Shower doors come in several different designs, not to mention finishes. Choosing the right one may seem like a choice best made by random selection. However, this article will give you a few pointers to help you choose the right shower door.
Choice #1: Framed or frameless?
Shower doors come with
or without metal frames. Those without metal frames are made of thick glass,
and do not need a frame for support. Framed shower doors, on the other hand,
are made from thinner glass that requires the extra support of a metal frame.
Frameless shower doors
have several distinct advantages over framed shower doors. First of all, the
lack of a metal frame means there are fewer places to catch water and / or to
grow mould, mildew, etc. Secondly, frameless doors have a sleek, refined visual
appeal that framed doors don't have.
Choice #2: Bi-fold, pivot, or
sliding?
Shower doors are
also available with different methods of opening and shutting them.
Sliding doors are
probably the most common design. They are design for half of the door to slide behind
the other half to open. The disadvantage to this design is that it doesn't work
well with shower stalls, due to the width it requires.
Pivoting shower
doors open just like a standard door does. The disadvantage to this style is
obvious – it requires enough space in the room to swing open.
Bi Fold shower
doors are somewhat of a compromise between the first two designs. They don't
require width, nor do they require a lot of space in the room to open up into.
Choice #3: Finish
If you choose a
framed shower door, you'll have to choose a finish for the metal, too. Most of
the time, you'll want to choose a finish that matches the finish of your other
bathroom fixtures.
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