The shower enclosure is a separation between the wet and dry areas. Shower enclosure surrounds the shower area and is installed with railings or curtain rods fixed with the ceilings or walls. What do we need it for when there are doorless showers? Well, there are some advantages: a shower enclosure provides privacy, it prevents water from flooding outside the bath area and it makes the space more organized. Aren’t these points enough to make one? If you are hesitating and are looking for some options, we’ve prepared them – framed and frameless shower doors for your shower enclosure!
Framed Glass Shower Doors
Framed glass shower doors have a heavy-duty aluminum frame around their interior edges. They provide more stability: glass shower doors are made from tempered glass, which breaks off into small circles instead of shards for less risk of injury. The aluminum frame around a glass shower door steadies the door as well, further reducing the risk of shattering. They are easier to install: to install a framed glass shower door, all you need to do is hang up the frame. Framed glass doors can fit over any type of shower material. On the other hand, frameless glass shower doors need proper placement of hinges and hardware. They keep in more water: framed glass shower doors are less likely to leak. They contain a track that traps water. Along with this track, they also have both a layer of caulk and a metal frame to protect against spilling. The watertight design of a framed glass door keeps shower spray inside the shower. They come in a variety of frame design options: for a more modern look, you can choose from a variety of different metal frames. They are more cost-effective: you pay 10 to 15% less than a frameless shower to door to install a framed option. Framed glass doors also use thinner tempered glass than frameless glass doors. A thinner glass saves you even more money. But still they have alimited range of motion: they only open outward, which can be limiting. If your door can open both inward and outward, you have less chance of injury. They are harder to maintain: the metal around framed shower doors can corrode over time due to excess moisture. Soap scum and water droplets could also cause mildew buildup around the shower frame.
Frameless Glass Shower Doors
Frameless shower doors are available in plenty of design options: you can select from a broad variety of design styles for your frameless glass shower door. A frameless shower door provides several styles, sizes and configurations. Frameless doors don’t use metal frames, but you could add metal hinges or handles. You could also have a semi-frameless shower door, with metal enclosures on the top or around the sides. They offer a wide range of motion: the hinges for your frameless pivot shower door swing the door both outward and inward. With this feature, you can open your frameless pivot shower door from any direction. They are easier to maintain: the lack of frame makes cleaning a frameless shower door far easier than a framed glass door. The crevices in a frame might collect soap scum and moisture over time. A frameless shower door will carry less of this grimy debris. Along with cleaning, the parts of a frameless glass shower door are easier to replace. They emphasize the design features of the rest of your bathroom: one of the greatest benefits of frameless shower doors is how they influence your bathroom. These doors make bathrooms feel more spacious and airy. But still frameless shower doors tend to cost more than framed shower doors. They also aren’t quite as stable as framed glass shower doors. Often, the glass used for frameless shower doors is thicker. While your frameless shower door is safe, the thick, unprotected glass is less stable than a framed glass door. The installation of your frameless glass door depends on the type of shower you have. Proper glass door installation maintains the clean look and safety of a door. Professional contractors need to drill certain tile materials to set up the hinges. Now you know all the advantages and disadvantages of both ideas, which one would you choose and why?