Some important decisions need to be made by the homeowner to get the most out of their own personal glass shower enclosures. The first real decision that needs to be made is in reference to the budget that the homeowner has available or at their disposal. There are a wide variety of costs related to glass shower enclosures ranging from very affordable to highly expensive. By establishing a clear-cut budget a family can realistically explore options that are reasonably priced and right for their lifestyle. After establishing this threshold there are still many considerations that need to be taken. There are very many different shower enclosure options available at reasonable costs.

An important consideration in selecting a glass shower enclosure is the amount of space the designers are willing or able to dedicate to their shower. This will affect the sizing of the panels of glass for the enclosure as well as the type of hinges used to mount the glass and way the doors open. Doors that slide side to side are more suited for cramped spaces whereas doors that swing open and closed require more clearance in order for the door to be able to open properly.

Another decision that is on the table is the level of privacy the designers of the shower enclosure aim for. Some prefer clear glass for a more wide-open look, while others dislike the lack of privacy that this provides. For such people a better choice would be frosted glass that is far more opaque and cannot be easily seen through.

Tiling is another important option to consider when deciding what will accompany your glass shower enclosure. The look and feel of the tile based on the color, texture, pattern or arrangement can completely alter the overall look of the shower and in turn the bathroom itself. For smaller touches, you might also customize the accompanying hardware, like the shower frames, showerhead, water valves, and shower door handle.

When choosing a shower enclosure, there are many different elements to keep in mind. Regardless of personal preference or taste there is bound to be a combination of winning aspects to please any individual. Your glass shower enclosures should be havens and places of relaxation, so their layout and construction are important parts of any homeowner’s life.

There are many different types of sliding shower doors on the market. There are those equipped for stand-alone showers, and those equipped for showers with attached tubs. The thickness of shower door glass can vary from three sixteenths of an inch (3/16″) to five sixteenths of an inch (5/16″), with an intermediate one-quarter inch (1/4″) thickness also available.

As it might be easy to deduce that not all glass is equally priced, it is important to note that sliding shower doors vary in price based on several features, including the thickness of the glass with the thinner glass being more expensive and the more substantial thicker glass costing much more. Depending on the thickness of the glass there are also different manufacturers to go along with these products, some being more practical and affordable and others specializing in high-end excellent quality bypass shower doors. Typically while an interested client can order a large variety of doors in different sizes and shapes, the upper limits on these doors for most average companies will be no more than 72″ wide and no more than 80″ tall.

Another interesting option for sliding doors is the frameless variation. Most bypass doors rely on frames due to the nature of the direction in which the glass moves, it must move along an axis and the easiest way to engineer it to do so is along a track. With the new construction advances in frameless shower doors, the use of a header-which is still a metal piece that must travel across the top portion of the shower, leaves the shower floor and the sides of the glass (where typically a frame will travel vertically up the side of the glass) frame free and track free and is very aesthetically pleasing.

Regardless of the construction, sliding shower doors are ideal in many scenarios to complete the look and feel of a functional bathroom space. For many, bathroom space may be limited, and a door that would swing out one hundred and eighty degrees would require more space, and leave the bathroom feeling more cramped. In these situations, sliding shower doors that more effectively utilize space are the best option.

Typically shower door height and width specifications are necessary when ordering from a major manufacturer. Upon browsing several manufacturers’ offerings, it can be concluded that on average the maximum height offered is seventy-seven and five eighths inches. (77- 5/8″) but ranging up to around eighty inches (80″). These measurements convert to around six feet seven and five eighths inches tall (6’7-5/8″) and six feet eight inches tall respectively. For those whose ceilings are very high, and who seek to create floor to ceiling shower doors, custom work will again be necessary. For shower door width each individual pane of glass starts at twenty inches wide (20″) and usually ends in a maximum of thirty-six inches wide (36″). This translates to a foot and eight inches (1’8″) and three feet (3′) respectively. For any glass that exceeds these dimensions, custom shower doors might be the only option.

Another interesting facet of customizing shower doors is the copious amount of creative and artistic options there are. Instead of plain clear glass, when you begin to explore customizing there are no limits to the amazing things that can be accomplished with glass. Architectural cast glass is a beautiful option. For quality and age-old craftsmanship Venetian Cast Art Glass is another great option. These types of glass provide a sculpted unique artistic appearance with a gently textured surface. Glass can also be created in this same style and function as a pull, also known to the layperson as a shower door handle. A pull can be fashioned out of this attractive glass and shaped in unique ways. From a dolphin to a fancy monograph the choices are limitless. A further option to explore is the concept of frameless shower doors. These types of shower doors are mounted in unique ways to avoid the necessity of a full metal encasing surrounding the shower door. This provides a cleaner more minimalistic appearance to the shower.

Another instance where custom shower doors would be the best option is in the case of unique dimensions or requirements. If the shower has irregular dimensions, or the homeowner wants a one of a kind unique shower, such needs would best be met by going the custom route. With the ever-increasing technology of the 21st century more and more unique architectural options are present in the shower industry as well as in bathrooms in general making custom shower doors a great choice for the home owner that wants more.

Basco offers such a wide range of shower doors, that the company offers a “Build Your Door” resource to simplify the process of choosing between varieties of doors. The process of building your door consists of six steps. First the customer must select either a shower or tub, as Basco carries doors to fit both arrangements. Next, it is time to select your door type. Here you are choosing between the way the door moves, either swinging open and shut, or sliding.  Another selection made during this step is the size or appearance of the door, some of the times this will be dictated by the dimensions of the shower space. The third choice is the frame type. Basco shower doors can vary from semi frameless to framed. The next choice is most variable based on personal preference and has little to do with the practical limitations of the shower space that the homeowner has to work with. This step is choosing your style and taste, with many different styles available. Step five focuses more on the practicalities involved in constructing your new shower doors, and here you choose the specifications and measurements such as the desired height and/or the shape of your existing shower. And finally Basco allows you to choose your frame finish and glass pattern from clear to frosted and everything in between.

Basco also provides a “lifetime limited warranty” for all Basco enclosures. For the Basco units that are treated with Aqua Glide XP there is a three-year warranty associated with this glass protection system. Basco shower doors that are manufactured and supplied wholly by Basco are eligible for these warranties. In the event of a defective product originally sold by Basco, a Basco warranty will cover the cost of repair and replacement of the product.  Another stipulation of the warranty is that the purchaser must be an individual who installed their Basco unit on a residential property, and any commercial installations of Basco products are instead confined to a one-year warranty.

To purchase Basco products there are extensive resources available to the consumer. An initial step to take is browsing the detailed, organized, and helpful website Basco has put together for consumers. Additionally, there are Basco showrooms located across the United States where full mock-up bathrooms are on display. Inside a showroom the products can be seen in three dimensions as well as interacted with in a much more hands on way to give customers a much greater sense of the look and feel of Basco shower doors than just reading about specifications on the internet and looking at pictures can provide.

Their product called CleanCoat technology is a surfacing agent that is applied to the glass elements of Sterling shower doors.  This surfacer is applied to Sterling glass and the special glass treatment preserves the condition of the original glass, keeping the doors looking fresh and new for longer.  With regular maintenance this pristine condition can be kept up throughout the entire life of the shower door. With CleanCoat treated glass, the consumer can also feel good about their treatment of the environment. By drastically reducing the need for harsh cleaners, Sterling provides an environmentally friendly product.

Sterling also offers another interesting option: Quick Install Shower Doors, which you can assemble with a DIY mindset. Not only does Sterling offer a line of doors that are easy for the average person to install, but on the company website, they provide a very in depth and extensive DIY Resources section. This site offers very basic explanations that guide you step by step through numerous processes. You can do anything from find the perfect shower door to fit your specific needs in a step by step guided search, to view how to videos that not only verbally describe the steps taken in installing a shower but also provide visual images of the process.

The step-by-step guide to choosing the right Sterling door is a very useful starting place for customers who have little to no knowledge about shower doors and the nuances between different types of doors and different types of glass. Once the prospective buyer can gain knowledge about the variety that is offered, they can begin to narrow their prospective choices. Additionally, the how to videos, for folks who do decide to choose a self-installation door is an invaluable resource as professional shower installation workers model the correct techniques of construction acting as virtual teachers and ensuring great results for the do it yourselfers.

There is also an online tool that provides the closest locations which retail Sterling shower doors, for further accessibility to the customer.  Along with locations of retailers, this tool also identifies nearby Sterling showrooms for customers who need to interact in a more hands on way with the merchandise before purchasing is considered. With FAQ’s, articles and tips, and a 1-800 number open for further questions, Sterling provides an unparalleled amount of resources for people who are in the market for shower doors. Sterling shower doors, available for self-installation or installation by professionals, are a great bet for individuals who value extensive support and resources in their purchase of home furnishings.

This type of door has benefits and drawbacks as compared to the primary other type of shower door the frameless pivot shower door. Frameless pivot shower doors swing open and closed up to one hundred and eighty degrees.  While this might benefit some interior designs, this means that the bathroom must be able to accommodate the width of the glass when it swings open, which makes this style much more suited for the more spacious bathroom layouts. However, a frameless pivot shower door would not be very suited for bathrooms where space is limited, as the inclusion of a swinging door would create a cramped feeling in the room.

In instances where frameless pivot shower doors would be an inconvenience or cumbersome in some way, a better option would be frameless sliding shower doors. Usage of a frameless bypass shower door is far more space efficient and yet maintains a streamlined and minimalistic appearance that is characteristic of all frameless shower doors. The doors are self-contained and take up virtually no space at all compared to the pivot style door.

However, there are some drawbacks to frameless sliding shower doors. Since the doors slide open and closed, the surface of the glass is not always readily available to clean. Additionally areas near the top of the mount might be difficult to clean as they run along a track. There are also restrictions on sizing with most manufacturers not exceeding seventy-two inches (72”) wide (which accounts for both doors’ widths combined). Outside of these dimensions, any shower door that a consumer might hope to construct would have to be custom fabricated which can be the most expensive type of frameless shower door construction.

Overall, these frameless pivot shower doors are a great option for homeowners considering an upgrade and in search of a self-contained shower door. It is ideal for those who would like to save space, or those whose bathroom has limited spatial dimensions to work with. Part of its appeal is in the clean lines that a frameless shower door creates, and part of its appeal is in the convenience of a sliding shower door. These beautiful frameless sliding shower doors are certainly worth researching especially for families whose bathroom needs closely align with the above conditions.

Frameless bathtubs can be constructed in several different ways. There are bypass bathtub doors and several other types of innovative setups, but by far the most common setup is the bypass frameless bathtub door. Like all glass doors for the shower, these doors can vary in glass thickness from three sixteenths of an inch (3/16”) to five sixteenth of an inch (5/16”) and also available is one-quarter inch (1/4”). There are an extensive list of choices for available finishes and glass options.  The following finishes are common: Chrome, nickel, bronze, brass, pewter, copper and white. The following glass styles are available: clear, obscure, rain glass, narrow reed, glue chip, frosted, falling lines.

A unique aspect of frameless tub doors has to do with the architecture of the tub itself. Depending on how wide of a lip the tub has, the bathtub door might need to conform to these dimensions. Some bathtubs do not have very wide landings and therefore custom width glass and suspension systems might need to be created.  Thin class can accommodate a smaller shower and an advantage of frameless bathtub doors is that the bulky frame need not crowd the ledge of the bathtub, making installation cumbersome.

Typically the maximum dimensions for a frameless bathtub door are similar to those of frameless shower doors. The largest widths are typically 72” in terms of bypass doors and 36” in terms of hinged doors. When it comes to height, the maximum height can range from 70” all the way up to 80,” which is less common and can be found with select manufacturers only.

Regardless of height and dimensions of the glass, most frameless doors are made of tempered glass, meaning that the glass is much stronger than glass found in other random everyday objects, and is meant to withstand much more pressure and weight. Tempered glass is rapidly heated and cooled to increase its strength. Tempered glass is also considered the “safety glass” making it an ideal candidate for bathroom applications.  Not only is it stronger and meant to endure more, but also, if tempered glass is shattered it is rendered harmless by breaking into very small rounded pieces rather than large and dangerous shards that could pierce human flesh and potentially cause serious injuries in the instance of a fall.

The aesthetic appeal of frameless bathtub doors is in the elegance and clean lines. These doors are unhindered by frames, which distract the eye. The lack of the extra encasing frames means that shower cleanup is simplified and water no longer can pool in cracks and crevices and produce mold, rust and decay. Frameless bathtub doors are great for opening up a small space and making a cramped or crowded bathroom feel more spacious and relaxing.

Cavata glass provides a measure of privacy, while crystal clear glass offers a far more transparent and open look. The designer glass offering that Kohler currently provides is the Devonshire brand glass. Kohler frameless shower doors also have the falling lines design. This type of glass has a unique look, appearing striped. The glass is lined with glass of varying transparencies, with the alternating crystal clear glass and the frosted style glass creating the lines that run from floor to ceiling.

Frosted glass offers the most privacy, as it produces a more opaque looking final result. Portrait glass creates a traditional, charming style, silhouetting and gently outlining each pane of glass like a portrait.

Bypass shower doors are also known to the layperson as sliding shower doors, and Kohler frameless shower doors also have the versatility to slide along an axis versus swing open and closed. Neo-angle shower doors are suited for a shower that is located in the corner of a bathroom. Neo-angle shower doors are meant to create a more opened up feeling to a small or crowded space. Pivot shower doors utilize pivot hinges and mount the glass to the floor and ceiling, and provide a one hundred and eighty degree axis of rotation. The screen setup is another unique option. For those who desire more of a spa experience in-home, there are the steam bypass and steam pivot options. Both of these options produce a steamier environment inside the shower, which is achieved by containing the excess steam created by hot water in the shower. This type of door is available in the bypass, sliding, setup and the pivot, swinging door setup.

Overall, with Kohler, there is a great variety of frameless shower doors to choose from. With such freedom to mix and match different design elements Kohler is sure to be able to provide each individual homeowner with their own personal interpretation of a beautiful, functional, long lasting and high quality shower door or shower doors. Prospective customers have the freedom to either browse the extensive list of Kohler products online with full details and descriptions, or begin their search for the perfect simple shower at any retailer that carries the Kohler brand. For uniqueness, customer satisfaction and understated simplicity this company is sure to deliver results for the average homeowner who seeks to upgrade their bathroom space with the unparalleled design and architecture of Kohler frameless shower doors.

The pivot hinges have a top to bottom orientation, while side-mount hinges are, as the name suggests, oriented from side to side and align horizontally. Typically a pivot hinge will be used to mount a shower door to the ceiling or floor, and usually this is done at the corners of a door, which allows the door to swing in or out in a 180 degree rotation. However, when your shower will not run floor to ceiling this type of hinge will require a metal header for the pivot to attach to. With the goal of constructing a frameless shower door as simply as possible, such a construction seems counter-productive. However, when two pieces of glass are being joined frameless pivot shower doors can be the right way to go.

Use of frameless pivot shower doors offers cutting edge engineering and can reduce costs of refinishing. While pivot hinges and side-mount hinges are very similar in cost, it is not the actual hardware costs that will dictate the price of your shower door, it is the glass and the level of fabrication that is needed. While simple glass sheets can be produced, the construction of the shower doors is fully dependent upon the method and technique that the technician will need to use to assemble the shower. With more complex designs and with use of side-mount hinges conjoining glass on glass, the price can rise. The price of a pivot-hinge door secured to the ceiling will be fairly close to the cost of a side-mount hinge secured to a wall.

However, pivot-hinges provide more versatility when it comes to securing one piece of glass to another piece of glass to create a corner. If you were to attempt to secure a side-mount hinge to another glass panel, in order to achieve results that are both safe and attractive more glass fabrication is needed. This means that the manufacturer of the glass will need to do more cutting and notching of the glass to create the nuances necessary to use the side-mount hinges. This increase in specialization will cause the cost of the sheet of glass to rise. This makes use of side-mount hinged shower doors a very cost inefficient solution for these scenarios, with frameless pivot shower doors offering a more logical and cost effective answer.

Some common designs are the in-line, right angle, neo-angle and bypass glass shower door. The customer also has the ability to mix and match stable glass shower wall, sliding doors, or doors with hinges. Home renovators also have the ability to choose completely custom created glass shower doors. Upon request manufacturers can create custom angles and dimensions for the perfect shower door for your unique home. Manufacturers also work with the technology that allows them to create modest curvatures in the class, so rounded shapes for your showers are also possible to attain.

Styles can also range from very private through utilization of more frosted glass, to more risqué with full floor to ceiling length clear glass three hundred and sixty degrees around. A unique benefit that full-length glass (un-obscured by boxy frames) can provide is a more spacious look to your bathroom. By allowing the eye to travel completely through the space frameless glass shower doors increase the dimension to the room, an interior designing optical illusion. This type of thing is ideal in bathrooms that feel cramped and overcrowded and can change the look and feel of the entire space.

Another unique benefit of shower doors that do not contain frames is the lack of any rust-prone surface. Oftentimes the frames that line shower doors, after being subjected to long-term water exposure, will begin to show wear and tear, far before the panes of glass in the shower. Rusting and decaying metal frames are the last things a family desires to see in their bathroom, and especially in their shower- a shower is meant to be a place of relaxation and cleanliness after all. Additionally the presence of rust is a very real safety hazard, and contact with an open wound requires a doctor’s attention and potentially a tetanus shot to prevent infections. With the beautiful frameless shower doors that are currently springing into the market, such concerns would be eliminated.

A new and distinct look for your bathroom can actually be achieved through the “less is more” approach- by deconstructing the typical interpretation of a shower door you can arrive at a unique and simplistic look for your bathroom with frameless glass shower doors.