If you’re planning a bathroom remodel and absolutely HATE your existing glass shower door, you’re NOT alone!
While a glass shower door seems like a simple product, if you’ve been cursing your current shower door for years, you know there’s A LOT of things which can go wrong with them. And if you’re in the market now for a new door, you definitely DO NOT want to repeat the mistakes of the past. So, the $10 million dollar question is (and hopefully your door doesn’t cost THAT much!) can you get a door you love, at a price you can afford, which won’t cause you problems as it ages?
And those questions are what this article is about. Below you’ll find the top 13 problems with glass shower doors (not in any particular order) and what you can do about them, so they DO NOT become your nemesis down the road.
Let’s dig in.
Shower door problem #1 – The price of a new glass shower doors are crazy-high!
Oh, if only you had the wealth of Elon Musk, the price of a glass shower door wouldn’t even register on your list of concerns. However, if you’re like most, limitless funds ARE NOT your reality! And when it comes to bath remodeling, its rarely (if ever) a less expensive project than you originally budget.
So, what can you do (to quote the infamous Sponge Bob Square Pants) to make sure glass shower doors “don’t take all of me money?”
Here’s 4 cost-saving glass shower door ideas:
Idea 1 – Eliminate the custom glass shower door design – While, for example, frameless glass shower doors in a custom tile shower designed over a bench seat can look wonderful, it’s expensive. To combat this problem redesign your shower with a complete shower replacement kit which includes a high quality (yet standard sized) glass shower door, shower pan, and time-effective to install wall panel kits.
Idea 2 – Use a walk in glass shower door vs. a full glass enclosure. These doors aren’t as wide, or complex. That’s why they cost less.
Idea 3 – Use a glass door which is thinner and shorter. As stands to reason, thinner and shorter glass is cheaper than thicker, taller doors associated with higher end showers. Put your door on a ‘diet’ to save money.
Idea 4 – Use a more cost-effective finish. While you may love a trendier matte brass or matte black shower door, going with chrome or brushed nickel will lower your price.
Shower door problem #2 – Spots and stains on your glass shower door you can’t get out make you want to SCREAM!
If you’re a neat-freak and are doing battle (and losing against) a spotted or cloudy glass shower door, you know how frustrating it is when you can’t get the door clean. However, it’s good to know there are ways to combat this problem. They include:
Add a water softener to combat against hard water.
Regularly clean the glass with vinegar and water (and a bonus is you can make a salad while you’re in there…. ok, bad idea!).
Shower door problem #3 – Stopping water leaks from your glass shower door/enclosure.
If you’ve witnessed water pouring through the side or bottom of your glass shower door onto the bathroom floor, you know it’s NOT a worrisome sight. The challenge is, what can you do about it? Here’s some ideas:
Have a handyman replace the door seals.
Change the alignment of the shower heads and body sprays.
Shower door problem #4 – The track at the bottom of the sliding glass shower door becomes NASTY and someone (‘er you) ‘gets to’ clean it!
Cleaning dirt and hair from the bottom of a ‘u-track’ of a sliding glass shower door has single-handedly made owners swear off this type of door. And the cheap sliding glass shower doors which use these U tracks are everywhere because builders install them to save a few bucks and improve profit margins on jobs.
However, one option is to choose thicker (and better quality) bypass glass shower doors. They won’t have the ‘tasty’ (sorry for this bad visual) U track you wouldn’t force your worst enemy to clean.
Or another solution is to use a pivot (vs. a sliding) glass door. With a pivoting glass shower door there’s no track at the bottom to clean.
Shower door problem #5 – Your shower door is as up-to-date as the mullet you used to ‘sport’ back in the 80’s!
While you can – on occasion – change the look of an outdated glass shower door by replacing the shower door handle, in most cases this approach isn’t practical.
So, if your shower door is behind the times it usually makes sense to get a new shower door replacement. And if you want it’s style to be ‘with the times’ consider a brushed nickel or matte black shower door with a modern handle. There’s no sense getting a new door and it looking like your mullet of yesteryear (and yes, I ‘sported’ one back in the day – see below)!
Shower door problem #6 – Your glass shower door is constantly banging into you, your vanity, or toilet.
Let’s face it, most bathrooms are smaller than you’d like. So, you need to pay attention to the swing of your doors – whether it’s the bathroom door or the glass shower door.
And while you can change the swing of your bathroom door (and possibly install a barn door if there’s room for it to slide along a wall outside the room) –this is not a practical option for a glass shower door in a tiny bathroom. So, how can you stop the shower door from banging into everything?
Well – one idea – if you have enough width (which is generally 48” or larger) is using a sliding glass shower door vs. a pivoting door.
And another option, especially if you have a corner shower in a small bathroom, is to use a corner curved sliding glass door. They look cool – AND won’t swing into the bathroom and bang against everything.
Shower door problem #7 – You’re too tall for your existing glass shower door.
If you’ve been subjected to people (annoyingly) asking you, “how’s the weather up there,” or worse yet calling you “Stretch” or the “Jolly Green Giant”, for those of you who remember him, you may also know the (literal) pain of banging your head on the top of a rail of a sliding glass shower door. And this is a persistent problem with a cheaper and thinner doors discussed in the cost-saving ideas in problem #1 of this article.
So, how can you solve this challenge WITHOUT breaking the bank?
There are 2 ways.
The cheaper approach is to use a pivoting door (or walk in glass shower door) where there’s no ‘rail’ to walk under (like you find with sliding glass doors).
Shower door problem #8 – Banging your elbows on the door of a shallow alcove shower stall.
If your physique DOES NOT look like the ‘after’ models for a Jenny Craig ad, then your body type likely makes it an elbow-banging experience to shower, if you have a 60” wide x 30” deep alcove shower or tub/shower combo.
However, there is a way to lick (hopefully not literally if this is a shower door – YUCK!) this problem. To get more elbow room, even if the side walls limit options, you may have assumed (incorrectly) there wasn’t anything you could do about it.
Well, I’m here to tell you there’s a way to gain the elbow room without making ANY changes to the 30”-32” deep side walls. And that way is to use a bowfront curved sliding glass shower door.
Shower door problem #9 – The frosted or etched shower glass is a pain to maintain.
If you’ve ever seen frosted glass shower doors (or deeply etched glass) in a showroom they look so nice.
However, the problem is these textures and finishes can be a P.I.A. to clean (the oils from your hands are a constant battle). So, what can you do if you want a more unique look, and more privacy, but also want it to be simple to maintain?
When it comes to high privacy glass instead of using etched glass choose a ‘mist’ glass pattern. It’s smooth, simple to clean, yet gives you privacy.
And when it comes to textured glass, glass block showers can be a nice – and unique alternative (especially for a walk in shower) because they can offer multi-patterned designs, yet the face of the glass blocks is smooth.
Shower door problem #10 – You get the ‘cold shoulder’…. literally…..
If you have a single sliding glass shower door (where the other side has fixed glass) and need to walk into the shower – then turn the shower head towards the wall (so you don’t get blasted with cold water) you know this isn’t a layout you enjoy. Who likes getting blasted with cold water first thing in the morning?
However, if you’re living with this situation today and want to rid yourself of it, here’s 2 ideas to accomplish this goal:
If you have the ability to open a door on both sides, choose a bypass glass shower door (where both doors slide). With this door type you can open the door where the valve is to get the shower warm, then enter through the door on the opposite side so you don’t get drenched under the shower head when you enter.
Move the valve to the wall where you enter the shower so you can get the water running (and warm) before you’re directly under the shower head.
Shower door problem #11 – It’s hard (or unsafe) for you – or a family member – to get in.
If your sliding glass shower door opening is so small it requires you to get in sideways or doesn’t work AT ALL for a family member who use a wheelchair or walker, yet you’d still like the warmth (and quality) of a glass shower door enclosure, you need a new door.
Shower door problem #12 – The shower door is a pain to open
Let’s face it some doors – especially cheap ones which run along U tracks can be wobbly and a pain to use. With a new door you can solve this problem. The best way to do this is to look for a door with better quality rollers, tracks, and hinges. Cheap doors don’t operate as well and use cheaper hardware.
Shower door problem #13 – You’re worried about an exploding glass shower door.
You’ve seen the pictures on the Internet. Exploding glass shower doors ARE NOT a pretty sight and are dangerous. Nobody (and I mean nobody) wants exploding glass while ‘undressed’ in their ‘birthday suit!’
And the good news is you don’t need to be the victim of an exploding glass shower door. Look for a security glass shower door which has film to protect your family if the door were to explode. Check out this video to learn more.
Are you more confident choosing a glass shower door? Would you like wholesale pricing, help choosing the best door, or a referral to a contractor to install it?
Buying a glass shower door isn’t as simple as people think at first glance. And as you can see from the top 13 problems above, there’s PLENTY to think about BEFORE plunking your money down.
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
