How Frameless Glass Shower Doors Can Make A Small Bathroom Functional and Feel Wider

Every once in a while there is a desperate need to squeeze in a bathroom where there is an urgent need for one. But setting up the bathroom is only a small part of the problem, the bulk of it being how you are going to make everything fit in the little space. That is confirmation that a small bathroom is an absolute migraine to the owner. Regardless, with a few tweaks of interior design, a tiny bathroom can be transformed to look much bigger. For instance, one may install a corner sink, float the vanity, use a wider mirror, use glass shower doors, and mount the towel bar on the door, in order to make the bathroom space seem much larger.

Glass shower doors come in different sizes and designs, which translate to varying costs, where frameless doors cost way more than their framed counterparts.

In this article, we are going to discuss how frameless shower doors can make a small bathroom functional, and feel wider. This is because they offer great versatility to the functioning of the bathroom.

Functioning Of Frameless Glass

Glass shower doors work by maximizing visual space, and providing separation. The doors achieve their functionality in the following ways:

Frameless shower doors are easily customizable.

Unlike the other glass doors, which are made on a large scale at a standard size, frameless glass shower doors are custom made to meet the specifications of the owner. These glass doors will have no dependence whatsoever on shape since measurements are made of the actual space to a few inches of accuracy. Therefore, you will discover that most doors are not square, which makes them more appealing to the eye.

Frameless shower doors have a fresh look, and are thin.

The rubber, metal, or some other type of edge in framed doors have the undesired effect of making them look bulky. On the other hand, frameless doors have a neat pure glass look. The thinness makes it possible for the glass to occupy minimum space, increasing the effective width of the bathroom.

Frameless doors are more hygienic.

Framed doors can collect water beneath the seals providing conditions for mold and mildew to grow. Frameless doors lack such risky areas. In addition, in the unlikely event that molds would start to form they would be easily noticed, and appropriate action could be taken to prevent their development. This is made possible by the transparent look of these doors where the tiniest bit of dirt is easily seen and cleaned out.

Despite the benefits, the frameless glass shower doors may develop the following problems which can be managed through proper maintenance and handling of the fixtures:

Shower Leaking

As mentioned earlier, framed doors have some sort of seal at the point of contact with the shower wall and floor, to prevent leaking. This is a feature that is lacking in the frameless doors. This implies that unless the measuring and installation was done perfectly, there could be spaces between the door and other areas of the shower such as walls or the floor, allowing water to splash out of the shower.

The problem of leaking may be caused by directing the shower head towards the door instead of fixing them on the opposite wall away from the door. This particular cause of leaking is fixed simply by moving the shower head to the opposite side of the door.

The issue more difficult to remedy is in correct fitting. On this case, we apply the maxim that ‘prevention is better than cure’. The homeowner is advised to pick the door company carefully and wisely to custom design the door instead of just picking one from the hardware store. It is even better to pick a company with a reputation for successful installations, so take your time. Leaking is, however, common with other designs of bathrooms, but with proper installation it can be minimized.

Cost Implications

Frameless doors cost a bit more than framed doors. Because they do not have a frame, use of a thicker glass is often required. The thick glass adds onto the weight, which may call for the use of sturdy hardware such as brass to hold the doors in place. The extra thick glass and brass hardware have direct implications on cost. Also, the customized fitting increases the cost to more than twice that of framed doors.

Things to consider before installing shower door.

Very few incidences have been recorded, but glass shower doors may at times break.

A majority of frameless shower doors are made from tempered glass. This type of glass shatters into small bits, which causes small scratches rather than serious injuries in the form of deep cuts one would most likely get if the glass broke into big shards. This is a consolation all right, but in any case, no one wants to suffer injuries, however small.

Damage and glass inclusions are the causes of breakage inherent to the glass. Improper installing may put unnecessary pressure on the door causing its breakage. Glass inclusions are defects, which occur when particles that get into the glass during the fabrication process are not totally dissolved. These particles form points of weakness, which put the door at risk of breaking later.

The main causes of spontaneous glass breakage are humidity and temperature changes. These changes may be triggered by climate changes, or by raising the thermostat temperature.

At this point it is evident that the pros of frameless glass shower doors outweigh the cons. One would argue, why should anyone even consider these expensive glass doors when there is the option of shower curtains. Well, I’ll tell you why.

Frameless Glass Door To Create Bigger Brighter Atmosphere

Glass doors rather, frameless glass shower doors, offer a clean modern look for a higher sense of style. Glass doors also retain water more effectively in the shower space as compared to shower curtains, which will allow some splashing, causing water to pool on the floor.

Glass doors are warmer than curtains because they keep the hot water and steam within the shower space while curtains are easily blown around allowing cold breezes into the shower area.

Shower curtains attract mildew and molds, whereas the frameless glass shower doors are resilient against scum build, molds, and mildew. Though shower curtains are easily replaced, over time the cost of making replacements will match the cost of installing the glass doors. This proves beyond doubt that frameless glass doors are the best match for your shower.