What is the Difference Between Clips and U-Channel for Stationary Glass Panels?

At The Shower Door Place we hear this question all the time during the design and hardware selection process. For that reason, this will serve as a helpful guide for your reference especially if you have not yet stopped by one of our showrooms to see the difference in person. 

U-channel being utilized on the notch and bench surfaces

To begin, U-channel is and has been the industry standard for many years for attaching stationary panels of glass to the wall and floor/curb surfaces of the shower. It is used as a continuous track of metal on all surfaces that the stationary panel of glass is being installed on.  U-channel is not a frame per say, but it does resemble a frame on a strictly aesthetic level. 

U-channel is secured to the wall using  screws and anchors, after which a bead of silicone is applied to ensure water cannot escape. The glass is then set into the u-channel on special bumpers and secured firmly before silicone is pushed into the u-channel to permanently set the glass panel in place. This installation process ensures that water will not be able to accumulate in the u-channel as it is completely sealed. Framed glass, on the other hand, uses vinyl or rubber gasketing between the glass and channel, which over time can allow water to collect inside the channel.  This is bad.

Clips securing each piece of glass along the half wall & wall surfaces

Clips are another option we offer as an upgrade to U-channel. Rather than having a long continuous track of metal along the mounting surfaces of the stationary panel, there are instead just a few small metal clips that help to hold the glass in place in addition to a bead of silicone to eliminate water leakage. In most cases we only need to use two clips per mounting surface. They are installed using just one screw and wall anchor per clip as well.  When using clips there is no U-channel to collect water in the rare event of the silicone seal wearing out.  

So what really is the difference between clips and u-channel? The truth is, mostly aesthetics. When we first started installing shower doors we were using almost exclusively u-channel. It works great, it’s economical and simple to work with. Then as the years went on we noticed that more and more customers started choosing clips for their shower enclosures because they liked seeing less metal hardware in their bathroom. Clips overall provide a much more minimalist aesthetic that many of our customers appreciate. 

Clips cost a bit more than channel because there is more edge polishing of the glass required, more labor and more material cost.  Beyond this neither option is superior to the other in function.  

Hopefully this article has helped you better understand the difference between clips and u-channel that we offer on all of our custom shower enclosures. If you still have any questions about hardware selections, custom shower doors or anything related, feel free to give us a call or stop into either of our showrooms located in Roseville or Minnetonka.