5 Common Concerns About Frameless Shower Doors

Frameless shower doors continue to grow in popularity. But if you still hesitate at the idea of installing them in your own home, you may have some common concerns that many others have also experienced.

By understanding more about how frameless shower doors work and what they are actually like, you can overcome these normal worries. To help you do just that, discover the answers to five very common questions you may wonder about.

1. Do Frameless Doors Leak Water?

Traditional shower doors use frames and sealants to keep water inside the shower. Any homeowner whose old-style shower door has suffered breakage in the caulking or the metal frame knows that leaks will immediately start causing trouble outside the shower. So, should you worry about water leaks when the frame is removed?

In fact, frameless styles use a variety of other tricks to prevent water from leaking out through hinges and openings. The installation often places the showerhead in ways that direct water away from the door itself. Then, slight angles in the floor and walls also redirect water toward the drain instead of allowing it to seep outward. And good installation will minimize gaps and ensure these often overlap.

2. Do Frameless Doors Break Easily?

Does the lack of a frame make these showers easier to break or more likely to shatter? You may have heard anecdotes of doors shattering when being opened or closed — or even breaking while a person uses the shower. However, only a very small percentage of owners experience breakage during normal use. So while you may want to discourage the kids from banging doors, everyday use is generally safe. 

One reason is that the glass itself is often designed to be stronger and even thicker than older doors positioned inside a frame. Modern glass technology also uses tempered, or safety, glass that minimizes any potential injury if the glass ever does break. You may already be familiar with tempered glass as a safety feature in your cars and trucks.

3. Are Frameless Doors Hard to Clean?

Do you worry that the open expanse of glass in your new shower will become cloudy, spotted, or foggy? This is understandable, but you can take steps to prevent problems cleaning the shower. Your glass professional will give recommendations as to how to care for your particular doors. They may suggest avoiding cleaners with ammonia, for instance, and using a squeegee to remove spots after use. 

The lack of framing can actually have a positive impact on cleanliness in the shower. Old-fashioned metal frames and caulking are hard to keep clean, often resulting in a dirty or even moldy appearance over many years. By removing the frame and sealants from the equation, you can reach all parts of the shower assembly and keep these sparkling clean.

4. Can Frameless Doors Go Anywhere?

That extra weight and structural differences that make frameless glass safer lead to a common concern: whether or not your shower can physically accommodate the frameless doors. In general, it probably can. Standard size frameless systems fit most standard shower sizes. And if your shower has unusual dimensions, you can also customize the frameless door for a tailored fit.

The biggest challenge you may encounter is when your shower is fiberglass or acrylic. These lightweight materials may not be able to hold up many frameless doors. However, advancing technology now provides door designs specifically made to work with these less sturdy materials. With the right guidance from a glass professional, you will find plenty of options to meet your needs. 

5. Will You Pay More for Frameless Doors?

What about cost? Most homeowners have a budget, and you might not want to spend too much of it on a shower door. The good news is that you do not have to. As their popularity and accessibility have grown, the increased choice and better technology have brought installation costs down. You may find that a standard frameless door costs only a little more than a traditional setup.

Do not overlook the investment potential of the frameless style versus framed doors. Their modern, clean look and visually open frameless style make the bathroom appear large, airy, and fresh. Bathroom renovations are some of the best financial investments a homeowner can make, and adding a beautiful frameless shower brings even more bang for your buck. 

Do you have other questions or worries about frameless doors? Want to know more about any of the above concerns? Start by talking with the glass pros at MS Glass Outlet. We will assess your existing bathroom or renovation plans to help you learn how frameless shower doors would work in your particular home or business. Call today to speak with our team or make an appointment to learn more. We look forward to helping you.