If Your Time is as Valuable as Your Money
Budgeting for a home improvement project or a remodel can be tricky. Staying within that budget can be an even bigger challenge. We’ve all been there – you plan on spending a certain amount on a project, you plan for every foreseeable expense, and you price shop. Then you knock down a wall… whoops!
What’s behind those walls can be full of surprises and unforeseen expenses, so now you have to cut costs. We hear regularly from customers that they’re over budget by the time they get to the glass shower doors stage (usually the very last stage), so they’re trying some other methods before heading our way. Here’s our advice:
1. A Hardware Store
Buying a pre-fabbed shower glass enclosure from a big box store might be the most affordable route, but it most likely won’t provide you with the final outcome you’re looking for. Most of the options aren’t truly frameless. And while the few frameless shower door options available have come a long way, they’re still lacking. Typically, the glass isn’t considered “heavy glass” like what you’d receive from a local glass company which is 3/8” thickness or greater. Their finishing selections are much more limited as well because they aren’t custom selected for the job. When pre-fabbing, they mass-produce the most cost-effective options and don’t produce much else. This also means their sizing choices are limited as well. If you’ve moved your shower head up, you want to make sure your glass height increases with it. This often isn’t an option with an “off the shelf” shower door.
2. The Internet
Ordering your glass from the internet instead of the shower door company down the road that specializes in glazing brings on many of the same challenges as buying one from a hardware store. You might have a few more finish options, but now you’re stuck paying for shipping on top of everything. Let us tell you – shipping glass is not cheap! Not to mention, who is going to install this door once it arrives (hopefully in one piece)?
3. A Handyman
Listen, we know some incredibly talented handymen (and women). They’re detail-oriented, fair, reliable, and have experience in bathroom remodeling. But glass is a whole different beast in the subcontractor world. Why? Because if you mess up a pane of shower glass you can’t run to the store to pick up a new one. It’s also dangerous to install. One wrong move and the entire thing shatters. You pay a premium to have a glazier measure and install your shower glass because they’re specifically trained to do so. When measuring shower space, a glazier knows how to account for out-of-squares and proper deductions for glass to properly fit and function. They know that your walls are most likely not square, but if they do their job right, no one will ever be able to tell. They also know the art of glass installation and how to handle such a heavy, fragile object. A handyman knows a lot of things, but it takes specialized training when it comes to glass.
The Right Solution for Your Glass Shower Door Needs
Working with a professional glazier from a company that specializes in custom glass shower doors is the best way to ensure you end up with the perfect shower. Custom shower doors that are fabricated by glaziers are specifically designed to work with your existing shower space, bathroom space, budget, and style preferences. Whether you want a simple frameless shower door for your corner shower, a new glass shower enclosure, or you have a shower tub combo, a professional glass company that specializes in creating affordable frameless glass shower doors and working with all types of showers, is the best way to protect your investment and end up with the bathroom you’ve always dreamed of.
Your biggest concern may be the cost, but when you take into consideration everything that may go wrong when you buy an off the shelf model, attempt to install the door yourself, or work with a contractor who doesn’t have the bathroom experience you need, you’ll realize that when you go with a glass specialist, you’re actually saving money in the long run.
If you enjoyed this article, check out these other articles about Glass Shower Doors:
High End Glass Shower