Showers usually fall under 3 types and the shower door you choose largely depends on the style. There are bathtub showers, walk-in enclosures found in a corner and alcove stand-alone stalls.
A 4th type, barrier-free showers, is a subset of alcove showers or corner showers. This type of setup has a doorless style with a contemporary look. It can likewise provide a seamless entry to boost accessibility for wheelchairs.
In addition to the type of shower enclosure you have, you'll require to consider the bathroom's design, the measurements of the opening and the offered area around the shower to determine the direction in which the door opens.
Bypass or Sliding Doors
Bypass or moving shower doors are a typical option for a small restroom or bath tub showers.
- Consist of two and sometimes 3 panels that move along each other on tracks
- Sliding door operation needs no floor space for opening door
- Ideal for broad openings, with a common opening of 60-inches large
- Some models are designed for alcove walk-in showers
Pivot or Hinged Doors
Hinged shower doors swing open from a single side on corner or alcove walk-ins.
- Ideal for openings that are too narrow to accommodate a bypass door
- Can be combined with inline repaired panels in large alcove enclosures
- Some designs have hinges to permit door to swing both inward and outward
Round Doors
Round shower doors are a space-saving choice for corner walk-in shower stalls.
- Ideal for corner standalone showers
- Often reversible for best or left gain access to
- Open by slider or style can have a bypass operation or hinged opening
- Curved glass style reduces the shower's footprint in the bathroom
- Attached to the top and bottom of the frame for stability and smooth operation
Neo-Angle Doors
Neo-angle doors are developed to fit neo-angle shower enclosures for corner installations.
- Take up less flooring area than a rectangular shape style
- Some designs have reversible doors for left or ideal entry
Barrier-Free
Barrier-free showers have a set door panel near the shower head.
- Fixed door panel guards spray from the bathroom floor, but no door at the opposite end
- Design can make a bathroom feel bigger and modern
- Opening is often wider than conventional shower doors, providing simpler gain access to for those who require it
Measurements and Measuring
Precise measuring is essential to ensure a proper fit for your shower door.
Most new shower doors can be adjusted slightly to fit a range of openings and accommodate walls that aren't completely square. Nevertheless, the door you pick need to really carefully match both the width and height of your shower's opening.
Tip: If the enclosure location is brand-new, do not take any measurements up until the shower is complete and the walls are completed. Material on the wall, such as backerboard and tile, can reduce the wall-to-wall width by as much as 1-inch on each side.
Follow these steps for accurate measuring:
- Measure the opening width. Determine the distance from wall to wall at the top and bottom of the opening. The measurements need to be to the closest 1/16- inch. If these vary, select a door utilizing the bigger width for a bypass door or the smaller width for a pivot door.
Figure out the distance from the top of the tub edge or shower base to the top of the wall unit or tile wall where you desire the door to be located. Select a door with a height less than or equal to the tiniest of these measurements.
Tip: Single panel doors are seldom larger than 36-inches large. For larger openings, pair a door with a fixed inline panel.
If you are thinking about a hinged door, be sure that the door has space to swing open without striking any blockages. Extend a tape measure to the width discover this info here of the door. Hold one end of the tape where the door hinge will lie and pivot the other end to make sure there is clearance for opening.
Frame Design
Shower doors are framed or frameless.
Framed doors
- Have aluminum, stainless steel or composite material framing the glass panel
- Include a track that collects and traps water, needing routine cleaning
- Framed pivot shower doors only open outside
- A range of surfaces are available to complement your design
Frameless doors
- Have a more recent design style with through-the-glass installed hardware and various thicknesses of glass
- Easier to keep clean
- Create a feeling of spaciousness
- Frameless pivot doors frequently can open in or out
Glass
The density of the glass in your shower door depends on structural and style factors, such as whether the door is framed or frameless. Glass thickness isn't an issue for framed doors since the glass is protected in a metal frame. Usually, the thicker and much heavier the glass is, the more steady and smoother gliding the door will be.
Clear glass shower doors showcase tile and stonework in the shower and can make the small space of your bathroom feel larger.
Frosted, textured or patterned glass shower doors provide varying levels of privacy and can include a stylish element to the bathroom.
Pacific Mirror & Glass LLC is Kauai's Glass Shop for Mirrors, Shower Enclosures, Storefront Glass, Glass Railings, Sliding Patio Doors and more.
For more information contact:
Pacific Mirror & Glass LLC
5675 Kawaihau Rd Ste B2
Kapaa, HI 96746
(808) 635-9696
https://www.pacificmirrorandglass.com/