Shower screen measuring visits: what to check

A made-to-measure shower screen is cut once, and toughened glass cannot be trimmed afterwards. The measuring visit is where the job is won or lost. Measure every opening at several heights, check walls for plumb and the tray or floor for fall, confirm what is behind the tiles for the fixings, and settle glass, finish and door type with the customer on the spot. Then give a lead time for the glass and book the fitting visit before you leave.

Bring samples: clear and low-iron glass, frosted or patterned options, hinge and handle finishes. Explain the difference between a frameless door and one with a profile, and what each needs to stay watertight. Talk about cleaning, and offer an easy-clean coating if you supply it. Write down every choice and read it back, because changing the glass after the order costs the customer time and money.

Check where the water lands when the shower runs and which way the door can open without hitting a basin, a radiator or a towel rail. A walk-in panel needs enough length to keep splashes inside. Say clearly what you can and cannot promise about water staying in the shower, and suggest a seal or a return panel when the space is tight.

Toughened glass is made to order, so give the customer the lead time your supplier quotes and add a margin. Book the fitting visit at the end of the measuring visit, once you know the delivery date, and explain what the customer needs to do: clear the bathroom, keep the shower unused until the silicone has cured, and be present for the handover. If the delivery slips, move the fitting date early and tell the customer directly.

A measuring visit takes travel and time. You can charge a fee and deduct it from the order, or include it in the price. Either way, say so in the service description so the customer knows before booking.

On Book, each service has a name, a price and an optional description shown on your public page. Create a "Shower screen measuring visit" service, and say in the description that the tiles and tray must be finished. Publish slots that repeat weekly on the days you work in the area. Each slot belongs to one service and sits within a single day, and with one place per slot a booked visit no longer appears on your public page. Customers book with their name, email and phone and can add an optional note with the address and the type of enclosure, which you read in your new-booking email. Once the glass is ordered, you can book the fitting visit for the customer yourself from your calendar.

Durations and prices are examples, labour only: set your own. If a fitting has to move because the glass is late, change the booking from your bookings list and tell the customer yourself, as Book does not email clients when a booking is rescheduled or cancelled. Book costs €5/month, all-inclusive: unlimited services and bookings, no commission, no commitment.