Considerations for Installing a Bath Shower Door

Although it may seem like a rather simplistic thing, choosing a shower tub door and installing it, there are actually many different things that need to be kept in mind. A glass shower door can be a real safety issue, especially whenever it is installed improperly. There are also a number of different options that are available in these glass units, all the way from frameless shower tub enclosures to those that are hinged or sliding. Many times, you can bypass all of these options altogether and simply use a shower curtain, but a shower tub door does have an appeal that many of us cannot ignore.

Perhaps one of the most popular types of doors are going to be frameless. These come from a number of different companies, and many times you're going to need to choose one of these units according to the manufacturer. This is especially the case whenever installing a shower tub door for an odd shaped shower pan. By using the same manufacturer, such as American doors for American pans, you will be insured of a proper fit. This can make the enclosures as secure as possible.

Another consideration for glass frameless doors is going to be the color of the glass, itself. Most of us would not really consider that clear glass has any color at all, but when you're getting glass thick enough to offer you the security that a frameless door is going to need, it will have a tint. Go to the local showroom in order to look at these various types of glass, and you will definitely see a difference between the color of regular clear glass and ultra-clear glass. Always make sure to upgrade to ultra clear, and you will be much happier with the finished product.

Other type of enclosures can include hinged doors, as well as sliding glass doors. This type of shower tub combo door is going to be rather popular, especially for installing on an existing tub with a raised edge. One thing that you're going to want to be cautious of in this regard, however, is the fact that small children and elderly individuals tend to utilize the doors as a way of steadying themselves as they get in and out of the shower. This can really pose a number of different safety issues, and it may be better for you to install a shower rail in this area and to skip the doors for the time being.

One final thing to consider when installing shower tub doors is the accessibility that you're going to have to the shower after they are installed. Many times, the shower bathtub door can be somewhat of a hindrance to accessing the shower properly, especially when you're washing pets or even trying to clean the tub. This is true, regardless of whether you are installing frameless glass enclosures or if you are going to bypass this option and simply go with a hinged glass sliding door. Make sure that it is actually what you want before you install it, as the installation is often difficult to reverse.