Gutting a bathroom and totally redoing it requires a significant investment of money and time. What if your bathroom is in dire need of an upgrade, but you don’t have this kind of cash available? One approach is to make a few key improvements rather than starting from scratch. While glass shower enclosures are popular and on-trend, you might be concerned that you can’t add one to your existing tub and shower combo. However, in most cases you can, in fact, greatly transform a tub with the addition of shower glass and a few other tweaks. Glass enclosures that can work well in this situation include:

• In-line door and panel
• French doors
• Frameless sliding door system
• Fixed or hinged splash panel
  
  

---

 

In-Line Door and Panel Enclosure for a Tub

 

A popular option for enclosing a bathtub is an in-line door and panel enclosure. This layout is characterized by a fixed panel in-line with a door that is either hinged to the wall or to the fixed panel itself. When a bathtub is also open on one or both ends, one or two 90-degree return panels can also be installed to finish closing in the space. If you’re considering this configuration, take time to discern the right width for the door panel as well as its placement, ensuring that it will not collide with another fixture when swinging open.

 

A Bathtub Adorned with French Doors

 

If you have enough clearance for two doors to swing open, consider double hinged doors, often referred to as French doors. As in the case of an in-line enclosure, 90-degree return panels can be added as needed and attached with clamps. Whether you choose this configuration or another, you can make the bathroom and the bathing area look larger by choosing clear glass that keeps an open line of sight between the tub area and the rest of the space. Benefits of a French door design in particular include:

• A beautiful and elegant appearance that levels up the bathrooms
• Double doors allow for a wide and convenient entrance to the tub area
• Hinges are simple mechanisms that are less prone to problems and easier to clean than more complex systems

 

Frameless Sliding Door System for Space-Efficiency

 

Although they do have a more complex system of hardware, frameless sliding shower door systems are right for many bathrooms. These can be added to an existing tub and paired with 90-degree return panels if needed. Frameless sliders have a few appealing features:

• Require no more space than a shower curtain
• Offer a sleek, modern look than can update a bathroom
• Easier to open and close properly compared to a curtain and liner

 

Hinged or Fixed Glass Panel for an Open Entrance

 

Yet another option for improving an existing tub is a splash panel. This is a piece of glass that is either held in place with clamps or U-channels or affixed with hinges that allow it to swing open. In either case, this piece of glass is not accompanied by another panel, and the shower enclosure entrance is left open. Clear glass can be used to create a sense of space, or obscure glass can offer some privacy. Finally, even though a splash guard does not require much metal, you’ll still want to choose its style and finish carefully.

---

 

As you shop for the items needed for your glass enclosure of choice, we invite you to browse the Glass Simple site. View items in our own brand, FHC, and more with a range of styles and finishes. Glass Simple serves both homeowners and business clients, delivering products right to your home or business, and you can contact our Virginia-based team at (571)707-7760.