If you're giving your bathroom a makeover, why not consider having frameless glass shower doors installed? They give a sleek, clean look to your personal space and can even make your bathroom seem larger. You'll find a helpful description of these shower doors below, as well as three places they really help improve one of the most important, and well used, rooms in your home.

Frameless Glass Shower Doors Defined

Frameless shower doors are glass panels that are almost invisible when installed. They have very little hardware, usually comprised of small hinges on the entry panel and a door handle, which often is clear glass or plexiglass. The panels are installed using nearly invisible attachment clips or by setting them in thin channel fittings. Some door panels pivot on hinges to open out. Others have special mechanisms to allow them to easily slide open and closed.

Various types of glass panels are offered, including clear, frosted, tinted, and etched. The clear or lightly tinted panels can make your bathroom seem larger because there is no perceived separation between the shower and the rest of the room. Tinted glass may also be matched to the shower tile, creating a "shower cave" effect. If privacy is an issue, the frosted and etched panels work quite nicely.

Three Places Where Frameless Glass Shower Doors Add That Special Look

Enhancing Your Walk-In Shower

Walk-in showers were once only found in high-end, luxury properties. Today they are everywhere. In fact, a walk-in shower can dramatically increase the resale value of even a modest home. As long as your bathroom is large enough, why not put in that dream shower? Add multi-jets, granite tiles, and maybe even a rain shower. Waterproof audio systems are also available. Close the entire space with frameless glass shower doors.

This is one place where shower orientation may influence your glass selection.  If privacy is an issue and your shower opens up to the rest of your bathroom, you might consider frosted or etched glass. Walk-in showers also make great "cave showers." Turn the shower so it opens up into its own entry space, facing away from the rest of the bathroom.

Take Advantage of Your View

One of the perks of having a home perched on a hillside overlooking the ocean or the jagged peaks of mountains is being able to build a "shower with a view."  Most master suites have a full bathroom attached. In this scenario, many architects design a wall of windows in both rooms overlooking the outdoor wonders. The trend is to put the tub close to the windows so you can soak and enjoy the scenery. Install a shower with frameless glass shower doors and you can also take advantage of the view.  Go clear if the orientation of the home allows no one to see in but Mother Nature.

Renovating That Tiny Bathroom

If you own an older home, say a vintage Victorian or Edwardian, you most likely have at least one smaller bathroom. In that era, indoor plumbing was just catching on, and bathrooms were installed just about anywhere they'd fit. In some cases, that meant using an interior closet or spare room. If enlarging that bathroom isn't part of the plan, you can still get better use out of the space by installing a corner shower with a frameless shower door. If a drain isn't in place, you'll have to add one, but you won't have to tear up big chunks of your vintage tile floor to accommodate a tub, if one would even fit. Interior bathrooms typically had no windows. Combining a clear shower stall and frameless door with a skylight helps distribute natural light and makes the room seem larger.  

For more information on glass shower doors, contact a company like Sound Glass Sales, Inc.