New shower enclosures can transform a bathroom from boring to glamorous. With plenty of possibilities for your shower glass door design, you might not know where to start. Before you make the decision, you may be wondering if you should get a frameless or framed glass shower door.
While both options are safe and versatile, they also have some drawbacks to consider. We want to help you make the best decision for you, your bathroom and your home. We’ve put together the benefits and drawbacks of frameless and framed shower doors. When you have decided what type of shower door to install, call your local glass door company to transform your bathroom.
Pros and Cons of Framed Glass Shower Doors
Framed glass shower doors have a heavy-duty aluminum frame around their interior edges. If you’re upgrading from a shower curtain to a glass shower door, a framed glass shower door is a great option. Framed glass doors are cleaner and nicer looking than shower curtains.
Pros of Framed Shower Doors
They are a great upgrade for your bathroom design because they:
- Provide more stability: Glass shower doors are made from tempered glass, which breaks off into small circles instead of shards for less risk of injury. The aluminum frame around a glass shower door steadies the door as well, further reducing the risk of shattering.
- Are easier to install: To install a framed glass shower door, all you need to do is hang up the frame. Framed glass doors can fit over any type of shower material. On the other hand, frameless glass shower doors need proper placement of hinges and hardware.
- Keep in more water: Framed glass shower doors are less likely to leak. They contain a track that traps water. Along with this track, they also have both a layer of caulk and a metal frame to protect against spilling. The watertight design of a framed glass door keeps shower spray inside the shower.
- Come in a variety of frame design options: For a more modern look, you can choose from a variety of different metal frames. You could also choose a sliding glass door instead of a pivot door for more space. Custom framed glass doors are available in different styles to fit your decor theme.
- Are more cost-effective: You pay 10 to 15% less than a frameless glass shower door to install a framed option. Framed glass doors also use thinner tempered glass than frameless glass doors. A thinner glass saves you even more money.
Cons of Framed Shower Doors
- A limited range of motion: They only open outward, which can be limiting. If your door can open both inward and outward, you have less chance of injury.
- Harder to maintain: The metal around framed shower doors can corrode over time due to excess moisture. Soap scum and water droplets could also cause mildew and limescale buildup around the shower frame.
- An outdated design: They can also appear dated when they are installed in bathrooms with more modern finishes. While you can choose different designs, homeowners favor the frameless shower glass door style.
Pros and Cons of Frameless Glass Shower Doors
What Is a Frameless Shower Door?
What is a frameless shower door? Frameless shower doors are panels of sturdy tempered glass. Unlike framed glass shower doors, they do not need metal support to function. They often have a clean, modern appearance (otherwise known as seamless glass shower doors) that homeowners appreciate.
Pros of Frameless Glass Shower Doors
It’s safe to say that frameless doors are the more stylish option in most consumers’ minds right now. Homeowners choose a frameless walk-in shower enclosure because:
- They are available in plenty of design options: You can select from a broad variety of design styles for your frameless shower. A frameless shower door provides several styles, sizes, and configurations. Frameless doors don’t use metal frames, but you could add metal hinges or handles. You could also have a semi-frameless shower door, with metal enclosures on the top or around the sides.
- They offer a wide range of motion: The hinges for your frameless pivot shower door swing the door both outward and inward. With this feature, you can open your frameless pivot shower door from any direction. This is a departure from the opening limitations of framed shower doors.
- They are easier to maintain: The lack of a frame makes cleaning a frameless glass shower enclosure far easier than a framed shower enclosure. The crevices in a frame might collect soap scum and moisture over time. A frameless shower door will carry less of this grimy debris. Along with cleaning, the parts of a frameless glass shower door are easier to replace. With framed doors, you need to order replacement parts from the original manufacturer. You can order replacement parts for frameless shower doors from many different manufacturers. There are also fewer components to worry about in a frameless glass shower door.
- They emphasize the design features of the rest of your bathroom: One of the greatest benefits of a frameless shower enclosure is how it influences your bathroom. These doors make bathrooms feel more spacious and airy. They also place a greater emphasis on other design styles in your bathroom. With frameless shower doors, for example, you can draw attention to your stonework or marble tiles that frames or shower curtains hide.
Cons of Frameless Glass Shower Doors
- The price: Frameless shower doors tend to cost more than framed shower doors.
- The instability: They also aren’t quite as stable as framed glass shower doors. Often, the glass used for frameless shower doors is thicker. While your frameless shower door is safe, the thick, unprotected glass is less stable than a framed glass door.
- The complicated installation: The installation of your frameless glass depends on the type of shower you have. Proper glass door installation maintains the clean look and safety of a door. Professional contractors need to drill certain tile materials to set up the hinges. Make sure you have the right setup before falling in love with a frameless shower door.
Browse Our Shower Door Enclosure Options at Garrety Glass
When you work with Garrety Glass, you get our experience and deep commitment to our clients. That’s why we focus on stability above all else when installing shower doors. We specialize in custom framed and frameless glass doors in the York, Pennsylvania area.
With our expertise, you can choose options from framed, semi frameless, and frameless glass shower enclosures that best suit your taste and bathroom layout. If you have any questions about what will work in your shower or tub, we’re here for you. Contact us today by filling out an online form or calling 717-741-9949.
-Updated 1/23/2023