While most of a shower enclosure is made up of glass panels, the hardware you select makes a huge difference in the final look of the project. From big decisions like what type of door handle to smaller decisions such as polished nickel or brushed nickel, each has a significant impact. If this is your first time ordering hardware for a DIY glass shower project, we understand that there is a lot of information to take in on each product listing. This handy guide will help you navigate product data, avoid common mistakes, and find the hardware that’s right for your practical and design goals. Also, the Glass Simple team is happy to help with any questions and can be reached at (571)707-7760, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 7:30am-4:30pm and Wednesday 8:30am-4:30pm.

 

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1. Start by checking technical specifications.

At the most basic level, a piece of hardware needs to be compatible with your glass and the purpose for which you need it. Technical specifications to check may include:

• Glass thickness(es) on which the hardware can be installed.
• Requirements for the glass – ie holes or notches needed for installing the hardware
• Maximum door width for hinges
• Maximum door weight for hinges
• Any special limitations or requirements for safe use of a particular item
• Product dimensions – to ensure a towel bar is not wider than your panel, for example

 

2. Consider practical needs and preferences.

Before focusing on the aesthetic appeal of different options, consider whether you need to rule anything out on practical grounds. Here are some points you might want to ponder:

• Are there any special accessibility considerations? For instance, is an ergonomic door handle desirable?
• Does the combination of bathroom structure and desired shower design require the inclusion of specific pieces of metal, such as a header?
• If you are using a hinged door, will it be hinged to an adjoining bathroom wall or to a glass panel? In the first instance, you will need wall mount hinges, while in the second you will shop glass to glass hinges.
• Does the bathroom layout rule out any options For instance, is a sliding shower door called for because there is not enough clearance for a hinged door to swing outward?

 

3. Know your options.

For some pieces of shower hardware you have multiple categories from which to pick. The door handle can be a knob, a finger pull, a pull handle, a towel bar, or a towel bar and pull combo. Additionally, pull handles and towel bars can be a back to back set like this or a single sided item such as this. When it comes to hinges, you can choose between products that attach to the side of the door panel, allow the door to swing open, and allow the door to seal up when shut OR pivot hinges that attach to the top and bottom of the door panel, allow the door to pivot open from this point, and do not let the door seal.

 

4. Choose the style and finish with care.

On the aesthetic side of things, you’ll typically have various options for the style and finish of a given piece of hardware. Some stylistic differences are small but still have an effect. For instance, clamps and hinges can have square (more modern) or beveled (more traditional) profiles. When it comes to knobs and pull handles, there are many simple, geometric, modern, and elegant designs from which to pick.

The finish of the hardware also plays a crucial role in giving an enclosure its style. Today’s favorites include:

• Polished Chrome
• Brushed Nickel
• Matte Black
• Satin Brass
• Brushed Bronze

While your choice of finish is largely based on appearance and taste, there are are a few practical points to keep in mind.

• Brushed finishes camouflage water spots and fingerprints better than polished options.
• If you have hard water, know that it will likely leave spots on dark finishes like matte black and oil-rubbed bronze. One solution is to use these elsewhere in the bathroom while using something like brushed nickel near faucets and shower sprays.

 

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Glass Simple serves DIYers by offering professional grade products without a minimum order requirement or the need to establish a B2B account in order to shop with us. At the same time, we also serve glass companies, contractors, and other business clients by giving site-wide discounts of 25% off or more upon registering of a B2B account. We invite you to browse our site and call with any questions – (571)707-7760.