Choosing a new shower enclosure for your bathroom remodel can be tough enough — but then you have to choose the shower doors. Even if you already have a good idea of what you want in your new shower, actually seeing the myriad of choices — from the shower door style to the many types of glass — might make you want to throw up your hands and just choose the most affordable option.
But remember, the type of shower door can make or break the look of your bathroom, as well as provide you with the functionality you need. In this guide, we’ll walk you through choosing the best shower door for your bathroom space and style.
New Door vs. New Enclosure
Sometimes you might wonder if a shower door replacement will be enough. That answer can be determined by the extent of any damage the existing door has, a change in your design or aesthetics of the room, and issues with the function of the door and the enclosure.
For instance, a door with broken glass or worn seals obviously needs replacement. There could also be issues with a door that no longer aligns properly, “jumps” the tracks on a regular basis, or has trouble staying closed.
But what if the door seems okay, but the hinges are a problem? Or what if your water has a high mineral content and as a result, the door and the enclosure itself is stained? If you’ve chosen a new look for your bathroom and you intend to change up the shower, simply upgrading the door might not look right. In that case, it might be time for a new shower enclosure altogether.
But what’s the difference?
A shower door is typically glass and can be installed on most showers. These doors are good for allowing more natural light and giving the room an open feel. Shower enclosures, on the other hand, are made of walls that enclose the shower completely and a door that slides open. Shower enclosures are ideal for those who want a bit more privacy in the shower or want to replace a tub/shower combo with a large shower.
Replacing the door of a shower is much more affordable than creating a new shower enclosure.
Types of Shower Doors
The first step in choosing the best shower door for your bathroom remodel needs is deciding on how you want the door to function. This is often determined by how much bathroom space you have to work with.
Sliding
Also known as bypass doors, these are by far the most popular shower doors for homeowners. These doors slide from one side to the other, overlapping each other so that you can get into and out of the shower, then sliding to completely cover the entrance. These doors are in two or three parts, and you can choose to keep one panel fixed while the other one slides, or allow both of them to slide on the track. These are commonly used on bathtub and shower combo units.
Pivoting
This is a trackless shower door option. The door rests on a floor-mounted hinge and moves 180 degrees, either inward or outward. If mounted in the center of the shower, it can move a full 360 degrees. These are designed for larger freestanding showers and typically do not work well in smaller bathrooms. However, there are some pivoting shower doors that can have their range of motion adjusted to fit in a smaller space.
Hinged
These shower doors work just like a typical door, in that they are mounted on hinges on the wall or shower surround and swing open to allow entry. Since the hinged shower door is mounted on the wall or shower surround, it can be placed at any height that is suitable for your space. These are most common on freestanding showers, and do require more space than most types of bathroom shower doors due to their range of motion.
Neo-Angle
This is a unique type of shower door that works very well for a small shower in a tight space or a corner shower in a small bathroom. This door makes use of the 90-degree angle of the corner shower. There are two side panels and a flat front — the front is the door itself — which creates a diamond-shaped space inside the shower. The door opens outward to maximize the space inside the shower.
You may consider this type of shower door if you have a very small bathroom space to work with, or if you are looking to add a shower to a half bath in your home.
Curved
These shower doors are on rounded tracks that are flush with the floor. They are curved at the same slope as the enclosure itself, allowing them to slide the door to open and slide it back to close without taking up any extra space. These doors make a corner shower feel larger and are quite easy to clean.
Specialty
There are some types of bathroom shower doors designed for very specific applications. Bi-fold or tri-fold shower doors, also known as shower screens or bath screens, are made of several glass panels. One is fixed to the wall while the others fold on hinges, just like a typical bi-fold closet door. These are perfect for very small bathrooms.
Doors for steam showers are designed to close the space entirely to keep the steam in and are often custom builds. And some walk-in showers have only fixed doors on one side, with ample room to simply walk into the shower on the other side.
Popular Shower Door Styles
In addition to choosing a type of shower door by functionality, you also get to choose the type of shower door by style. Generally speaking, shower door styles will influence the way your bathroom looks and feels — for instance, some styles may allow for more natural light to flow through your bathroom, while others may incorporate hardware and fixtures throughout the rest of the bathroom.
Frameless
Frameless shower doors are great for being able to look right through the shower without any visual obstructions. This might work very well for those who install an elaborate tile mosaic or other unique shower feature and want to show it off, or those who opt for a sleek, clean, modernist look.
With no metal framing, a frameless shower door can also make the room look more open, so it works well for making a smaller bathroom appear larger. Frameless doors might cost more than the other options here, as they require thicker glass for stability and that can add to the overall price.
Semi-Frameless
A semi-frameless shower has a frame on the outer panels of the door, where the panels meet the shower enclosure, but no frame around the door itself. That means that you have frames on either side, but the view into the shower itself is not obstructed. This can look great for a classic bathroom that doesn’t require smooth, clean, modern lines. Semi-frameless shower doors can still allow a visual opening of the room, however, which can come in handy for a shower in a small bathroom yet still save money, as they are cheaper than the frameless option.
Framed
Framed shower doors are easier to install and usually quite a bit cheaper than the other two options. There is framing around each panel and around the door opening. If the shower is designed to show off fixtures and certain materials, a framed shower door can complement that nicely. It can also impart a more industrial look or fit in with a more imposing style.
Cost for Shower Doors
On average, the cost to install a new glass shower door is about $700 but can run as high as $4,000 or more for luxury styles.
The cost will depend mostly on the thickness and type of glass, the style of framing you choose, and the type of door itself. For instance, basic shower doors with simple installation can be installed for as low as $400. High-end shower doors, such as large frameless pivoting doors for a master bathroom, can cost much more. If you are looking at a small freestanding shower or corner shower, neo-angle doors tend to be more affordable than curved doors.
Remember that the most basic enclosure option for a shower is the shower rod and shower curtain, which can easily run less than $100 for even the nicest options. But when you look at glass shower doors, the price is typically much higher.
Types of Glass for Shower Doors
After choosing the shower door functionality and style, it’s time to choose the type of glass for the shower door. Options include clear, frosted, textured, and tinted glass.
Clear Glass: Classic and Transparent
Just as the name suggests, clear glass shower doors are transparent, like a window, and allow you to look into the shower with no obstruction to the eye. It lets light in, which can be quite helpful in a bathroom without lighting above the shower itself. It can also make the bathroom appear larger. Clear glass shower doors are the most common type you will find in home bathrooms today.
Frosted Glass: Privacy and Soft Light Diffusion
This type of glass allows you to have some privacy in the shower while still letting light in. In addition, many homeowners choose frosted glass because it’s great at hiding water spots and is lower maintenance than clear glass. It also comes in a variety of colors so you can choose something that complements your other bathroom décor.
Textured Glass: Adds a Design Element
Textures in your glass shower door can range from modern aesthetics to something more rustic. Rain glass, for instance, has one side textured to look like water droplets while the inside of the door is completely smooth for easier cleaning. Textures might also be in patterns, such as chevron stripes. This allows for privacy while still offering plenty of light, plus the ability to add something unique to your shower remodel.
Tinted Glass: Color Options and Privacy
Just as you might tint windows, you can tint glass shower doors. You can choose a slightly tinted glass for a more opaque look and to let light in. You can also choose tints that are a much darker tone, thus providing incredible privacy but requiring more light in the shower, such as a fixture right above the stall. Some homeowners also prefer tinted glass for its modern aesthetic.
A Word on Safety and Quality
Glass shower doors are a wonderful way to keep the shower area streamlined and make sure everyone can easily step into the shower. But there are a few safety considerations to keep in mind.
For instance, a home with children can benefit from clear glass doors, so you can see at a glance that the little ones are okay. When including aging in place solutions in the home, grab bars in the shower are an excellent idea. Make sure they are far enough away from the door that they won’t interfere with the function of it, but close enough that they protect the user getting in and out of the shower.
The quality of glass you choose for your shower door matters. Don’t skimp on this! A well-installed and well-maintained shower door can last you for a decade or more, so going with a higher-quality of glass or even a thicker type of glass is an investment worth making.
Best Doors for Types of Showers
Matching the door to the type of shower is important to ensure that you get the experience you want and save as much space as possible. This might mean getting creative with small bathrooms, or going all-out with your luxury shower.
Let’s take a walk-in shower as an example.
A true walk-in shower is usually constructed without a door. But this also takes a great deal of space in the bathroom, and not every homeowner has that luxury. Therefore, most walk-in showers have either a fixed glass panel, which forms a sort of barrier to keep the water in, or they have a frameless glass door that pivots and offers a great deal of space to walk through. The usual choice is clear glass, which can open up the visual lines of the bathroom and make a walk-in shower appear even roomier than it already is.
Small bathrooms require you to make the most of the space you have. Shower doors that take up too much of that space can make the room awkward, while leaving little room for you to use the sink, toilet, or storage areas.
The best options for shower doors in small bathrooms include:
- Sliding glass doors, which slide side-to-side rather than opening outward, which maximizes space
- Curved shower door, which slides along the inside of the shower and doesn’t take up more floor space
- Neo-angle door, which is perfect for corner showers
- Bi-fold doors, which have a shorter footprint than a swinging door.
If you have a bath/shower combo in your small bathroom, sliding shower doors or even a shower curtain are your best bet.
Choosing the Right Shower Door
The right shower door can make your bathroom feel cozy or wide open — it’s entirely up to your preferences. Take your time to go through the options and think critically about which shower door best suits your design style and bathroom needs. In addition to looking through the options online (and letting Modernize help you find the right contractor), now is a good time to visit showrooms and home improvement stores to see shower doors in action.
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