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Today's Shower Enclosure Has Something For Everyone

Whether building new or remodeling, your shower enclosure can come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and styles. In the small bathroom, it may be a neo-angle enclosure in the corner. That neo-angle may be frameless, as seen at the right, or it may have an aluminum framework. If it is framed, the aluminum may come in any number of metal or painted finishes. The glass itself may be clear, frosted, patterned or tinted (just to name a few). The choice is up to you. The frameless style first gained popularity in Europe. It is highlighted by a more open look due to its minimal use of metal to hold the glass panels together. The term frameless is applied to those enclosures where the metal framework has been reduced by varying degrees. Some frameless units use the same thickness of glass (5/32 inch, 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch) as framed enclosures and often have metal framework across the top and along the bottom of the enclosure. Heavy glass frameless enclosures (using 3/8 inch or larger) have limited the metal parts to small hinges and clamps to hold the glass in place.

A framed unit typically has aluminum extrusions surrounding each glass panel and all edges of the glass door. These extrusions come in a variety of styles to fit different budgets and tastes.

The door to an enclosure can be hinged, on a pivot, a bi-fold or a by-pass, all depending on what works best in your space and what best fits your personal style.

The traditional choices of finish for an enclosure's aluminum extrusions are gold, silver or bronze. Today's palette has expanded to include not only white and black but also red, navy, teal, peach, raspberry, and rose. There are also several grays and off-whites available. More exotic colors are available but may cost more and require a longer lead time when ordering.

While clear glass is the most popular choice for shower enclosures, there are many options. Your selection will depend on your budget, your design, your need for privacy and your personal style. Glass can be obscure or tinted to allow light through without inconveniencing the more modest bather. Reflective glass is also available, providing both a full length mirror in the bathroom and a sense of privacy in the shower. Your enclosure can be etched in a number of abstract patterns or shapes. Representational images running from traditional swans or calla lilies to your favorite football mascots or cartoon characters can be etched or screen printed on the glass. The glass also comes in textures that allow light to enter while still providing personal privacy.

Whether your shower enclosure consists of a single door or of four glass panels, the option is there to create a shower/steam room combination. To create a steam room requires an enclosure that is self contained. For the single door enclosure, this can be accomplished by having a door that fills the entire opening or that has a transom above the door. The transom is closed when the steam function is in use. Creating the steam option in the more complicated enclosures requires running the glass and metal floor-to-ceiling or putting a top on the enclosure.

Whatever your choices, whatever your design preferences may be, you can be confident that your glass professional will provide the most accurate information available.

Source: Contemporary Bath Enclosures.