Shower Doors: What Type Fits My Style and Bathroom?
Whether you realize it or not, your bathroom is probably one of the most used rooms in your home. As you exit the shower to start your day, chances are you are thinking about what you have to do, your coming day at work, or that issue you thought about before you went to sleep. Chances are you are not thinking about your shower doors. When exactly is the last time you thought about giving your bathroom a spruce up or update? Maybe you do not have shower doors, and you are tired of frequently buying shower liners or even shower curtins because they quickly grow mildew or soap buildup? New shower doors may just be what the doctor ordered.
If you have never redone your bathroom before or even built a house, you may think shopping for shower doors is simple and easy. Well, that may not be the case, as first you have to figure out the type of shower your bathroom has. Do you have just a simple bathtub with an installed shower head? This is probably common in most households, and your choices are limited to sliding doors. However, if you have an alcove stand-alone or a corner stand-alone shower, your choices are more detail-specific, but there are a few options.
Types of Shower Doors
Bypass: This is the most logical choice for most standard bathtub with installed shower heads. They take up the least amount of space, and they are ideal for wide openings. Bypass doors consists of two to three panels that slide past each other, and they are attached to top and bottom tracks.
Round: Round doors tend to open inward, making them ideal for corner stand-alone showers. Curved glass design creates a larger bathing area. Round doors attach to the top and bottom of the frame, creating smooth operation and stability. Installation may be reversible for left or right entry.
Neo-Angle: Commonly used with corner stand-alone showers, neo-angle doors take up little space, and they can be installed to swing open to the left or right.
Pivot: Pivot doors are ideal for openings too small for bypass doors. Typically, they are 36 inches wide, but they may be ad wide as 48 inches. Commonly used in alcove or corner stand-alone showers, pivot doors can be installed to open left or right, depending on the layout of your existing bathroom.
Barrier-Free: Commonly used for family members with special needs, barrier-free shower doors eliminate the need for a bottom track. They are wider than conventional shower doors, allowing easier access for people with special needs.
Framed or Frameless Shower Doors
The choices you have to make, when it comes to choosing shower door style, do not end with the type of shower door that fits your bathroom layout. You also need to choose whether you want framed or frameless shower doors.
Framed: Made from aluminum or composite materials, framed shower doors come in a variety of finishes that can complement any bathroom decor. Choose from a variety of colors, including bronze, brass, nickel, silver, or chrome.
Frameless: Considered to be a newer design concept, frameless shower doors feature through other glass mounted towel bars or handles and different thickness of glass. They are easier to keep clean, and they help create a feeling of spaciousness, which is a nice feature for small bathrooms. Pivot frameless shower doors can open in or out.
Styles of Shower Door Glass
When it comes to shower doors, there is no such thing as “just” glass. The type of glass you choose for your shower door has the potential to create works of art right in your bathroom. Frosted, tinted, or textured glass is not only beautiful, but it also creates a barrier for dirt. Soap scum, mildew, and other types of dirt may not be as noticable through frosted, tinted, or textured glass. Opaque glass creates a stronger feeling of privacy, when compared to clear, transparent glass. While clear, transparent glass can showcase the tile or stonework in your shower and make a small space feel larger, it can be a headache to clean. The transparency makes the dirt, soap scum, or mildew more noticable, so it will need to be cleaned more frequently.
See examples of our Shower Door Designs in our Shower Door Gallery!!
The thickness of the glass may also make a difference, depending on the style and type of shower door you choose. A thicker, heavier glass means a more stable and smoother glide to bypass doors that are attached to an upper and lower track. Naturally, the thickness of the glass also depends upon the style of frame you choose for your doors. Frameless shower doors may not support a heavier glass liked framed shower doors will.
Conclusion
You can have so much fun and bring out the artist or designer in yourself by choosing the shower doors that is right for your style of bathroom upgrading. However, you also need to be in touch with your detail-oriented, precise, and careful side. Measuring your bathroom dimensions accurately is the most important thing you can accomplish when shopping for new shower doors. Certain styles of shower doors will only work in certain bathroom sizes and layouts. If you are unsure of how to properly measure your bathroom dimensions, you should consult with a professional. Once you have the proper measurements in place, the rest comes fun and easily.