A frame-less shower door might seem like a simple thing, but there is far more that goes into their design then you might think. The decisions you make in the design process will ultimately decide just how frame-less the door really is.
Here are some things to consider when planning your new frameless door.
Questions to consider
- Do you want it to open left or right?
- Do you want the door to go all the way to the ceiling?
- What style of glass do you want?
- Do you want a truly frameless look, or would you settle for thin metal supports if required?
The type of door you choose will have an effect on the overall “frameless” appearance. For instance a sliding door can detract from the overall frameless look.
Glass types
- Rain glass
- Clear glass
- Frosted glass
- Bronze glass
Choosing the type of door opening
Right Angle
Possibly the most common type, right angle frameless doors are straightforward to install and open at a 90-degree angle. Frameless doors can be hinged from the wall or from a thickened glass panel.
Neo-angle
A popular type of corner shower door configuration with three glass panels that create a diamond shape. The door is positioned opposite the corner.
Neo-angled shower doors can fit in small or large bathrooms but are often best considered for larger rooms.
Curved
A type of corner shower door, usually for smaller
enclosures. Curved shower doors can
open sideways, out from the center, or even slide.
A curved door can be a more expensive option.
Sliding
Sliding doors are a valuable option where space is at a premium. They offer a sleek appearance and operate smoothly to provide access to your shower space.
It Is important to be aware that you can’t have a true frameless experience with a sliding door as some form of support is required to allow for the sliding mechanism.
Other components to consider
Header – Sometimes a header is required to provide structural stability to the shower door where it is hung from an adjacent glass panel instead of the wall or ceiling.
Whether a header is needed or not depends on a host of factors such as glass weight, thickness etc..
If you are concerned about the true frameless look of the enclosure, you may need to ask your installer about a different configuration.
Reinforcement bar – A reinforcement bar is a lighter alternative to a header and can be used in some cases.
Shower door sweep – The door sweep attaches to the underside of the glass door and helps to improve the water tightness of the enclosure. If you feel like you’d prefer not to have this you can ask about designing the door so that spray can be reduced without a sweep.