What Is The Best Glass For Showers?

Having decided that a glass shower is what you need, you must now select the glass material for the inclosure. What you use to decorate your bathroom will have a big impact on how it looks.

You'll need to make a call on whether or not you're comfortable with complete transparency for your entire shower, or whether you'd rather have some privacy.

Glass can also be textured or tinted to alter its look. Consider the many possibilities for glass shower doors before beginning to personalise your shower.

Shower Doors Made Of Clear Glass

Some individuals may not realise that clear glass doors have a little greenish hue, although being completely transparent.

Clear glass doors offer your bathroom a classic look and feel because they are easy to clean and don't have any patterns or textures that might date the space.

Clear glass is still the most common material for shower doors because of how minimal it looks.

A glass shower door allows everybody in the bathroom to admire the shower's attractive interior, including such decorative tiling or stones.

Bathrooms with clear doors might give the impression of more room than they actually have since light can enter the room more freely.

This happens because there is no wall between you and the shower, so you get a full view of the room.

As the shower door is transparent, all the light from the bathroom will illuminate the space.

There is a way for light to get from the stall into the rest of the restroom. Sunlight from a nearby window, for instance, can enter the shower stall via the transparent door and lighten the area.

Clear glass is the traditional choice for a shower door or inclosure because it allows more light in, allows you to see the shower's interior, and is aesthetically pleasing.

The only drawback to using transparent glass is the additional work involved in keeping it spotless.

Shower Glass With Low Iron

All the benefits of clear glass are there in low-iron shower glass, and it is much clearer. The green hue often associated with transparent glass is also absent when producers use a low-iron composition.

Low-iron shower glass has such high clarity that it displays accurate colours through the door and inclosure.

If your bathroom has a colourful tiles background that you want to show off, this is a must-have feature.

Using low-iron glass is not just for showing off your walls, either. For consistency's sake, low-iron glass is ideal for shower walls that need to match the rest of the bathroom's walls.

In contrast to the slightly greenish look offered by clear glass, the walls inside the shower would show their real colours through low-iron glass.

Low-iron shower glass let more light in because it is not slightly tinted like clear glass.

By installing this glass on your shower door, you'll be able to increase the amount of natural light inside your bathroom while you shower.

Like clear glass, this option may make maintenance more of a pain. When there isn't a background pattern to distract from imperfections, the flaws become more noticeable.

This glass won't provide you any privacy while you're in the shower.

Shower Doors With Frosted And Opaque Glass

Frosted glass doors are an option for those concerned with privacy. Manufacturers engrave one side of the glass with acid or sandblast it to create this same texture of frosted glass.

This etching makes the material appear translucent because it blocks some of the light that would normally pass through.

One side of a glass is unbroken, making it simple to wipe out after use. The coating also reduces the visibility of fingerprints and smudges, which are more noticeable on clear glass.

However, cleaning its frosted side can be trickier as soap scum tends to collect in the depressions of the icing, making it harder to remove.

A opaque shower door is a great way to make a huge bathroom feel more intimate in a home.

The shower's opaque walls make the space seem cosier and more compact.

When a shower door is coated instead than etched, it becomes completely transparent. If you live in a home with other people and are embarrassed by the thought of someone seeing you shower, an opaque door is your best bet.

The shower door's opaque coating prevents anyone from seeing inside the bathroom, even if they have access.

A tinted glass door could be the best option if you're looking for discretion and ease of use. Additional privacy can be achieved in other ways besides using frosted glass.

Shower Doors With Tinted Glass

Use tinted glass for a one-of-a-kind, up-to-the-minute look in your shower. The glass comes in a variety of colours so you can find one that complements the design of your bathroom.

Tinted shower doors are see-through just like transparent glass. Yet, the light that may penetrate them will be diminished due to the darkness of a tinting.

Tinted shower glass is a great way to give your bathroom a one-of-a-kind look. This style has been on the leading edge, and adopting it will instantly give your bathroom a more contemporary look and feel.

Blues and greens, for example, are complementary to seaside decor. Blacks and greys, on the other hand, keep the modern shower from destroying the traditional vibe of the bathroom, which is especially helpful if you live inside an old farmhouse or favour a rustic design scheme.

The colour of your shower door, like the natural glass's greenish tinge, can set the mood.

If your shower cubicle is unremarkable and you want to keep it out of sight, you could install frosted glass for the inclosure or door.

It's important to visualise how the shower will look from the outside with the tinted glass before making a final choice. The glass's hue will complement the existing decor in your shower.

You can select from a wide range of light to dark shades. Naturally, the deeper the tint, the more discreet the window.

Get the ideal tint of your shower door by inquiring about the available hues and the amount of light they filter out.

Tinted glass will make a noticeable addition to the style of your bathroom, which is its main drawback.

The glass in your shower inclosure or bathroom door may need to be replaced if you ever decide to give your bathroom a makeover.

Tinted glass just on door and inclosure is unrivalled in creating a one-of-a-kind shower that complements your existing design scheme.

Shower Doors With Rain Glass

Rain glass is a type of decorative glass with a design like raindrops etched into one side.

The raindrop pattern is a beautiful variation on frosted glass that won't clash with any existing decor in the bathroom. Nonetheless, this is favoured by some in contemporary restrooms.

This pattern is unique among textured glass types due to its diminutive dimensions, which complement rather than compete with the existing design scheme.

With this style, the shower can blend into the wall. Unless you really want your cubicle to be the focal point of your bathroom, as you could with an extra-large stroll shower, the rain pattern will make your stall blend in more with the rest of your bathroom's fixtures.

Depending on the size of your bathroom, this pattern may or may not be practical because it obscures your view of the shower.

The visible proportions of the room will reduce if you're using it the shower inside a smaller room.

Glass shower doors with a rain pattern are ideal for larger bathrooms since the showers can be bright without making the space look too open.

The pattern on the glass, rather than icing, is what hides the shower user from view.

The rain pattern is only visible solely on a single side of the window, similar to frosted glass, which facilitates quick cleanup.

This rain-patterned glass shower inclosure is perfect for those who value both privacy and natural light.

Shower Doors With Textured Glass

There are many different kinds of textured glass available, and the rain trend is just one of them. You can choose from many different patterns and styles of textured glass doors. You may select a texture to complement every interior design style.

The doors' opacity will be varying depending on their texture. The amount of light let in by each varies.

Most textured glass is one-sided, like the rain pattern. If you wish to utilise textured glass, you should discuss the amount of light it blocks and the placement of the texture with your design consultant.

Similar to how tinted glass can change the look of a space, the texture pattern you ’ve chosen your bathroom can do the same thing.

The bamboo texture is a good choice for a bathroom with a forest or Asian theme, but it may not be as well suited to a country bathroom.

If you're planning on selling your home or do some major redecorating in the near future, choosing textures that have a classic look and feel can serve you well. Bubbles and other related geometries are examples of such surface decorations.

Speak to your consultant engineer about your options for shower door glass texture to determine which will work best with your existing decor.

What Custom Shower Glass Options Do I Have?

Let's have a peek at our choices before you begin planning or customising your bathroom area:

Glass That Is Clear

Transparent clear glass is used for the shower doors. There is occasionally a greenish tinge to them, though it isn't usually obvious.

Its lack of roughness makes them suitable for use in bathrooms of any design aesthetic.

Their appealing simplicity is a major selling point for potential buyers. Due to their transparency, they give the impression that even the smallest bathrooms are spacious and airy.

The shower area appears brighter as light from the bathroom swiftly travels through the door and into the room.

Frosted And Opaque Glass

Shower doors made of frosted or opaque glass are gaining popularity because of the added texture they provide.

They come in a wide variety of colours and styles, and their velvety texture makes them a more discreet alternative to transparent glass.

Manufacturers sandblast or acid etch one side to generate the frosted texture. Something disrupts the smooth passage of light. This translucent glass has a textured surface and an etched side.

The coating also reduces the visibility of fingerprints and smudges, which would otherwise be more noticeable on a see-through surface. Yet, it can be challenging to clean this style of shower door due to the accumulation of soap scum.

Glass For Rain

Rain glass, like opaque & frosted glass, provides privacy and effectively masks fingerprints and other marks.

The colourful raindrop motifs set it apart from similar products. Given that these designs reduce your field of vision, they work best in spacious showers.

Rain glass lets in some light but keeps your private shower space private.

Such as frosted glass, the design is visible from only one side.

Printed Glass

Glass shower doors with patterns are a stylish way to modernise your bathroom without breaking the bank.

You can find a wide variety of styles, from realistic depictions of flowers and flora to more abstract patterns. Choose a timeless pattern that won't look dated in a few years by sticking with a neutral colour scheme.

Carefully consider the bathroom's aesthetics before settling on an etched pattern. While patterned glass shower doors look great in some bathrooms, they can make a small room feel claustrophobic.

To maintain its pristine condition, patterned glass only requires a quick wipe down. Nonetheless, cleaning is necessary since soap scum can promote the growth of mould and mildew and make them appear untidy.

Coloured Glass

Looking for the cutting edge? It's best to use tinted glass.

You can rest assured that you will find a colour of glass shower door here to suit your taste.

Tinted glass, like clear glass, is transparent, however the portion of light passing through is diminished by the tint.

They provide your bathroom a one-of-a-kind look without risking an out-of-date appearance in the near future.

They can be helpful if you want to hide away a basic shower space. There is a wide range of tonalities available, from transparent to highly opaque.

Broken Glass

The dented aspect of these doors, reminiscent of hammered metal, has made them famous. It has a striking appearance that plays with light in intriguing ways.

Shower doors made of hammered glass only slightly obfuscate the glass, so they don't expect the same benefits of privacy as those made of more transparent materials.

Glass With A Low Iron Content

Low-iron glass, as the name implies, contains less iron during production. This eliminates or significantly lessens the greenish hue that typically appears through glass doors. A wonderful way to draw attention to the walls of your shower is with high-definition glass, or HD glass.

More light from your lighting fixtures will enter your shower because the glass is clear. Spots and streaks will stand out more in a nonpatterned environment.

Is It Important To Choose Framed Or Frameless Glass?

There is a distinction between the types of glass used in framed & frameless shower designs. Depending on your taste, there may be fewer options when it comes to the type of glass you can use.

The hardware may also alter the appearance of the glass.

Glass thickness varies between framed and frameless showers, which may limit your selection of shower styles, colours, and textures.

Let us know if you need clarification on the impact of your shower inclosure choice.

What Exactly Is A Framed Shower?

Shower inclosures with frames have been popular for as a while as glass inclosures have been in use. This is the ideal layout for a bathroom with a classic style.

Think about how the frame will change the look of your shower.

There are countless possible combinations of glass and metal finishes that can be achieved with framed showers.

The many available options for framed showers make it easy to find one that matches the aesthetic of your bathroom.

Framed showers are the most cost-effective option because the glass may be held in place securely without any special installation.

Framed showers are more expensive by about 10% to 15%. Because the frames are holding the glass up, the glass is lighter than it would be in frameless doors.

Doors that pivot or slide within a frame are two of the most common types.

Doors that pivot and hinge on one side swing open. When opened, sliding doors don't really expand the room. They run along a track sideways.

These doors are ideal for compact washrooms where swinging space is limited. Sliding options are only available with framed glass, however. The frame ensures the door slides smoothly along the track.

What Exactly Is A Frameless Shower?

Frameless showers are more in keeping with contemporary aesthetics than their framed counterparts. Frameless showers let more light and space into your bathroom by eliminating the need for an outer frame around the walls and door.

Inside a frameless shower, customers won't be able to choose a sliding door, but you will have the option of a pivoting door or even a walk-in shower with no doors at all.

Pivoting doors require a broad opening into to the room & additional space on either side for people to walk through and pass each other.

If you need a shower but don't have much room, a framed sliding-door shower is one option to think about.

A doorless walk-in shower, in contrast to popular belief, actually necessitates more floor area than your typical shower.

These units typically measure 4 feet by five feet in size to contain shower spray. Yet, a walk-in shower is the way to go if you want the space to seem as open as possible.

Even though there is no entrance to maintain, the walls of the inclosure still need to be cleaned regularly.

With a frameless shower, there are no obstructions to your view.

The shape of this sort of stall invites you to look through the framework, thus many customers opt for clear glass and low-iron glass.

Frameless glass shower are great because they give the illusion of extra space in a small bathroom.

Shower Enclosure Design

The thickness of your shower's glass may also be determined by the type of inclosure you choose. There are a few different inclosure types, but the most frequent ones are framed, semi-framed, and frameless. Below, we've outlined some of the most important aspects of each.

Shower Enclosures With No Frame

Due to the lack of framing, the sightlines in showers enclosed by frameless doors are greatly reduced.

Instead of using wood for its framework, it makes use of hardware. The hardware is what holds the glass panels together and lets you open and close the shower door.

The shower enclosure's hardware is both easy to see and an intentional design feature.

The structural stability of the inclosure relies heavily just on shower door glass if no framing is used. As a result, the glass is typically more substantial and thicker than that of conventionally framed or semi-framed shower doors.

Shower Enclosures With A Semi-Frame

To bridge the gap between traditional framed shower doors & fully frameless doors, semi-frameless options exist.

One or more panes of glass are framed in this design for a modern look in a shower inclosure. Certain panels may be framed while the door itself is unframed.

That all the panels is framed there at top and bottom with no frame in the middle is another possibility.

Sightlines are greatly reduced in semi-frameless shower doors, making them more aesthetically pleasing than framed shower doors.

Semi-frameless showers typically feature glass that is thinner than that of fully frameless showers but much wider than that of framed showers. As a result, it strikes an agreeable balance between price and portability.

Shower Enclosures With Frames

Most people's mental image of a shower inclosure includes framed shower doors.

The four corners of a glass panels of these inclosures are framed and fastened to the wall using metal brackets.

The framing ensures the glass's strength, allowing for a reduced thickness. This indicates the unit's low cost.

Thinner frames are available in a wide range of styles and materials.

Are You Prepared To Choose Your Shower Glass?

If you're considering of replacing the glass in your shower doors, hopefully you now know how thick the glass should be.

Shower glass windows are hefty and might lead to injuries if not placed correctly, so it's best to leave these sorts of renovations to the pros.