Installing a glass shower door affects the appearance and functionality of your bathroom. A shower glass door is naturally clear, which can enhance the feeling and breadth of the space. In addition, when installed properly, a shower glass door has functional benefits such as enhancing mobility in and out of the shower, as well as water containment in comparison to traditional tubs with curtains. There are many shower glass door options on the market, with varying designs and functionalities. In this article we will discuss what different glass shower doors you can purchase and their pros and cons.
Frame or No Frame?
Fundamentally, doors can come with frames or no frames. The choice between these two boils down to both aesthetic, functionality, and budget. Let’s discuss this essential question on your search for the perfect glass shower door for your bathroom.
Frameless Glass Shower Doors
Pros
Frameless glass shower doors are great for those who want a high-end look, with no visible obstructions around the glass. A frameless glass shower door is a hinged door, so it is great for easy access in and out of the shower. In addition, a frameless glass door allows for the unobstructed visibility of the tile or stonework within the shower itself. Frameles doors are also easy to clean; its just a sheet of glass! Also panels for frameless glass doors are easy to get as you simply need a new custom glass piece if a panel cracks or shatters.
Cons
There are design-build considerations when choosing frameless doors. Because these doors don’t have a supporting frame, they do require a thicker glass, from ⅜ to ½ inch thick, to maintain their structural integrity which is more costly than thinner glass doors. Proper installation for frameless glass doors is critical or issues can arise. The thick glass requires heavy duty mounting joints and hinges which must be installed property or misalignment may occur. Special anchors must be drilled through the tile work to support the thick glass. Be sure you have an skilled contractor with experience in installing shower glass doors to do the installation.
Framed Glass Shower Doors
Pros
If you’re looking for a glass door that’s sturdy and traditional in design, framed glass shower doors are your perfect choice. These shower doors are great for high-traffic bathrooms like in rental properties because the frame supports the glass and can take more wear and tear. In addition, the thick metal frames offer support for thinner, tempered glass panels, which are less expensive than the thick glass doors of frameless designs. Because these framed doors are often sliding doors, they have a track and caulked edges at the bottom of the shower which prevents water leakage. Lastly, framed doors are easier to install as the frame is securely fastened to the enclosure wall at multiple points, not just at the hinges .
Cons
There are several drawbacks to these types of doors. The frame and the bottom track is prone to dirt, mildew, and soap scum buildup and cleaning those creivces is difficult. By design as framed glass doors are often sliding doors or single direction hinged doors, they have a offer a limited range of motion and do not allow for wide, unfettered access in and out of the shower enclosure. A frameless hinged door in contrast can be opened both ways. Framed glass doors are also dated looking in modern builds as homeowners are opting more for frameless options.
Semi Frameless Shower Glass Doors
Semi-frameless shower glass doors combine the framed and frameless design features. A portion of the glass is framed, whereas another has no frame. Usually the door doesn’t have the frame, while the supporting glass does have a frame. This glass door type is more affordable than the fully frameless options but does require more detailed cleaning of the metal frame of the fixed portion which can collect dirt. Luckily, semi-framed doors usually are not sliding doors so you don’t have to worry about the metal track at the bottom also collecting dirt and soap scum.
Types of Doors
Showers glass doors come in two main designs as well as some specialty designs
Sliding Glass Shower Doors
In bathrooms where hinged doors cannot be used due to space constraints, a sliding glass shower door is the best choice.. Sliding doors typically have a frame, and at the bottom have a metal or plastic track, just like patio doors. Sliding doors can either have one sliding panel or two, depending on the design you choose. An advantage of a double sliding door is that it conveniently allows the homeowner to turn on the hot water from one panel opening and enter the shower from another. This prevents the homeowner from always getting wet every time the shower is turned on before letting the water warm up and entering.
Hinged Shower Glass Doors
If you have a big bathroom that can accommodate a swinging door inside the enclosure, then a hinged shower glass door is an option for you! The advantage of these doors is that the opening is often large, making it easy to enter and exit the shower. In addition, you have the option to put handle fittings on the glass panel, adding to the aesthetic of your bathroom. In addition, these handles also are helpful for homeowners who need support when entering and exiting the shower, like the elderly or those with mobility issues. For those who are wondering, these shower glass doors, just like sliding doors,are also watertight. Water will not run underneath the door into the bathroom, as long as the door was installed properly .
Specialty Designs
Quadrant Shower Doors
These glass doors have four panels of glass fitted on a sliding mechanism which moves to give you access into the enclosure. Just like traditional sliding doors, you can choose a design with double access which allows users to use one panel to turn on the hot water, and another to enter the shower.
Barn-Style Shower Doors
Barn-style shower doors have an industrial look with rolling hardware either at the top or bottom of the door. They are great for contemporary builds that want that rustic, throwback accent.
Neo-Angle Shower Doors
If you’re looking for a shower door that fits well in a small corner, choose neo-angle shower doors. They are often 3 panels of glass, with one panel in the middle hinging outward. The basin is usually in the general shape of a triangle. They are great for small bathrooms abd can be easily installed as the basins and panels can be purchased at big box stores.
Half-Glass Shower Doors
Half-glass shower doors allow users to easily walk in and out of the shower area without actually moving a door. When designed and installed correctly, they don’t even cause water leakages. Minimalists love the half-glass doors because they are simple and create an expansive feeling while in the shower. An added plus is that they are really easy to clean as there is no hardware that can catch soap scum, and last long as there are no hinges or sliding mechanisms that can break.
What to Consider Before Choosing Your Shower Glass Door
Here are some of the factors you should consider before making your choice about which shower glass door you want for your bathroom.
Bathroom Layout
If you choose a hinging door, make sure that clearance of swinging doors doesn’t hit into fixtures like the tub, sink, toilet, vanity, and shower. Check the curb slope measurements for proper door fit, as an incorrect slope can cause a poor fit for sliding doors and large gaps causing water leakage If you’re going with frameless shower doors, check for structural support within the studded walls to ensure the anchors have a secure footing. If there is a person in the household that has mobility issues, make sure to choose a bathroom design and accompanying shower glass door that can accommodate easy entering and exiting the shower space.
Glass Thickness
Glasses come in different thickness levels. If you’re going for a frameless glass door, choose a thickness of between ⅜ - ½ inch glasses for stability and strength. With thicker glass, you reduce wobbling and there’s a premium feel to it. For framed and semi-frameless doors, 3/16 - ¼ inches is the standard option.
Glass Type
Shower door glasses come in three types; clear glass, frosted glass, and textured glass.
- Clear Glass: A great for smaller bathrooms to create an illusion of space. However, those outside the enclosure can see through the glass which may be a privacy issue.
- Frosted Glass: It is treated with an elegant opaque finish, offering you the most privacy.
- Textured Glass Doors: They are translucent and etched with different patterns, such as flowers or raindrops. They offer some privacy but not as much as frosted glass. They can also cause issues with cleaning and maintenance due to the small crevices the patterns make on the glass.
Common Problems With Shower Doors
There can be issues with your shower glass doors from a variety of factors including poor installation, bad designs, or simply from wear and tear. Here are the common issues you can expect.
Wobbly Doors
You get wobbly or flimsy doors for two reasons. One is that on hinged doors, the screws in the hinges have come loose. This can be because the anchor has been dislodged or worse, the screws were not held in by an anchor. You may need to replace the anchor, or get longer screws. Worst case scenario, you might have to get a new design of hinges that has different screw hole locations and drill new holes.
Dirty Tracks
Sliding doors can be a pain to clean. Those metal tracks often catch water and soap, and the tracks just become a moldy scummy mess. In addition, it’s hard to clean them and requires brushes that can get into those small spaces. For this reason, using hinged or pivot doors is a solution as these types of glass shower doors do not require a track.
Hard Water Stains
If your home has hard water, these mineral deposits can be a pain to clean from your shower glass doors. Hard water leaves mineral deposits on glass doors, creating unsightly white stains. If you have frosted glass or textured glass, it's even harder to clean. Using special chemicals which can dissolve these deposits is necessary.
Poor Installations
When installed properly, glass shower doors can be an amazing addition to your bathroom. But when installed improperly, they can be a nightmare. Poor alignment when installing the doors can lead to gaps and degraded seals around the edges of shower doors. This can lead to water escaping and pooling on the bathroom floor.
Concluding Key Points
- General Benefits:
- Enhances bathroom aesthetics and functionality.
- Provides better water containment and ease of mobility compared to curtains and tubs.
- Door Types:
- Frameless: Sleek, high-end look; requires thicker glass for structural integrity.
- Framed: Durable, traditional design; easier to clean but prone to dirt collection in tracks.
- Semi-Frameless: Combines framed and frameless features; more affordable but still has issues of dirt gathering at the hardware
- Design Options:
- Sliding Doors: Ideal for tight spaces; may have double sliding panels for convenience.
- Hinged Doors: Suitable for larger bathrooms; allows for wide openings and handles.
- Common Issues:
- Wobbly Doors: Caused by loose hinges or poor installation.
- Dirty Tracks: Frequent in sliding doors; hard to clean.
- Hard Water Stains: Requires special cleaning for mineral deposits