“What could be so confusing about buying a glass shower door,” the couple said to me after I commented, there’s more to purchasing a shower door than meets the eye.
And to prove my point, here’s a few key features of shower doors you’ll ignore at your own risk:
What’s the makeup of the glass?
What’s the height of the glass shower door?
How will your door operate (swinging, sliding, walk in)?
Will the shape of the glass door ‘play well’ with the shape of the shower pan?
How clear (or obscure) will the glass be?
What hardware or frame finish is best?
What design of the door will make it simple to get in if my mobility declines?’
Glass shower doors ARE NOT as simple as they appear at first glance. Buying the wrong door can make your life a pain in the rear for years to come. Plus, they’re often not a ‘cheap date’ either.
So, how can you make sure you make the right choice the first time?
One big step you can take for mankind (or at least for your home) is to understand glass shower doors. It’s to be in on the industry secrets few remodeling salespeople or CSR’s – (Customer Service Reps) walking the aisles of your favorite home center are likely to tell you about (or even know for that matter).
So, without further delay let’s look at 10 secrets nobody tells you about glass shower doors.
Secret #1 – Glass doors DO NOT block out all the water – or the water spots which come with them…unless you know this secret
If you’re like most people, you assume a glass shower door blocks all water from penetrating the glass shower door.
And although you’d think this was true – in reality hard water deposits (and spots) CAN penetrate the glass, then become impossible to get out.
And if your water isn’t as pure as you’d like, the way to combat against spots becoming embedded in your glass shower door is to buy a glass shower door coated with glass surface protection.
It’s like RainX for your glass shower door.
Secret #2 – If you’re buying a sliding (or bypass) glass shower door, the height of the shower glass IS NOT what you should pay attention to.
If you grew up being called ‘stretch,’ or people annoyingly asking you, “What’s the weather like up there,” you know being tall can be a curse!
And when it comes to buying barn-door style sliding or bypass glass shower doors although you may be paying attention to the height of the shower glass (so you won’t get wacked in the head while entering) it’s actually NOT what you should focus on.
No, the key stat tall people need to know is how much distance is under the rail of a sliding glass shower door (which is lower than the glass door itself).
Knowing this measurement will prevent you from getting knocked senseless when you’re in your haze getting into the shower in the morning.
Secret #3 – Pivoting shower doors DO NOT swing in all the way…. on purpose.
If you’d like a pivoting glass shower door because it gives you more width (for your – unfortunately, expanding waistline) to get in, you’re not alone.
And while you may (and should) pay attention to how far out the door will swing (so it won’t bump into your toilet, vanity, or partner), what many people don’t consider is how far the door will swing in.
And most people are surprised to learn shower doors do not swing in as far as they swing out for one important reason. That reason is safety. You never want a situation where the swing of the door will trap a person whose mobility isn’t good on the inside of the shower (unless it’s your mother-in-law, but that’s another story).
Secret #4 – Curved glass shower doors WILL break the bank unless they’re made in standard sizes
Curved glass shower doors will increase space inside the shower (especially bowed sliding glass doors) and add style far beyond what a standard square or rectangular shaped door can accomplish.
However, before you get your heart set on curved glass – be aware if you’re looking to order custom curved and bent glass you better be living in an income bracket where cost IS NOT an issue (or you’re SURE your lottery ticket is the winning number this time!). Because custom curved and bent glass will send you back A LOT of pretty pennies!
However, if you want curved glass (for the style, or space it creates) and don’t have an Elon Musk budget, look for curved glass shower doors which are made (in volume) with standard shower pans, like you’ll see in the shower door below.
Curved is not out of the question IF you’re getting standard curved glass made in volume.
Secret #5 – The glass isn’t as clear – unless it’s ‘ultra-clear.’
You don’t need to be a superhero (like Ultra Lord from The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron) to ‘see’ the clear advantages of ultra-clear glass shower doors.
This is because what many people don’t like about glass shower doors is the greenish hue of the glass.
And if you’re building a custom home – where everything is top of the line, you might as well make sure your glass shower door also maintains this high standard.
And one way to do that is with ultra-clear glass. Ultra-clear glass is similar to comparing a crystal goblet to a standard drinking cup. Since iron (which is a component of glass) is (largely) removed from ultra-clear glass it’s essentially colorless – unlike a standard glass shower door (with its greenish hue).
Secret #6 – If you’re buying a shower with a round, NEO angle, or funky shape, buy the shower pan AND the glass door from the same place.
Since you need to install the shower pan earlier in the bath remodeling or new home building process, it’s tempting to go out and buy the base, then worry later about the door. And while this strategy won’t bite you in the butt if you’re building a square or rectangular shaped shower – it can be a B-I-G mistake for a round, curved, or NEO angle shower.
You see shaped shower pans are not built to ‘universal’ standards (it’s like your cell phone and other electronic devices where they change the connections, so you HAVE TO buy the same manufacturer’s parts to go with it. It’s a pet peeve of mine I’ll bet a few of you out there share!).
So, when you buy a NEO angle or round shower pan you’re ‘locked into’ buying the glass shower door from the same manufacturer (whether you like their glass shower doors or not) so the glass and base will work together.
To make a smart ‘combined selection’ I’d recommend for a unique shower shape shop for the glass shower door at the same time you buy the shower pan to make sure you actually like the glass door (and how it operates) before you get ‘stuck with it’ because you have no other options.
Secret #7 – An ‘invisible’ glass door product can save you from a bloody accident.
I hate to go ‘gloom and doom’ on you, but if you’ve ever seen the aftermath of a shower door which exploded you’ll know it’s not a pretty site.
Broken glass and naked bodies DO NOT go together like peanut butter and cherry jelly!
So, how can you make sure (in the unlikely occurrence) that your glass shower door shatters it won’t become a bloody experience for you or a family member?
The way to do this is to make sure you’re getting a glass shower door equipped with a ‘safety coating’ so glass pieces won’t break onto you if the door were to shatter. Check out the video below to see how this works.
Secret #8 – In the words of Satchel Paige (the first African American pitcher in the major leagues), “It’s not what you know, it’s what you know that just ain’t so!”
Has your spouse or significant ‘utter’ said to you, “You’re not wearing that shirt with those pants are you?”
If this has happened to you, you may not be the ‘fashion-plate’ you thought you were!
And when it comes to ‘fashion’ choices in bathrooms (and glass shower doors), while they don’t change as quickly as clothing trends, they certainly DO NOT stay the same either.
And when you’re choosing glass shower door hardware or frame finishes things ARE different than they were years ago.
Don’t get suckered into buying a ‘bright brass’ shower door or ‘oil rubbed bronze’ fixtures because they’re ‘on sale.’
In today’s market, when it comes to hardware – remember that ‘matte (finish that is) is where it’s at.
Before buying a new shower door which is behind the times, get input from a shower designer because as Satchel Paige (the first African American pitcher in the major leagues once said), “It’s not what you know, it’s what you know that just ain’t so.”
Don’t live in a ‘fashion time warp’ by choosing the wrong finish or style for your shower door.
Then your builder or remodeler showed up with a glass shower door with a track at the bottom. You looked at it and thought, “How the heck (Ok, not the exact word you used, but this is a family-friendly blog) am I going to roll over this shower door track if I need a wheelchair down the road?”
The design of the glass shower door is essential to a safe and barrier free entry.
When thinking about a roll in or age in place shower, make sure the shower door is not the forgotten (red-haired stepchild) part of the process.
Image Source: www.basco.com
Secret #10 – A glass shower door can be for everybody – even your furry friends!
Oh, the things we won’t do, or the money we won’t spend, on our ‘furry friends.’
And why shouldn’t we love the heck out of our furry friends? They certainly don’t complain like the rest of our family! A few treats and some play time, and they keep on lovin’ you.
So – if you’re in the process of designing a shower for your dog, why not also get a glass shower door designed specifically for them as well. After all, they deserve it… no matter what Kristi Noem thinks!
Image Source: www.basco.com
So, do you understand more about glass shower doors and how to make a smart purchase? Can I (and my team) help you sift through options?
I know there’s more to understanding glass shower doors than meets the eye. However, I hope this article has helped you gain insights on the best glass shower door for your job.
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
You can use any glass cleaner or soap and water. Basically you can use any of the same products you would use to clean glass.
For the solid surface shower pans they can be cleaned with a PH neutral cleaner like mild soap and water, dish detergent or Mr Clean. Don’t use scouring sponges, alcohol, solvents, acid, or abrasive products.
Let us know if we can help further – Mike
Corbit
Mike, what’s the best way to clean glass doors which have the microtek coating? And while I’m at it, what’s the best stuff to use for cleaning the solid base pan? Thanks
Mike Foti
You can use any glass cleaner or soap and water. Basically you can use any of the same products you would use to clean glass.
For the solid surface shower pans they can be cleaned with a PH neutral cleaner like mild soap and water, dish detergent or Mr Clean. Don’t use scouring sponges, alcohol, solvents, acid, or abrasive products.
Let us know if we can help further – Mike
Corbit
Mike, what’s the best way to clean glass doors which have the microtek coating? And while I’m at it, what’s the best stuff to use for cleaning the solid base pan? Thanks