It’s something you hardly think about, that is, until it’s time to remodel your bathroom. Shower doors can do wonders for a bathroom, by elevating not only the style but function of the space. When deciding on what shower door to go with, you’ll want to keep in mind factors including design, dimension, framing, and finishes. Use the following guidelines as checklist for your own shower rehab.
Design
First it’s important to recognize what kind of shower design already exists in the space. Do you have a bathtub shower, an alcove stand-alone shower, or a corner stand-alone shower? Whether you decide to keep or change your shower design, you’ll want to understand the types of doors and which kind works best with what you want to do in the space. The different types of shower doors include bypass, round, neo-angle, and pivot.
Bypass – These doors are also known as sliding doors, are perfect for wide openings and tend to take up the least amount of space.
Round – Round shower doors are seen ideally in corner stand-alone showers and often allows for dual-side entry and exit.
Neo-Angle – Also designed for corner showers, these doors can take up a bit more space but allow for diverse configuration.
Pivot – The doors are also known as swinging doors because they open outward or inward from one side. They are commonly used in stand-alone showers.
Dimensions
It’s important to note that wall materials like backer board, fiberglass, acrylic, and tile can affect the width of the opening for your shower door(s), so it’s crucial to hold off on measuring until the enclosure is finished. At NJ Kitchens and Baths, we find it is best to not buy pre-made shower doors from the big box stores. The glass company we use templates the shower, fabricates the glass, has it tempered and then returns in about 2 weeks to install the glass. The custom route ensures more accuracy.
Framing
Shower doors can either be framed or frameless. Framed doors can have aluminum or composite material that frames the door panel itself. Frameless doors offer a sleeker look and can support various thickness of glass. They tend to be easier to clean and offer a feeling of spaciousness for smaller bathrooms.
Finishes
Shower doors practically always made of glass. Homeowners can choose to keep their glass shower doors clear, or they can choose effects like frosting, opaqueness, or even a patterned finish. Some doors even offer special features like towel bars and door handles.
What kind of shower door is your favorite?
