A few months ago, I realized that I really needed to update our windows and a few other glass fixtures around the house. I started searching for a great glass shop in the area, and I was able to find a place that I felt really good about. I worked with them to replace our mirrors, our glass shower enclosures, and our windows. When we were finished, our house looked and felt brand new on the inside and the outside. I was really impressed with how much of a difference those changes made. This blog is all about installing better glass in your home.
Shower doors are probably the single most taken for granted item in a bathroom. Whether you are switching to doors from a curtain, or just need to update the doors you already have, there are a lot of choices to make. Some choices may be limited, due to space or the type of shower you want.
Is it a Bathtub Shower or a Stand-alone?
The first thing to do is determine where the shower door is going to go. This is your biggest question because it will limit further choices. If the shower is also a bathtub, you're limited to the bypass type of door. This is a set of two or three glass panels that slide past each other in tracks at the top and bottom of the space. Bypass doors are also good for spaces measuring 48-60 inches.
If the space is 36-48 inches in length, and the shower is a stand-alone type, a pivot, or swing-open, door is a good choice. This type of door swings opens like a regular door. If the shower is in the corner, a round door may be a better choice as the round shape will give a bit more space to shower in.
Framed or Frameless?
The next choice is if you want the glass to have a frame or not. Bypass doors, by their design need frames. Frames are usually made of aluminum, or a composite material, and come in a variety of colors and finishes to suit the décor of the space they will be installed. These will have a track that will need periodic cleaning.
Frameless shower doors are good for small spaces, or a more modern look. The borderless look gives the illusion of a larger space.
What Style of Glass Should the Door Be?
Now that you have the basic shape of the door chosen, it is time to choose the style and color of glass the door will get made out of. The most basic, and classic, choice is the plain clear glass. It offers no privacy, but goes with just about every decorating style. Glass can be tinted to match the palette of the room. It can be opaque or clear and even come in black.
For more privacy, there are several styles of glass to choose from. Frosted glass is textured to become opaque, and is available in many patterns and colors. Rain glass is textured on one side to give the look of crystallized rain. The texturing obscures fingerprints and watermarks and refracts light into a show. Hammered glass is textured to look like hammered metal, and also refracts light into interesting patterns.
No matter what the décor or color palette of the room, there can be a shower door to match. After going through all the options out there, what used to be the most overlooked part of the bathroom may become the showpiece. Contact a business, such as Master Glass & Mirror LLC, for more information.
Share8 June 2016
