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Shower Enclosures – Why You Don’t Want to DIY

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Showers – we’ve all seen and have been in them at some point or another, but have you ever stopped to think about the variety of options there are for shower enclosures? The likely answer is no. Although it might pop into your mind right before your next bathroom remodeling project, shower enclosures have gotten more decorative and advanced as the shower can often be seen as one of your bathroom’s focal points. And many homeowners and buyers want something that will stand out and also be a haven or refuge from the world.

Every shower is unique and our Glass.com experts would agree there is a variety to choose from before you start your next home renovation, but going about it the right way is key. Though there are many household repairs you can easily tackle on your own, there is an equally long list of things you shouldn’t attempt to do by yourself, and installing your own shower enclosure should be on that “Don’t” list. The technical aspects alone should be enough for you to think about hiring a professional.

But before we dive into the different options for enclosures, let’s define what it is. A shower enclosure is a device that makes it possible to alter the function of a bathtub to allow the option of enjoying a bath or taking a shower. An interesting point about them is that they can be created or be designed to require installation and sealing sections that completely seclude your bathing area.

Shower Designs

Over time, bath designs moved toward tubs that were attached to the wall and floor in a lower area of the bathroom. Why is this important to know – this change led to the development of a shower enclosure that would fit across the open side of the tub. Then a combination of metal frames and tempered glass allowed the enclosures to be attached to the wall and ceiling. Over the past few decades things like sliding shower doors helped make the shower and bathtub more open.

Adding Shower Doors

Of course you’re looking for a shower that makes you feel at ease and also matches your style as well as the rest of your home, but it’s also important for it to be functional. The shower should accentuate your bathroom through its shape and size.

There are three shapes when it comes to picking your next enclosure, and when you speak with your Glass.com professional, he or she will tell you a square, rectangle or quadrant are your shape options. It’s also important to note that not every shower has a door. Yes, it’s common to see left or right-handed doors to help lead you into a shower, but the door as a whole is not a necessity.

When you’re out shopping with your shower expert for a new enclosure don’t be afraid to step into the shower area and stand with your back to the corner. This tip will allow you to envision your bathroom when the project is completed. Once you start visualizing it you can better decide if you want your shower door to open on your left or right side. But you may also find that neither option helps to complete your vision, and that’s ok too.

Shower Enclosure Types

Although there are a variety of shower enclosure designs to choose from, your Glass.com professional will tell you that your decision should depend on the size and design of your bathroom as well as your style preference. Below we’ll highlight each of your three options.

1. Square Shower Enclosures

Square shower enclosures are often known to give bathrooms a more modern look because a perfect square doesn’t have curves. This is valuable because you then would have more options when it comes to doors and frames.

2. Rectangular Shower Enclosures

If space is not an issue in your bathroom, then a rectangle shower enclosure might be just what you’re looking for, as it is ideal for those who seek freedom in the bath.

3. Quadrant Shower Enclosures

The quadrant shower enclosure is unique because it is designed to fit into the corner of your bathroom. According to industry experts, its curved front is ideal for tight spaces while offering a modern look.

This option works for bathrooms with limited space. Sliding shower doors with this option can also provide you with more room to customize.

Hopefully after you go over the three different types of enclosures with your industry expert you start to get a better idea of what will work in your home. But wait, there’s even more to consider before giving the go-ahead to your team.

4. Framed v. Frameless Shower Enclosures

Framed enclosures are seen as more traditional and economical, but sometimes sacrifice aesthetics for functionality. If you’re interested in framing your shower but want a more modern look, try a chrome finish instead of the more common bronze. Frameless shower enclosures are also seen as a staple in more contemporary bathrooms. This is mostly because of the increase in the amount of light your shower gets from omitting the frame. It also can make your shower feel more spacious.

Shower Glass

In addition to deciding whether or not to add a frame to your shower, you can also decide on what type of glass better fits your style and overall look. Some of the more popular choices include: tempered, laminated, and coated glass. Your Glass.com expert can tell you that they can come in a variety of designs like clear, frosted, and colored glass.

Remember when we mentioned shower doors as not being a necessity? Well, if you’re set on not having a shower door you should consider going with a glass block enclosure.

This design, according to industry experts, allows glass blocks to surround the shower halfway while leaving the other half open. The blocks also can give your bathroom a more elegant look thanks to its crisp lines. Glass blocks are usually squared and are installed like bricks.

If the idea of having glass blocks in your shower just doesn’t spark your interest, you should consider having frosted glass. Some of its benefits include giving you privacy and style. According to recent trends it’s rising in popularity, as it gives a custom look that isn’t found in every other home’s shower.

Finally Deciding on Shower Enclosure Options

Now that you have more knowledge on the vast amount of options that shower enclosures provide, you can also see why it’s not in your best interest to tackle everything yourself. Finding the correct glass size alone can set you back weeks if you choose the incorrect one. Hopefully you can also tell your Glass.com expert some of the things you’d like your shower to have while you’re discussing your next renovation project.

Please note, this article may contain links to Amazon products. As an Amazon Associate, Glass.com earns from qualifying purchases.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Emmariah Holcomb

Emm Holcomb serves as assistant editor to AGRR Magazine and has a background news, as she was a journalist for Time Warner Cable News. Emm received her Bachelor’s Degree from St. Bonaventure University in New York where she studied journalism and mass communication. In her free time, Emm loves to cook and is passionate about trying new recipes and using food to bring people together. When not in the kitchen, she can be found in the gym working out and fostering her love/hate relationship with weight training. Find out more about Emmariah on Linkedin.

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2 Responses

  1. The idea of a glass block enclosure for a bathroom is something I can really see being good for our home. Since the bathroom here is quite large, I feel like I would need something that can fit its size and allow me to make use of as much space as possible. I’ll start looking for a shower enclosure provider in the area and make sure that we get them to give us a design like this.

  2. It’s great that you talked about how shower enclosures have gotten more decorative and advanced as the shower could often be seen as one of the bathroom’s focal points. My wife and I have decided to remodel our bathroom and we are thinking of putting a custom shower enclosure in it. We cannot install one on our own, so we should definitely ask a professional to do it for us.

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