Opting for a glass shower enclosure instead of a curtain, means that you can create your dream shower by picking the perfect glass, hardware, and design. We’ll provide an overview of key choices in these three categories as well as tips for achieving your practical and aesthetic goals. The glass shower is often a bathroom’s most prominent feature, so you want to take the time to get everything right, from the hinge profile to the glass style!

 

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Glass Options for Custom Shower Enclosures

The primary material on a shower enclosure is glass, so the style you choose will have a huge impact.

• Clear – The most common choice is standard transparent glass. It offers perks like allowing the shower tile to be visible and helping the room feel spacious and roomy.
• Ultra-Clear – Normal clear glass is transparent, but there is greenish coloration around its edges. Ultra-clear glass has lower iron content which means a reduction of this effect, so homeowners desiring maximum clarity go this route.
• Acid-Etched – If you want a more private shower area, acid-etched glass is a favorite choice. It has a frosted appearance, matches most decorating modes, and creates privacy while still letting light into the stall.
• Patterned – Glass is also available with assorted textured patterns on its surface. This glass also gives some privacy, and the pattern provides character and charm.
• Tinted – Glass can also be color-tinted for a bit of privacy and a distinctive look.
• Cast – A very distinctive look is created by pouring molten glass into a mold to cool and harden. The look is impressive, but only go this route if you use a cleaning service or have the time and energy to keep the deeply textured glass clean and dry.

Thus, the right glass for your shower enclosure will depend on the desired look and whether privacy is a consideration. It’s also helpful to keep in mind that smooth glass – clear and tinted – is generally easier to clean, but acid-etched glass is good for hiding smudges and spots.

 

Diverse Options for the Metal Components

While your pick for the glass is certainly important, the hardware also has a huge impact, even though it makes up a smaller portion of the structure. You will need to make choices of various kinds, including:

• Type – Necessary hardware may include clamps, hinges, and door handles. In the realm of hinges, there are side mount options as well as pivot hinges that attach the upper and lower edges of the door to the surfaces above and below it. Likewise, the door handle can be a pull, a knob, or even a towel bar like this.
• Style – Once you’ve determined the types of hardware you will need, there are generally various products available in those categories. For instance, pull handles can be ornate, simple, or somewhere in between.
• Profile – Components like clamps and hinges will have either a square edge like this or a beveled profile like this. Even such a small detail will make a difference since square edges have a more modern vibe and beveled a more traditional.
• Finish – Finally, you’ll choose from among hardware finish options like chrome, nickel, brass, bronze, and black. In addition to the actual color, finishes also have various levels of sheen such as matte, polished, satin, and brushed. Popular picks today include brushed nickel, satin brass, and matte black.

 

Layouts to Suit Your Needs and Tastes

Glass enclosures can be unique and fully customized creations. However, there are also a wide range of frequently used layouts to pick from and tweak.

• Corner Shower – Right angle and neo-angle designs
• In-line – Hinged door beside a fixed panel
• Splashguard – Single swinging or stationary panel with open entrance
• Frameless Slider – One or two door panels rolling along a header bar (See examples here.)
• Walk-In – Glass enclosures with no door panel and an open entryway
• French Doors – Set of hinged door panels

As you can see, there are layouts to accommodate many budgets, practical needs, and design schemes. For instance, you can create a posh look with French doors or accommodate a space without much clearance around the shower entrance by choosing a sliding door.

 

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Glass Simple is your source for the hardware needed for frameless glass shower enclosures. Browse our site and give us a call with any questions at (571)707-7760!