is dual functioning, with the ability to swivel inwards and outwards.

What size is the round shower door handle?

It has an overall diameter of 25mm and a length of 59.5mm.

When do I need holes cut in the glass?

Before the glass is toughened. Toughened glass cannot be drilled afterwards, so confirm the dimensions with your glazier first.