The Ultimate Guide To Frameless Shower Doors - 10 Steps To Consider Before Buying

  • By Superior Showers
  • 26 Dec, 2018

Your Bathroom Oasis Awaits

frameless shower enclosure with skylight above
We've all been there..  you've just returned home from a long exhausting day from the office, a day at the beach, or maybe an out of town trip. One thing remains the same in all of these situations; SHOWER TIME. 

Now this usually consists of your out-dated & unattractive shower curtain or grimy framed shower which makes the process of taking a shower seem more like a task rather than an enjoyment. Usually the light in your bathroom isn't quite enough to really see what your doing or if you maybe missed a spot shaving. 

You find yourself replacing soap-scum covered shower liners every month or having to get out the toothbrush to scrub the metal frames all around your shower then waxing the glass. 

We here at Superior Frameless Showers are trying to revolutionize a very necessary part of your day. The day is so busy we tend focus on so many other things and easily get distracted from the simple things. But at the end of the day (or the start of your day), there couldn't be a more refreshing and "hit the reset button" feeling than enjoying and relaxing in your very own bathroom retreat.

One simple yet central piece to your own personal spa-like bathroom is a frameless shower. Depending on if you are planning on a frameless sliding shower door or frameless shower enclosure, any frameless opton can give you that modern look and feel that you and your bathroom deserve. 

I'm going to talk about some very basic yet important things to consider when looking into frameless shower doors or enclosures and what to expect from your overall decision. 

 First things to consider are the benefits of frameless showers:

  • Modern aesthetics
  • Effortless functionality
  • Low maintenance (thanks to our DFI® coating)
  • Endless customization
  • Unobstructed allowance of natural & artificial light 
  • Options to satisfy all preferences

Check out my 7 reasons why frameless shower doors are the way to go.

Here Are My 10 Steps To Choosing The Perfect Shower Door

1.) The most obvious question is, what type of shower can you afford? This comes with some moving parts but overall we can get you a    free onsite quote to give you a better understanding of what you want. All of our glass is custom made here in the United States. So    nearly every shower we build is uniquely priced. We manufacture the shower doors right here in the U.S. so you're guaranteed to get the    quickest turn-around times.

2.) Next you should choose which style of shower you're considering. Most customers are either in the design process of a new home or    prefer to completely redesign their existing bathroom and relocate their shower to a unique space. If you are keeping the original                     location, determining the style of a sliding shower door, pivoting shower door or a door and panel combo is paramount to ultimate    functionality.

Frameless Door & Panel

serenity frameless shower

Frameless Serenity Sliding Door

picture of a frameless serenity sliding shower door
3.) What type glass do you want/need? All of our glass at Superior Frameless Showers is tempered glass for superior durability. Tempered glass is designed to break into small, rounded pieces, free from sharp edges in the unfortunate case a break occurs. If you ever are offered an option for standard laminated glass, beware that the glass is significantly less safe. In the event that laminated glass breaks, you could be injured as a result.

4.) Thickness of your shower glass. You can choose from a standard 1/2" thickness to 3/8" thickness. Standard shower panels are made out of 1/2" thick glass; although for optimal function out of your actual moving shower door, the 3/8" option is best recommended. The 3/8" option is less costly and should definitely be considered when determining your budget.

1/2" glass provides more stability especially for the panels although remember the final decision is always up to you! Our team is here to simply guide you in the right direction and provide you with as much helpful information as possible. 

5.) Selecting your hardware.  Shower hardware provides the aspects that you wish to accentuate and compliment the rest of your bathroom's theme. You usually have a selection of colors and finishes to match the rest of your bathroom. Some finishes include brass, brushed nickel, gun metal and polished chrome. Make sure to take into account the warranty behind shower door hardware as well as the glass itself. Which brings me to my next point...

Shower Door Hinges & Pull Handle

2 frameless shower door hinges and a pull handle

Sliding Shower Door Track

sliding shower door track and hinge
6.) Warranty Support. Investing in a frameless shower door or frameless enclosure is just that, an investment. You want to make sure your money has a return down the road, right? Luckily, frameless showers have proven themselves to increase the value of your home. Think of the price of your shower or remodel, then think of how a potential buyer looks at.. "Well, they already did the hard part and paid the cost. All we have to do is pay a little extra and avoid the hassle of doing it ourselves." 

Look for lifetime and limited lifetime warranties on your new shower. Protecting your investment can provide at least some peace of mind and an established for of trust with that company. 
lifetime warranty with 2 people shaking hands
7.) Consider the glass protective coating. You may think this is an unnecessary component to glass showers but believe me... cleaning and waxing glass is a burden. You have enough things to clean around the house and even if you have someone else cleaning your home, if not done properly, your shower glass can be ruined. 

Selecting a glass that is pre-treated with a protective coating is the best option that requires little maintenance and upkeep. Water spots and steaks will be a non-topic.

Check out my post on How to Care for Your Frameless Shower.
diamon-fusion coating logo
Diamon-Fusion International
8.) Shower Foundation. When you're choosing the type of foundation for your new shower, keep in mind the overall aesthetic of your overall bathroom. The most common type is where the glass is mounted directly to the tile, stone or laminate floor for the most seamless appeal. 

Other types include shower trays and alcove bathtub applications. If you're not sure which style would be best for you, contact your local shower glass company for opinions and recommendations. 

Shower Tray

shower tray example for frameless shower doors

Alcove Tub Application

alcove tub application of frameless shower glass

Direct To Floor

direct to floor attached frameless shower
9.) Customization.   Creating a unique space designed specifically for you is truly a luxury to have in your home. There are virtually no limitations on what you can create with frameless shower glass. Most shower glass companies will come out to measure your specifications for free and provide an estimate.

10.) Keep in mind the willingness of a company to work with you. Many shower door companies will work with you every step of the way to ensure their process gives you everything that you require and ensures there are no surprises. Custom shower glass for frameless shower door and enclosures alike are indeed a work of art.

Make sure the company creating your shower stands behind what you expect as a valued customer and doesn't try to cut corners or sell you a product that is anything other than superior in quality and looks. 
picture of frameless shower enclosure with modern setting bathroom
image for what sets superior frameless showers apart with link
By Superior Frameless Showers 18 Apr, 2019
Frameless shower doors have become extremely popular for custom bathroom upgrades, but the question arises, "are frameless showers safe?" In this post you'll learn about tempered glass and the strength they possess.
By Superior Showers 26 Sep, 2018
Frameless showers possess a multitude of benefits. We've got 7 that our customers experience with their bathroom renovations and additions.
By Superior Showers 20 Dec, 2017

Congratulations on installing frameless shower doors. Frameless glass doors give your bathroom a modern and stylish look and make it feel more spacious. Who does not like a spacious bathroom? However, installation is not the end of it. To keep your frameless shower doors looking as good as new, you need to follow a few maintenance tips. If hard water and soapy water is left to accumulate it can cause permanent damage to the glass. Here are some tips to help you along.

Use a squeegee every day
A squeegee is a windshield wiper look-alike tool with a handle and a long flat rubber blade. Using it on the frameless shower doors is the most effective way of maintaining shower doors. It is a simple task that only takes minutes. You just need to get everyone in the house on board and get them excited to take up the new daily cleaning routine.

Ventilation
After taking your shower make sure that your bathroom is well ventilated. You can do this by turning on the fan or opening the bathroom door. This allows all the moisture to leave the room quickening the drying process. By ensuring the room is completely dry you do not give mildew or mold a chance to form on your frameless glass doors.

Fabric softener sheet
This is one of the unorthodox ways to keep your glass doors clean but it actually works. The reason it works is because fabric softeners were designed to break up water spots and hence they work efficiently on glass doors. You just need to take a sheet and use it to wipe down the door. Cleaning frameless glass doors could not get any easier.

Deep cleaning
It is normal that you do not get that chance to clean your bathroom on a daily basis. You might be on a tight schedule at work and you simply short on time. If this happens you just have to spare one day to do a deep cleaning on your bathroom. If left for too long without cleaning, shower enclosures can build up grime and this will require more than a fabric softener sheet to clean up. You need to scrub the scum using common home cleaning products. Since the products contain chemicals, it is a good idea to use gloves to protect your skin.

Frameless shower doors have become very popular because of their aesthetic appeal. If you have them installed make sure you keep them clean with the above tips.

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