Types of Shower Enclosures

Planning to renovate your bathroom and looking out for suitable shower enclosures? Look no further, because this story offers you more information about the types of shower enclosures along with their pictures to help you choose the best.

Frameless shower enclosures have doors that open in and out, unlike gliders that come with framed enclosures, which can be a key factor while choosing a shower enclosure for a smaller bathroom.

A lot of things have to be taken into consideration while choosing a shower enclosure or a shower door. The first and foremost thing is to decide whether you are going for a major home improvement project or just looking for bathroom accessories and equipment for a newly built house.

Once you decide that, you will have to focus on the space that is available for building your shower enclosure. This is a key factor in choosing a shower enclosure because there are certain enclosures that are suitable for bigger bathrooms, while some can easily fit in a smaller bathroom area, yet give an elegant and attractive look to the bathroom.

It is extremely important to strike a balance between two important aspects, the look and price, while choosing a shower enclosure. Decide whether you want to spend less and look for an enclosure that will fit in your bathroom, or if you want a more luxurious and elegant look for your bathroom and are ready to spend more.

Although it offers a simple look to your bathroom, you have a variety of colors and shapes to make your shower enclosure either stand out or blend in with the overall theme of your bathroom. Since the structure has frames on all sides, it can fit in any area of the bathroom.

Furthermore, to make it look more attractive, you can use either clear, patterned, or frosted glass, and sliding or pivot doors.

Maintenance : Although these enclosures are known to have a longer life, they are not very easy to clean. The complex areas of the frames make it difficult to remove dirt and moisture, which goes on accumulating in those areas over the years.

Durability :
It is a structure supported by frames on all sides and hence, has the potential to withstand the heat, moisture, and humidity for a considerable amount of time. Fully-framed enclosures in many older homes look new even today and don't need a replacement after several years because of their durability.

Appearance :
In simple terms, as the name suggests, these are semi-frameless enclosures with minimum designing that still give a feel of elegance like a frameless enclosure.

The framework is usually provisioned on the sides of the enclosure, while the door is left frameless. This offers the same sleek, unobstructed look of the frameless enclosure, but at affordable prices.

Maintenance :
With minimal framework, these shower enclosures are easier to clean, and maintain their new look for a longer period. There is not much metal to get damaged with repeated water contact. To be more specific, since the metal strips do not surround the doors completely, there are less chances of dirt and moisture getting accumulated in those areas

Durability :
While it offers an obstructed, clear view, it also gains the needed structural strength from the surrounding framework. This helps the enclosure withstand the heat or constant water splashing on the structure, which ultimately increases its durability.

These are the most elegant type of shower enclosures with an extremely impressive and classy look. Frameless shower enclosures, accessorized with beautiful bathroom hardware, is enough to reveal your elegant and sophisticated style.

One of the best things about a frameless shower enclosure is that it will have a great impact on prospective buyers when you are planning to sell the house. The enclosure is surrounded by thick glass, which offers a bigger, cleaner, and attractive look.

Amongst the three types of enclosures, this is the easiest to clean, because of the absence of a frame. There are no complex areas where dirt and moisture can accumulate, which keeps the new look of the enclosure intact for several years.

Durability :
It is obviously the most durable enclosure type. Since, there is no frame to support, the glass that is used is around ⅜" to ½" thick, which is less prone to breakage or similar damages. It is also tempered and polished safety glass, which again adds to its durability.

Apart from the framework of the enclosure, the doors and the shape of a shower enclosure have a great impact on the utility of an enclosure and the overall look of the bathroom. Here are a few more shower enclosure types to enhance the scope for selection:

► Walk-in Enclosure
► Pivot Door Enclosure
► Quadrant Enclosure
► Pentagon Enclosure
► Corner Entry Enclosure
► Corner Position Enclosure
► Ready-made Cubicles

If you want to give a clean, neat, and tidy look to your bathroom, but at the same time want to cut down on the cost, the best option would be a fiber-glass shower enclosure as it is the most inexpensive and easy-to-install enclosure.