Bathrooms are one of the costliest rooms in the home to remodel. However, many homeowners have discovered that remodeling just the shower area in their bathrooms can prove to be a more cost-effective option and one that can instantly upgrade and change the look and feel of their bathroom. If you follow bathroom renovation trends across the country, then you probably already know that frameless shower doors are in and have taken the place of the outdated framed shower doors that have fallen out of favor. Frameless glass shower door enclosures have the power to turn an outdated and basic bathroom into an elegant retreat, and for a fraction of what you would pay for a total bathroom remodel.
Beautiful Glass Shower Doors for Your Bathroom Upgrade Project
With the lack of a metal frame, a frameless glass shower door provides a sleek, clean, and modern look that’s easy to maintain. The lack of the frame allows for an unobstructed view of the shower areas, which adds an aesthetic dimension to an otherwise basic bathroom and makes it appear more spacious and elegant.
Cleaning and maintaining their flawless look is also virtually hassle-free. There’s no chance of rust, mold, soap scum, or mildew accumulation since there’s no metal frame or rubber in the door’s design.
But their functionality, low maintenance design, and aesthetic appeal aren’t the only reasons these doors are so popular.
Design Flexibility
A frameless shower door fits in well with contemporary bathroom designs, regardless of bathroom size.
If you want to do a total bathroom remodel, then you’ll have more flexibility in terms of choosing a new glass shower enclosure. If you’re replacing an existing shower door, you will need to consider the size of your shower area, including the room needed for the door’s movement and the size of the bathtub. You should also have your current plumbing inspected to determine if anything needs to be replaced.
Accurate Measurements are a Must
Before you explore your design options, you must take precise measurements. Accurate measurements will pinpoint how much space you have to work with, can help you determine which type of door and enclosure is compatible with your bathroom’s layout, or it can indicate you need a company that offers custom frameless shower doors. Custom shower doors are fabricated with your bathroom’s available space in mind. Without perfect measurements, you may end up with a door with poor clearance or one that cannot achieve a perfect seal.
Bathroom Design
Bathroom space is everything. If you have a smaller master or guest bathroom, the goal is to maximize every inch of bathroom space and install a shower door enclosure that makes the most of the space you have, while adding to its functionality. Frameless shower doors are a great option for bathrooms of all sizes, depending on your personal style preference.
Shower Layout
The layout of the shower will help you decide on a shower setup that will work with the space available and your bathroom’s design, making the room flow well, while maximizing space.
Door
A glass shower door can open to the right or left and the hinges can be attached to another pane of glass or a wall, depending on your shower’s layout.
Walls
For most shower shapes you can have a variety of half and full walls. Once you’ve selected a shower shape, an expert glass installer can show you the most common configurations to help you choose one that will work the best for you.
Frameless Glass Shower Door Designs
Choosing a shower design will impact the look and feel of your bathroom. Depending on the width of the bathtub or shower area, you can choose a hinged or sliding door. Hinged doors can have a door with a panel or a simple single-door design.
90-Degree Frameless Glass Doors
90-degree shower doors feature two glass sides that meet at a right angle to form a rectangle or square.
Neo Angle Shower
A neo-angle shower door is diamond-shaped with two tile walls and three glass sides.
Single Doors
Single glass shower doors are commonly installed on shower stalls and are usually the only glass element on a shower enclosure, with tile on the three remaining sides. A single door is perfect for smaller spaces or stand-in showers.
Door and Panel
A door and panel shower is perfect for showers that have an opening that’s greater than 33 inches. The single door is combined with a knee-in or full glass panel.
Sliding Shower Doors
Sliding shower doors are possible if you work with an experienced glass contractor that offers custom glass doors.
Bypass Sliding Shower Doors
A bypass sliding door features a square bar and a two-rail design that allows both glass panels to bypass each other.
Barn Door Slider
To create an opening, the barn door slider moves a single panel over the other. However, unlike a bypass sliding door design which is equipped with two rails and a square bar, with a barn door slider, a round bar is installed that only allows the barn door to slide.
Steam Showers
All shower shapes can be built with a transom at the top or a full enclosure that you can open to allow steam to escape or it can be closed to trap the steam inside.
Shower Door Glass Options
The type of glass you choose will depend on personal preference and the look you want to achieve.
Typically, you’ll have a few options:
Clear and Ultra-Clear
Clear glass looks stylish and can give a small bathroom a more spacious look. The interior of the shower is easily visible, making clear glass a great choice for showers with beautiful tilework.
Frosted
You can also choose frosted glass for your frameless shower doors. Frosted glass doors feature an opaque finish and are commonly chosen for the added level of privacy. Frosted glass also doesn’t require as much upkeep as clear glass shower doors.
Patterned
Patterned glass for frameless shower glass doors is available in a variety of etched patterns, including rainfall or raindrop. Patterned glass is also more translucent compared to frosted.
Glass Thickness
A frameless glass shower door is made out of sturdy, thick tempered glass. Unlike a framed door, these doors are not supported by a frame or any metal panels. The only metal elements on a frameless door are the handles and hinges. Typically, the glass used to make these doors ranges from ⅜’ to ½’ thick, which makes the doors structurally strong.
Essential Hardware Finishes and Colors
The right hardware colors and finishes can tie a room together and allows your new shower enclosure to blend well with your existing bathroom decor.
You’ll have your choice of:
- Polished chrome hardware
- Brushed nickel
- Oil rubbed bronze
- Matte black
- Satin brass
Hinges
You’ll also have your choice between pivot hinges or side mount hinges. Pivot hinges are affixed to the top and bottom of the shower door. Side-mounted hinges are similar to the hinges used on the interior doors in a home.
Handle Designs
Available handle designs include:
- Pulls
- Square knobs
- Round knobs
Mounting Options
You can choose between channel or clamp mounting options.
Channel
The channel option utilizes a u-shaped strip of metal that’s the same length as the glass edge. The glass is slotted in place with the channel secured to the floor and walls.
Clamps
The clamps are affixed to the walls and the floor of the shower and clamp the glass in place.
Let the Installation Pros Handle this Type of Complex Remodel
While some homeowners are tempted to try the DIY approach, installing frameless glass shower doors is much more complex than most people think. One small mistake, such as inaccurate measurements, or mounting the glass incorrectly, can result in high costs and project delays. Installation pros with significant experience working with showers of all shapes and sizes know what will work for your bathroom and what won’t.
Meeting with a glass contractor can end up saving you time, stress, and money. You can discuss your style preferences, space concerns, and explain exactly how you want your shower to look. A company that fabricates its own frameless glass shower doors is a huge plus since they can ensure your new glass door and enclosure fit your bathroom perfectly. You’ll also have more options in terms of design, hardware styles, and hardware finishes.
Get a Quote from Shower Door Experts
Any reputable glass company will offer a free quote. This will give you a good idea of what you can anticipate in terms of installation and fabrication costs. If you’re on a budget, getting a quote is a must.
Always Look at a Glass Company’s Work Portfolio
Most shower door companies will have their work portfolio readily available online.
Looking at a company’s portfolio will not only give you more style ideas but will also give you a clear idea of whether the company is capable of creating the bathroom of your dreams.
At GCS Glass and Mirror, we’re proud of the beautiful glass shower enclosures and shower doors we’ve created and installed for our clients all over the state. If you need a team of experienced glass contractors that can deliver the results you’re looking for, our portfolio speaks for itself.
Are You Ready for Your New Frameless Glass Shower Door?
Installing a new glass shower door and enclosure can drastically change the look and feel of your bathroom. It can give you that small piece of paradise at home, one you’ll look forward to relaxing in after a long day at work. If you’re ready for this important bathroom upgrade, contact the experts at GCS Glass and Mirror today for a free quote. We offer competitive prices, fast and expert installation, and excellent customer service for the best customer experience. We can meet with you to discuss your design options, budget, and turn your vision of a dream bathroom into a reality. Contact us today to learn more.
If you enjoyed this article, check out these other articles about Glass Shower Doors:
13 Instagramable Shower Designs to Inspire Your Next Remodel
Deciding on a Shower Door Contractor for Your Renovation