framed or frameless shower doors--decision time

13 years ago

New house is almost complete. The shower enclosure is all tile with only the door in glass (I hate cleaning glass). I have the estimates on the doors:

Frameless: 3/8" tempered clear $606

Framed: 1/4" tempered clear $385

I expected the cost to be so much more for the frameless (from reading threads) that I'd almost stopped considering it. However, this difference doesn't seem so bad. "Starfire" glass isn't mentioned, so I'm wondering how much more that might add to the price?

My builder is cautioning me against the frameless because of some leaking that occurs under the doors if you squeegee it off and have the water running down it when you do so. (The bottom opening is level, not sloped.)

I'm literally "decisioned-out" at this point in the build. I almost don't care anymore. But, knowing that price isn't a huge difference, what would you have put in?

Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

pricklypearcactus
13 years ago
Personally, I much prefer the look of frameless shower enclosures over framed. A cost differential like that would certainly be worth it to me.

However, I am a little concerned about his comment regarding leakage when squeegeeing (though I am not any kind of bathroom/shower/tile expert). As far as I would expect, water from the shower will be as likely to go out the bottom while showering as while squeegeeing a glass door. In fact, I would have guessed (again, not an expert opinion here) that the slope should continue out slightly beyond the shower if there is no curb to hold water in. What happens if the shower drain is slightly (or worse: not so slightly) plugged? Is the frame of the shower door expected to hold the water in? Also, if the frame is expected to hold the water in somehow, how does this work? Is there a gasket or is it caulked at the base where the frame meets the tile floor? Couldn't the same be done at the base of the frameless glass?

I hope I haven't caused you further decision anxiety, but the caution from your builder seems odd to me. I have seen many (pictures of) showers without curbs with frameless glass enclosures. It seems to me that designing a curbless shower would include designing to handle whatever type of shower enclosure is selected.

Maybe some of the construction/shower building/tiling experts can chime in?
cruisedirector
13 years ago
Our frameless door has a clear plastic sweep on the bottom of it. The water runs down it, I squeegee it, and then I open it inward to sweep the water off of the ledge. Never any leakage onto the floor.
Related Discussions
Replace Framed with Frameless Shower Doors?
Q
Comments (18)
It was around $1800. It's more than normal because I got the glass extra tall, extra thick and got the Shower Guard treatment. I probably could have just got the standard height. The main reason I had extra height on the old doors was so I didn't bump my head on the top rail. Since there is no longer a top rail, this doesn't matter any more. Maybe the extra height will cut down on any overspray outside the shower. The Shower Guard doesn't work the way I expected it would. I expected the water to just run off in sheets with no beading or spots, but their is plenty of beading. There are no spots "sticking" to the glass, and they guarantee that water spots will never etch permanently into the glass and it won't develop pitting that makes the shower door glass get harder to clean as it ages. it still takes some elbow grease to get it spotless. I am just not super impressed yet because I thought it would be easier to keep clean than it is. If it doesn't get any harder to clean in a few years than it is today, then I'll be impressed with it at that time since I'm not going to squeegee the glass between cleanings since it isn't supposed to be needed as long as you clean it regularly (scrub it clean of soap scum on weekends etc.) I don't have any more tracks to clean and it's also easier to clean since I not longer have a section of the doors that overlap each other, so I like it much better overall.
...See More
Steam Shower and Frameless Door?? Please Help!!
Q
Comments (11)
Thanks for the feedback. I talked to the people at Artistcraft and they thought it would be feasible to do a fixed panel on the left side with a 6" high transom that was hinged to the top of the frame. The door would be hinged on the right wall and seal against the fixed panel and transom. Talked to the local shop and they said they would not do this because of safety liability reasons, even though they were quoting me on a framed enclosure that would have a steam tight seal. Is this really a good idea? I asked them if there wouldn't be a bigger safety issue with an airtight room. That's when they got snotty. I was hoping to use them since I live in mid-Michigan and would like to steer business locally. In the end, I think we'll do something similar to what annkathryn suggests. I'm not that thrilled dealing with the rude people at the shop, but they seem to be the only game in town. Beautiful work as usual, Bill. Here is a kind of crappy photo of our project. Thanks again, mrs517
...See More
frameless shower vs open shower
Q
Comments (9)
We will have a small master bath with a shower only. I was planning glass blocks up about 5 feet and then stepping down to the open threshold. A closed off doorway would become a seating alcove. The measurements will be something like 36 x 60. We're planning a rainhead which will mostly be a softer fuller shower, and then a handheld with a longer hose, but mounted on a shower bar. If this handheld, which is more forceful, is closer to the glass block wall, it should direct water more into the corner away from the threshold. Or so I'm thinking. Is my reasoning backwards on that assumption? Asking advice here: would a frameless glass wall be better to use than the glass block? It would take up less space but it would not give any privacy. And as far as an open shower experience making you feel too cool, there is the option of a heat lamp on a timer which would counteract that. I prefer the heat lamps to bathroom heaters built into the wall. But then I've not lived in really cold climates. We will be selling this house next spring, or I'd consider adding infloor heating under the new tilework.
...See More
do i 'frame' my 42 vanity mirrors or get frameless shower door
Q
Comments (14)
Depends on what look you're going for - contemporary? Then spend the $ now on frameless doors and get them installed. More traditional? Then do a shower curtain(s) and frame your mirrors. It's not that hard to do (I did it with a huge jigsaw puzzle in ds's nursery) after the mirrors are on the wall, as long as there's room. Only thing is you want to paint the back of the trim black so you don't see reflection of the wood where it overlaps the mirror. A mirror will be thicker than the jigsaw puzzle, so you'll need to route a channel in the back of the trim pieces where it overlaps the mirror, or else the outer edge of the trim won't lie flat against the wall. If you don't have the carpentry skills to DIY, ask your finish carpenter to do it - I'm sure it'll be a lot less than $200 per mirror (42" x ? each). Do you have pics of bathrooms so far (vanities, sinks, faucets, lighting installed?) so we can see what style is? Of course, oceanna's solution is much easier to DIY and looks so pretty (but more casual/contemporary). As always, oceanna, your painting is beautiful! I'd love to see your whole bathroom!
...See More
suero
13 years ago
What cruisedirector said. Also, go for the 3/8" glass.

framed or frameless shower doors--decision time

Comments (3)

pricklypearcactus

cruisedirector

Related Discussions

suero

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US