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

I'm reviving this thread because I asked our GC about Showerguard and low iron. His sub replied that they use Enduroshield, and low iron is three times the cost of regular glass. I'm not especially invested in low iron (probably doing a ModWalls tile), but I'd like the better of the protective products. Enduroshield's website says it can be bought as an option from the manufacturer and has a ten year warranty--if it fails they'll provide product to recoat, which isn't a great option. ShowerGuard's lifetime warranty says they'll replace the glass OR refund the difference in price between regular glass and ShowerGuard glass, which also isn't a great option. Both products' websites show the protectant is (or, in Enduroshield's case, CAN be) applied as part of the manufacturing process. Assuming each is done in manufacturing, does anyone know if there's much of a difference? Certainly there's someone out there who has one shower with each kind of glass that they use and clean identically, right? :)

after seeing that hardware, yes, it would explain the gap. what's going on here? this shouldn't be raised like that: those tracks and plastic will get gross and gunky within 6 months. (if this is used daily. ) I have a frameless and those plastic barriers are a pain to keep clean. within a year or so they harden and yellow. You have all the soft marble tile work, and those big bulky door sliders. the two don't work together. yours fits more of more masculine, industrial type of shower. (which you don't have) honestly, I'd have them rework it and give you a less obtrusive top rail. maybe like this one or just do frameless doors.

Not sure I see anything unusual about these shower doors, they are easily dealt with by conventional frameless shower door hardware. I'm also not clear what the "as designed, these will be expensive" comment means - what makes this design any more expensive than any other frameless shower door arrangement? I don't like the idea of the door hitting the towel bar because it seems lame, but not because it might break. You can whack tempered glass with a sledge hammer and it won't break. Only hitting it on the edge is a concern, but that's not the case here.