A modern bathroom is often designed to feel open, clean, and calming, but one subtle detail can quietly disrupt that vision. Many homeowners researching frameless shower doors in Philadelphia quickly notice that standard glass often has a subtle green tint. That tint...
What Are The Different Types of Shower Enclosures?
How To Clean A Glass Tabletop Streak-Free For Philadelphia Homeowners?
A glass tabletop often becomes the centerpiece of a room, adding a modern and open feel that enhances the overall space. At Michael’s Glass Co., homeowners often share a common frustration that comes with that beauty. Many wonder how to clean a glass tabletop...
Frameless vs. Semi-Frameless: Which Is Structurally Better for Your Bathroom?
When planning a bathroom renovation, the shower enclosure is one of the design choices that can change both the appearance and function of the space. Many homeowners today are drawn to modern glass shower doors, especially frameless and semi-frameless designs. Both...
Step-by-Step Guide: Measuring Windows for Glass Replacement
Replacing damaged or outdated window glass starts with one very important step. Accurate measurements. If the measurements are even slightly off, the replacement glass may not fit properly, which can delay repairs and create additional costs. Whether a window cracked...
Hard Water vs. Your Shower Door: Why Philadelphia Homes Need Protective Coatings
Hard water can silently damage more than just your pipes; it can wreak havoc on shower doors and glass surfaces throughout your home. For many homeowners in Philadelphia, dealing with mineral deposits, water spots, and etching on shower glass is a frustrating,...
Over the years, glass shower enclosures have grabbed the baton from the traditional shower curtain, and taken the lead regarding consumer preference and satisfaction. Not only are they easier to clean, but the wide array of sleek designs makes glass showers a more attractive option for homeowners to hotel travelers.
When choosing glass showers for your construction project, there are three basic options from which to choose: framed, semi-frameless, and frameless. While they are all enduring, worthwhile investments, the options vary in cost, aesthetics, and maintenance. To facilitate the decision regarding the type of glass shower enclosure to select, let’s look at the characteristics of each kind of glass shower door.
Framed Shower Doors
Framed shower doors are the most affordable in the market. The glass is thinner than that used in semi-frameless and frameless models but is quite durable, likely to last more than a decade. Further, the glass is tempered, meaning that it will not shatter, even if the door slams.
Framed shower doors have distinct differences in appearance than the other options, too. Whether swinging or sliding doors, each glass door section is “framed” in metal, and is then attached to metal wall jambs; therefore, the overall aesthetic result is characterized by a more prevalent presence of metal than either of the other two options. Because of that metal, however, it is the most easily adjustable variation of glass shower door.
Semi-Frameless Shower Doors
A more ambiguous type of shower door is that of the semi-frameless shower door, as it relies partly on metal, but less so than the metal frame shower door. Additionally, the specialty glass panel, ¼” or ⅜” in glass thickness, is slightly sturdier than that of the framed option.
With the swinging version of the semi-frameless shower doors, there is no metal along the top of the door, nor is there any metal along the handle side of the shower glass. However, it relies on metal tracking along the base, and along the wall, where it is hinged, as well.
Likewise, the sliding semi-frameless shower door consists of free-floating doors, which run on a metal track above and below it, and also uses metal wall jambs, which make it more adjustable than the frameless option.
This option is more expensive than the framed shower door glass but slightly less expensive than the frameless version. As might be expected of a middle choice, the overall appearance is a combination of the framed and frameless, possessing a distinct metal characteristic, but one that is less pronounced than that of the fully framed option.
Frameless Shower Doors
The specialty clear glass used in frameless shower doors is most often ⅜” or ½” thick, making it the most durable glass of all three options. Further, a minimal amount of metal is used in the construction and support of frameless doors, which is something that many people find aesthetically pleasing.
Though it is the most expensive option, the frameless shower door is very popular, because of its durability and design possibilities, but also because it is the easiest to manage when it comes to glass repair.
Since the framed and semi-frameless options are often proprietary, the location and procurement of replacement parts can be more complicated. While it is the least likely to require a repair, without a frame to be concerned with, should it be necessary, it is easier to replace and repair a frameless glass door.
If you have a small bathroom, a frameless shower bathroom remodel can open up the space, making it appear bigger.
Contact a Professional
At Michael’s Glass Co., we are a knowledgeable team of glass specialists who can help you decide which types of shower doors will work best for you, your budget, and your environment. For assistance with your new shower remodel, please contact us through our website or call us at (267) 592-3433.