Shower door seal terms
European sites talk about magnetic and lip profiles. US shower doors use different parts and different names — here's what each one means.
Bottom Sweep
The seal that runs along the bottom edge of a shower door, closing the gap between the glass and the shower pan or tile floor.
Side Wipe
A vertical seal running along the hinge or strike side of a swinging shower door, sealing the gap between the door and the fixed panel or wall.
Bulb Seal
A hollow, tube-shaped vinyl seal used on frameless doors where the door meets a fixed glass panel or the wall — it compresses to close the gap.
Threshold
The raised strip or ramp at the base of a shower entry that helps contain water inside the shower area, distinct from the door seal itself.
Framed vs. Frameless Shower Door
The two dominant US shower door constructions — framed doors have a metal perimeter frame with built-in seals; frameless doors are bare glass with separate clip-on seals.
Shower Door Glass Thickness (Inches)
US shower glass is sold and measured in fractional inches — 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" are the three sizes that matter for seal shopping.