No one can deny the importance of glass shower doors in modern bathrooms. We can see advancement in every aspect of life nowadays. Similarly the bathroom styles, designs, construction, all have improved to a certain extent. The glass shower doors grant unique touch to the bath areas also keeps them clean. The type of glass matters a lot for creating the perfect shower enclosure. Here we are going to discuss the right type of glass for shower doors.
Tempered glass
We can place the tempered glass in the category of the most used types of glass in the manufacturing of custom glass shower doors. Most of the people are very aware from the tempered glass but most probably you are the one who is not much familiar with this term. So, lets us introduce you first the tempered glass.
Basically the tempered glass is very different from the annealed glass (which is the regular glass). The manufacturing process off tempered glass differs from annealed glass. Glass is heated at high temperature and then cooled down immediately. This special manufacturing style makes tempered glass much stronger than the normal glass. Though the corners and edges remain a bit fragile then the rest of the glass. Due to the special manufacturing style the tempered glass do not only become strong and hard to break, but the breakage characteristics of the glass also change.
We all know that when the annealed glass breaks it takes the shape of sharp and hazardous shards. On the contrary, when the tempered glass breaks it takes the shape of small round pebbles.
Tempered vs. Laminated
Both tempered and laminated glass enhances durability and safer fragments. But let me clear one thing here that for shower doors the tempered glass is better than the laminated glass. It is being used in glass shower doors, almost decades ago. Personal safety becomes the key issue, on the movement when the piece of glass operates as a swinging or sliding door and a person is taking a shower inside.
So we want the shower doors that are hard to break. We also seek the glass which, when breaks in the event of any accident then do not inflict any serious injury. If a homeowner wants extra precaution, then he can move towards laminated glass. Otherwise, there is no need to opt for laminated glass for shower doors.
Laminated glass is layers based. It consists of two sheets of glass and the center filled with clear vinyl. The specialty of laminated glass is that it looks like normal glass, but when it smashes then it the sheet of glass remains intact because the vinyl does not let the broken pieces shatter as a result every broken piece remains stuck to the vinyl.
Glass thickness
Glass thickness varies from glass to glass. One can purchase the shower doors in a variety of glass thicknesses. Usually the glass is ½ inches thick for shower door panel. The glass thickness can be determined by the owner, however, it is also determined by whether it is a frameless, semi-frameless, or framed shower door.
Glass Thickness of Frameless Shower Doors
Actually the glass thickness determines the structural strength of shower enclosure. Usually two types of glass thicknesses are popular in frameless shower doors. One is 3/8 inches thick second is ½ inches thick. The prior thickness, size is the smallest thickness size that can be used in frameless shower doors. It is budget friendly than ½ inches glass. It assures sound and quality construction. Some people think that ½ inches thickness will be too heavy for wall to supprot. On the other hand 3/8’’ is considered to be flimsy. These types of thoughts can disturb you. So don’t go into too much depth. Both are fine and many people are using them. Although 3/8 inches glass is cost effective. You can have frameless custom glass shower doors.
Glass Thickness of Semi-Frameless Shower Doors
The glass used in the semi frameless glass is usually less thick than the glass used in frameless glass. in semi frameless glass normally the glass thickness is 1/4″ or 3/16″. Frameless shower doors need to be installed on tile or marble, but the semi frameless glass can be easily installed in the fiberglass. They are more cost effective than the frameless glass door. They can be more watertight that the frameless shower doors. Semi frameless showers are only available in standard sizes. It’s very hard to get them in customzed size.
Glass Thickness of Framed Shower Doors
Glass thickness of framed shower doors is usually 5/32” or 3/16”. Framed showers normally use tempered glass with an aluminum frame and hardware.
Glass Appearance
The glass appearance can be chosen from various looks and textures. We can say that clear glass is a very hot item nowadays. But everyone is free to choose according to his will and ease. So, lets discuss some of the options such as:
- Patterned glass
- Frosted glass
- Colored glass
- Cast glass
The type of glass that obscures visibility like the frosted glass and colored glass that are also known as privacy glass are famous for bathrooms shared by siblings.
Glass Protection
Glass protection should be addressed always when considering what type of glass is used for shower enclosures. It is the crucial point to discuss when talking about the shower door glass. We should clean the glass on a daily basis for keeping it safe from corrosion and staining. But not all homeowners want to spend hours to clean their new shower door. So we should opt for the glass that is easy to clean. Here’s another option comes which is called the “shower guard glass”. This new glass based on the technology that keeps the minerals, scale and soap scum from sticking. So, you can save your precious time and glass from stains both at the same time by purchasing the “shower guard glass”.
During the manufacturing of shower guard glass, ion-beam technology is used which keeps is safe from corrosive and unsightly elements so often build up. Actually, due to the special manufacturing style its surface becomes permanently sealed, free of the pores where mordant and hideous elements so often build up.
You can also make use of a spray called EnduroShield, that binds to the glass. This will make the glass water and oil-repellant, thus protecting it from corrosion and staining.