What is a Frameless Shower?
The most popular shower remodels today involve installing a shower that is enclosed in glass. Frameless showers are enclosed showers that use glass panels without metal framing support systems. Many homeowners prefer the look of frameless glass shower doors to framed shower enclosures because they are trendy, look cleaner, sleeker and more modern without metal fixtures. The look of these glass shower doors show off other visually appealing elements of your bathroom, such as tile, stone, and accents.
Frameless shower enclosures are typically made with heavy-duty tempered glass with a thick pane, since there is no metal framing to support the glass. Instead, the glass shower doors are attached using clips and hinges, which are caulked and sealed with silicone at the edges, to hold them in place. Most of the time, contractors will use safety glass so that the glass will not shatter.
Frameless Shower Installation Costs
Installing a custom frameless shower will typically cost more than installing a framed or semi-frameless shower. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere between $500 to $3,000 for a frameless shower, and another $70 per hour for labor and installation.
Keep in mind that the cost of installation will vary depending on the size of your shower, the type of glass and doors you choose, and any other add-on hardware and customizations. Generally, thicker glasses are heavier and cost more to install. Larger showers with custom glass doors can cost up to $3,000 or more, whereas smaller showers will cost on the lower end of the spectrum.
Also keep in mind that the cost to replace a frameless shower door only is lesser than the cost to replace the entire shower. For either option, be sure to save room in your budget for installation and labor, as well as hardware installation.
Shower upgrade | Average cost |
---|---|
Total frameless shower replacement | $895 |
Frameless shower door replacement only | $425 |
Shower hardware and glass door clips | $250 |
Installation and labor | $70 per hour |
You can always opt for semi-frameless shower models for slightly lesser cost if you can compromise with the shower style.
Custom Frameless Shower Doors
Customizing your new shower is the fun part of planning your shower remodel! In addition to choosing your shower tiles, fixtures, and showerhead, you can work with your contractor to choose a style of door and glass for the renovation.
Some bathrooms will require a custom frameless shower door. For example, if you are looking to remodel your master bathroom and plan to add a larger frameless shower area, you might require custom sizing for the glass doors to fit your needs. Typically, frameless glass shower doors that are wider than 60″ are considered “custom,” and will likely cost more to install.
You can also expect to pay more for custom glass types, such as:
- Frosted glass shower doors
- Tinted glass shower doors
- Rain glass shower doors
- Textured glass shower doors
- Thicker 1/2″ glass shower doors
Frameless shower glass is a standard 3/8″ thick, but you can opt for the thicker 1/2″ glass. You will pay more for this type of frameless glass shower doors, but they will provide the strongest structural durability and longest lifespan.
You can even opt for a frameless double shower if you are updating your master bathroom to accommodate a couple.
Benefits of Frameless Showers
Although they are more costly to install than other types of showers, there is a good reason why frameless showers are so popular among homeowners today. Explore the top benefits of these showers below.
Is Choosing a Frameless Shower Worth it?
Frameless shower doors can give your new bathroom the look and feel of a high-end, luxury hotel and make it more enjoyable to spend time in the bathroom each day. According to Zillow, a shower renovation can also yield a 70% return on investment when it comes time to resell your home.
If you are torn between frameless vs. semi-frameless, keep in mind that frameless doors tend to only be a couple hundred dollars more than semi-frameless doors, so the investment may be well worth it. Framed showers, on the other hand, are significantly cheaper than both of the above options.
There are a few caveats about frameless showers to be aware of before choosing this type of shower:
Hiring a Shower Remodel Professional
We recommend speaking with a bathroom remodeling professional in your area to compare costs between multiple shower and glass door options before deciding. Modernize’s network of bathroom professionals can help you get started comparing costs by providing you with customized quotes for your specific bathroom.