What are the Differences Between Frameless and Framed Shower Doors?
At The Shower Door Place we specialize in only the highest quality custom frameless glass shower doors and enclosures, using our proprietary hardware and design methods.
We often get inquiries from customers wondering about frameless, semi frameless, and framed glass options, so here is a brief explanation of each.
Framed & Semi Frameless Shower Doors
Framed Shower Enclosure
Framed and semi frameless glass fall into similar categories: low quality, lower cost, and shorter lifespan. These doors are mass produced, usually in overseas factories using inexpensive and inferior materials. Their main purpose is to meet a low price point that builders and DIY remodelers want. Often referred to as “kit doors,” they are not made custom to fit a specific shower opening, rather they are designed to fit a range of widths. Since these doors are not made custom for your opening, they do not provide a perfect fit.
Framed Glass
Framed shower doors will have aluminum edges around the doors, panels, tops and corners of the shower enclosure.
Framed shower doors only open in one direction, typically using a piano hinge, limiting function and durability.
Framed shower doors also have metal edges, seals and gaskets which collect water and create mildew, making them more difficult to clean and maintain.
Framed shower doors use thinner glass and are a more outdated look when compared with today’s modern finishes, styles and fixtures.
Often used as “builder grade” shower enclosures in new construction to save costs, framed enclosures have a shorter lifespan.
Frameless Shower Doors
Frameless shower doors offer better fit, function, and form. Our Shower Door Place exclusive patented proprietary pivot hinges allow the doors to open both outward or inward from inside or outside of the shower. This is a big upgrade over the framed doors that only allow the door to be opened to the outside, shedding water onto the floor and getting in the way.
Frameless Shower Enclosure
With frameless glass there are no metal edges, frames or gaskets to collect water and allow mold or mildew to form, making them much easier to clean and maintain.
Frameless glass is heavier, available in 3/8” or ½” thickness and uses high quality hinges, clamps and clips for proper installation, function, and style. By comparison, framed and semi-frameless shower doors typically use 3/16” or ¼” glass, which is flimsy and more prone to premature wear and breakage.
With many design options and finishes available, a frameless shower enclosure is a great way to showcase the beauty of your new tile work and give your shower a larger appearance. Also, replacing your existing outdated enclosure offers a great update to your bath without the additional cost of a complete shower remodel!
The advantages of frameless glass are “clear”. It is much easier to keep clean, no mildew due to gaskets and frames, higher quality hardware, thicker tempered glass and modern hardware and finishes make frameless glass the best choice for remodeling, replacing or simply adding that extra touch of style to your existing shower.
We invite you to visit one of our showrooms to learn more about our custom frameless glass options.
