Glass shower enclosures come in three general varieties: fixed screens, sliding doors, and swinging doors/screens. Stationary screens and sliding doors have their appeal, especially in small bathrooms where there is insufficient clearance around the shower for a hinged door to swing out freely. However, swinging glass shower doors and screens work beautifully in many bathrooms large and small. In part, this is because glass shower design is so customizable. Even if the toilet or vanity is near the shower stall, you can decide on which side to place the door and which side to hinge it from. Swinging shower doors are impressive, add a touch of luxury to the space, and have fewer moving parts than frameless sliders, which makes cleaning easier. Without further ado, let’s delve into the three types of shower door hinges and when to use them.

 

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Wall Mount Frameless Glass Shower Door Hinges

Wall mount hinges are used to attach a swinging glass panel to an adjacent bathroom wall. Sometimes they are used on a swinging door beside a fixed panel, at other times on a set of double doors, and on still other occasions on a hinged shower screen (splash guard). Wall mount hinges are generally available in a few different finishes. For example, this Glass Simple hinge is available in polished chrome, brushed nickel, and matte black. Another common variation is the hinge profile, which can be square or beveled.

 

Glass-To-Glass Hinges for Frameless Shower Doors

On some glass shower designs, however, the glass door panel is attached to an adjoining glass panel and not to a tiled bathroom wall. Glass-to-glass hinges can join panels of glass at various angles including 90, 180, and 135 degrees. These are used when one or more doors swing off stationary glass panels held in place by clamps or U-channels. On a neo-angle corner shower, for instance, two fixed panels typically come out from the bathroom corner at 90 degree angles and are joined by a swinging door panel attached with 135 degree glass-to-glass hinges. As in the case of wall mount hinges, this product is generally offered in multiple finishes and can have a modern square profile like this or a more traditional beveled edge like this.

 

Pivot Hinges on Frameless Glass Shower Enclosures

Wall mount and glass-to-glass hinges are both side mount hinges, joining the side edge of a swinging door panel to the surface beside it. Pivot hinges, on the other hand, are different in both placement and method of door operation. Key features include:

• Attach upper edge of door panel to surface above it and lower edge to surface below it.
• Allow the door to pivot opened and closed from the point created by the upper and lower hinges.
• Provide a more modern look than side mount hinges.
• Are less visually prominent than side mount hinges.
• Do not allow the door panel to seal.

Pivot hinges are chosen for various aesthetic reasons, including the wish for a contemporary vibe or a preference for minimal metal on the glass shower.

 

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Whether your preferred design calls for wall mount, glass-to-glass, or pivot hinges, Glass Simple has you covered! Shop our user-friendly site to conveniently choose the hinge type, style, and finish you prefer. Business account holders receive lower prices site-wide, so call us at (571)707-7760 to get started!