Shower Enclosures

Shower enclosures can be as small and basic as a simple glass door installed over an existing tubs or as immaculate and large as an entire room. No matter what type of shower enclosure you’d like installed in your home, hiring a professional contractor with plenty of shower enclosure experience is a must.

There are two basic types of shower enclosures that can be installed in your bathroom

Framed and unframed shower enclosures.

Framed Shower Enclosures: Some framed enclosures are enclosed with a wall, allowing complete and total privacy in the shower. Some framed enclosures have a glass door for an entrance, while other framed enclosures are made entirely of glass, but have an exoskeleton of metal or other stout material that holds the glass in place. Framed shower enclosures are often less expensive than unframed shower enclosures.

Unframed Shower Enclosures: Unframed shower enclosures are being used more and more often in bathrooms. An unframed shower enclosure is all glass, held together with small brackets or powerful adhesives. This creates a clean line and an open space, making the bathroom appear bigger than it actually is. Unframed shower enclosures are more costly than conventional shower enclosures as they require thicker and stronger glass for support.

Glass: Not all shower enclosures are made from the same glass. While it is the law that all shower enclosures be made from materials that prevent dangerous breaks, there can be two types of glass materials that can be used: Tempered or laminate. Laminate glass is the cheaper of the two and is conventional glass covered with a laminate. This laminate material is similar to the laminates used on your car windows. Tempered glass may be more costly, but it is easier to clean as it has a smoother finish that will last twice as long as laminate glass shower enclosures.

No matter what glass, finish or style you choose for your shower enclosure, it’s always a good idea to find a shower enclosure contractor who specializes in shower enclosure installation. A strong set of references, the proper licensing and insurance is the only way to ensure you’re getting the best of the best for your shower enclosure installation.