News from the Block, Innovate Building Solutions Blog
News from the Block, Innovate Building Solutions Blog
Bathroom, Kitchen, Basement Design & Remodeling Ideas for the Nicest Home or Business on the Block
Bathroom, Kitchen, Basement Design & Remodeling Ideas for the Nicest Home or Business on the Block

How to Compare a Glass Block Shower to a Glass Shower Door System

Blog Opening Image - How to Compare a Glass Block Shower to a Glass Shower Door System | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassBlockShower #GlassShowerDoor #ShowerEnclosures

Choosing the right glass shower system for your bath remodel or new home can be tough…. especially if this is your first time researching this project. And if you’re still debating between a glass block shower and an enclosure with a glass shower door I completely understand if you’ve not been able to find any UNBIASED articles giving you the side by side comparison you need to make an educated choice.

And since I’ve led a business which has designed, supplied and installed thousands of both systems since 1977, I’m glad to give you this ‘head-to-head’ (or ‘glass to glass’) comparison in this article.

Towards this end you’ll find 13 factors to help you choose between a glass block shower and glass shower doors. At the end of each section, I’ll tell you which system is the ‘winner’ (or at least the winner from my point of view).

Factor #1 – Is a glass block shower or a glass shower door system cheaper?

Unless you’re independently wealthy (OK – I know most ARE NOT raising your hand on that one) – the cost of your glass shower system matters. And while I wish I could give you a simple answer to identify if a glass block shower or glass door system is cheaper, however I know this can’t be done. So, I’m going to give you the cop-out answer that it depends. And right now, you may say what does it depend on? It depends on the following 4 design options.

  • Design option #1 – A straight glass walk in shower – If you want a straight glass walk in shower a glass shower door system with a pivoting door will be more cost-effective than a glass block shower wall. For a 3/8” thick and 38” wide shower screen with a pivoting door expect to pay (wholesale) $1,100. And for a glass block wall 38” wide you’ll pay about $1,500. The winner is…… shower glass doors.

Factor 1 design option 1 straight pivoting glass shower screen | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoors #ShowerDoors #Bathroom

 

  • Design option #2 – A curved glass walk in shower – Since glass blocks are made in pre-curved units AND can be preassembled into sections, they’re far less expensive than a custom curved and bent glass shower wall. For example, if you’re building a small, curved glass block shower (like you’ll see below) you’ll pay between $1,600 and $1,900 for the pre-built assembly. A custom curved and bent glass wall will be 3x more expensive. The winner is…a glass block shower.
GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor 1 design option 2 curved glass block shower in a shower alcove | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassBlockShower #GlassBlockWall #ShowerWall

  • Design option #3 – An enclosed NEO angle glass shower – A NEO angle glass block shower can be a challenge to do because it’s very difficult to anchor the pivoting shower door into glass block grout joints. It’s for this reason a NEO angle glass shower door is far less expensive. For a standard (semi-frameless) 36” NEO angle shower you’ll spend $1,400 and for a 36” frameless NEO angle shower (like seen below) you’ll pay $1,700. The winner is… shower glass doors.

Factor 1 design option 3 NEO angle frameless brushed nickel shower system | Innovate Building Solutions #ShowerRemodel #BathroomRemodel #ShowerDoors

  • Design option #4 – A fully enclosed 3-sided alcove shower – If you’re using a straight glass block shower wall – and want your shower to be fully enclosed (not a walk-in), you’ll need to incorporate a separate glass shower door in your design. In general – a full glass enclosure – without the glass blocks, will be less expensive because you can get all the parts from one supplier in one integrated system. The costs of full glass enclosures can vary depending on the type of door (bypass, sliding or pivoting), thickness and height of the glass, and whether it’s a framed, semi-frameless or completely frameless design. The winner is…. shower glass doors.

Factor 1 design option 4 pivoting glass shower door full enclosure | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoor #Shower #ShowerDoor

 Factor #2 – How simple is it to vary the size of a glass block shower or a glass door system?

Glass blocks come in premade units (standard blocks for shower walls are 4” x 8”, 6” x 8” and 8” x 8”) and premade shapes (ends, corners and curved blocks). And these different units allow 2” width and height variations. They can be customized by using a different mix of these blocks; however, you still must work with premanufactured units (with 2” size variations).

Shower door and wall glass – on the other hand – can be manufactured to any size. They can be precisely cut to fit your opening after your wall panels or tile shower surround is installed. The winner is…. shower glass doors.

Factor 2 custom pivoting and clear glass shower door system | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoors #Shower #GlassShowerDoorSystems

Factor #3 – Is it easy to add color to a glass block shower or a glass door system?

Since glass blocks are manufactured as individual blocks – with or without color – it’s simple to add colored accent blocks, or entire walls of color to a shower design (although you’ll want to note colored glass blocks only come in metric sizes).

With glass shower door systems its hard to find many colors besides a smokey brown or gray and it’s impossible to add small areas of color within a glass shower wall design. Finally, colored glass shower walls and doors are expensive. The winner is …. a glass block shower.

GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor 3 random colored glass block shower wall | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassBlockWalls #GlassBlockShowerWalls #ColoredGlassBlock

Factor #4 – Does a glass block shower or glass shower doors provide more space inside the shower?’

The winner in this category is simple. You see glass block showers are thick and bulky. They’re 3 1/8” thick. On the other hand, glass shower doors are only 3/16” (for framed shower doors) to ½” thick for the heaviest of frameless shower doors.

For this reason, you’ll get 2 ½” or more space with glass shower doors vs. glass blocks within the same size shower base. The winner is …. glass shower doors.

GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor #5 – Does a glass block shower or a glass shower door provide more privacy?

Since standard glass shower doors are offered with clear glass, and standard glass block shower walls are built with obscure ‘wave’ pattern blocks – the simple answer is glass blocks provide more privacy. However, you’ll also want to know you can get a wide range of obscure pattern glass shower doors as well as clear ones. So given this, the winner is…. it’s a tie.

Factor 5 obscure glass swinging french semi-frameless shower doors | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoors #GlassBlockShowerWalls #ShowerDoors

Factor #6 – Is it simplest to reach the shower controls (i.e., the hot and cold-water handles) with a glass block shower or a glass shower door?

Since a glass block shower is usually anchored to the shower head wall (and the glass block wall doesn’t slide or pivot), a sliding glass shower door or pivoting glass shower door are simpler to turn on the hot water before entering your shower.

However, if you really want a glass block shower the way to get around this drawback, – is to move the shower valve to where the walk-in shower opening is (so you won’t have to be under the shower head to turn the water on). Since glass showers do not require these modifications, the winner is…. glass shower doors.

Factor 6 glass block walk in shower with shower controls at entry | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassDoors #GlassBlockShowerWalls #BathroomRemodel

Factor #7 – Is a glass block shower or a glass shower door system better for resale?

Although I’ve been selling glass block showers since 1985 (and just so you don’t jump to conclusion I’m old, I’ll tell you I was 9 years old at the time. OK, I’m lying!), I’ve realized by now people either LOVE, LOVE, LOVE a glass block shower or they HATE, HATE, HATE a glass block shower.

It’s for this reason I’d recommend the glass shower door system over the glass block if you plan on reselling your home soon. Glass showers are less controversial. A clear glass shower door system is the ‘safe road.’ The winner (for a ‘safe’ resale) is…. glass shower doors.

GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor 7 matte black sliding glass shower door | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoors #ShowerEnclosures #GlassEnclosures

Factor #8 – Is it harder to see fingerprints or smudges on a glass block shower or a transparent glass shower door?

Since most glass blocks come in the obscure wave pattern (or in an even higher privacy Iceberg pattern) they do a wonderful job disguising fingerprints. In addition, people with glass block showers, rarely use squeegees to keep the glass clean. The winner is…. the glass block shower.

Factor #9 – Will the chance of mold be higher with a glass block shower or a glass shower door?

Irrespective of what type of shower glass you use, mold is the ‘product’ of humidity and inadequate ventilation. So, keeping mold away will be ALL about opening your bathroom window (if you have one) or installing and turning on (and if I’m being honest, I’m notoriously bad about this – just ask my wife) your exhaust fan.

However, since the glass block shower wall has grout joints between the blocks, I’d choose the frameless glass shower door system as the best option to minimize mold. The winner is…. the glass shower door.

Factor #10 – Will a glass block shower or a glass shower door do a better job keeping you upright if you’re falling?”

If you’re like many ‘sandwich generation kids’ (and I know I’m being kind when I say ‘kid’ – since my gray hair doesn’t resemble this remark and I’m part of the ‘sandwich generation’) right now you worry about mom or dad falling in the shower. And as many of us know, falls can cause a once-healthy person to go down a treacherous health-care path you DO NOT want to be on!

So, if you want a sturdy shower wall which won’t collapse under the weight of your loved one, the 3 1/8” thick (and uber-sturdy) glass block shower is the smart choice. The winner is …. the glass block shower.

Factor 10 three inch thick glass block prefabricated shower wall columbus ohio | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassBlock #GlassBlockWalls #GlassBlockShowerEclosures

Factor #11 – Can I get glass which doesn’t have a greenish tint in a glass block shower or glass shower doors?

If you’re ever compared your run-of-the-mill drinking cup to a crystal wine glass (AND you’re doing this comparison BEFORE you’ve had a few glasses of wine), you’ll notice the crystal wine glass is far clearer than the drinking cup with its greenish tint. This is because the iron content has been removed from the crystal wine glass (and iron is part of the sand used to manufacture glass. The iron causes the greenish tint).

And if you don’t like this greenish tint – you’ll want to buy an ‘ultra-clear’ or low-iron glass shower door system (like you’ll see below). And because there isn’t a low-iron option in glass blocks, to get a glass system without a greenish tint the winner (by default) is…. glass shower doors.

GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor 11 low iron ultra clear swinging custom glass shower doors | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassShowerDoors #ShowerDoors #ShowerRemodel

Factor #12 – Is it simpler to install a glass block shower or a glass shower door?

OK – this is another factor I’m going to give you the ‘cop-out’ answer that deciding which glass shower system is simpler to install is ‘it depends.’ And you’re likely saying, “Ok Mike – what the heck does it depend on?”

Well – if you’re buying a glass block shower THE way to do this installation (and make it far simpler) is to buy prefabricated wall sections (like you’ll see below). These sections make installing even a curved glass block wall as elementary as assembling LEGO blocks! However, if you do glass blocks using the old school block by block installation method – it’s a PIA of a material to install (IMHO).

GB Shower Ultimate Guide

Glass Block Shower Ultimate Guide

The Ultimate DIY Guide for your Next Bathroom Remodel

Factor 12 installation of preassembled curved glass shower shower sections | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassBlock #ShowerEnclosures #GlassBlockShowerEnclosures

And if you’re going with a glass shower system, it’s simple to install a thinner framed or semi-frameless glass shower door (with spacers at the side) than a custom 3/8” or ½” thick glass shower door, which needs a much higher level of precision.

In conclusion – I’d say there’s no clear winner if a glass block wall or glass shower door is simpler to install (it depends on what product/installation system you choose).

Factor #13 – Does a glass block shower or a glass shower wall provide a better view to see your stylish grout free shower wall panels or fancy tile shower surround?

The answer to this question isn’t even close. Since glass block showers are made of multiple blocks – separated by grout joints (often with obscure ‘wave pattern’ glass) – you get far less view to the inside of your shower walls, or luxury shower wall panels, than through a transparent glass shower door system. The clear (yes- bad pun intended) winner is …. glass shower doors.

Factor 13 clear glass pivoting shower doors with laminate shower wall panels | Innovate Building Solutions #GlassSowerDoors #GlassShowerEnclosures #ShowerRemodel

So, do you prefer a glass block shower or a glass shower door system?

Now that you’ve had time to sift through these 13 factors, would you prefer a glass block shower or a glass shower door system?

And if you’re STILL not sure which is best – because you don’t know how each would fit into your bathroom, what they’d cost for your specific job or how to design them – I totally (said like a Valley Girl) get it.

Most people remodeling their bathrooms and showers need help to choose the best glass system. And if this describes you – call 877-668-5888 or request a Free Design Consultation. Our team of glass (or glass block) shower designers will give you honest input which system is best for you – and provide pricing since we design, supply, and install both options.

And if you’re looking for a glass block shower or glass shower door system installed in your home in Cleveland Ohio, call The Bath Doctor at 216-531-6085. For a glass block shower in Columbus Ohio call Columbus Glass Block at 614-252-5888.

Thanks for reading,

Mike

###

If you want more advice (with less wacky humor because you’ll see the ‘buttoned-up’ business version of me) follow me on LinkedIn @MikeFoti.

And if you’re a bathroom remodeling contractor interested in being a dealer of unique shower wall panels, shower pans, glass shower door, high quality shower kits, and glass block walls, call 888-467-7488 and ask for Mike.


Mike Foti

President of Innovate Building Solutions a nationwide supplier and regional (Cleveland and Columbus) remodeling contractors. Some of our product lines include glass counters, floors, backsplashes, glass blocks and grout free shower and tub wall panels

Comments (4)

  • Leonard – putting glass blocks on a second floor (and on top the joists and subfloor) shouldn’t be a problem structurally unless you had a problem with your floor before. I’ll send you an email as well to see how I can help next.

    Mike

  • My name is Leonard, I live in Bangor Maine. My wife and have a 1870 Victorian style house with an upstairs bathroom that is part of a hallway. I want to move the bathroom and start from scratch. I’m considering a glass block enclosure but I’m concerned about the weight since it will be on the second floor. I can send pics if needed.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *