Frameless Shower Doors

Dear Yoko,

Will my frameless shower “leak” water?

This is a common myth that shower doors are all watertight. They are NOT perfectly watertight!! A frameless shower should never be considered a completely water tight enclosure. It sounds like an oxymoron that a frameless enclosure is watertight because there is no frame or seal to stop water from leaking. I say it loud and clear! Then why are they so popular? They do not leak significantly more than framed shower stalls or even shower curtains. When a framed door is opened, it often drops more water on the floor than a frameless design due to water catching in the shower frame. Frameless is better because they can be customized, and are simply more beautiful. I do not think anyone would hire me if I put a framed shower door in my bathroom design. As a homeowner, one needs to know that there are advantages and disadvantages of installing a frameless shower door in a bathroom.

ADVANTAGES:

1. They are more aesthetically beautiful. They will visually make your bathroom look bigger because they do not have bulky frames, metal, rubber or other types that framed glass doors have. Framed shower enclosures close your field of view.
2. They are more customizable in terms of size, shape, glass finish and thickness, and hardware. Almost all frameless designs are custom-made and more choices are available. They can have no-green tint glass, a towel bar, a transom window for a steam shower, a unique handle, etc.
3. They minimize mold issues in your shower. When you have framed shower doors, your shower collects water in many places, such as underneath door frames and seals. A frameless enclosure will let water run off and dry.
4. They are easy to clean and maintain. Spray glass cleaner and soap scum repellent once a month will do the trick. You do not even need a squeegee. No scrubbing is necessary as long as you regularly maintain it.

DISADVANTAGES:

1. They are more expensive than framed shower enclosures.
2. They are not watertight. This is a trade-off. Gaps exist for heavy-duty hinges to work properly since they lack metal frames found in traditional framed shower enclosures. A use of various plastic pieces, such as sweeps, and silicone seals is helpful to fill the gaps but can wear out over time.

Will you still choose frameless shower doors over framed? My answer is YES. Careful design and quality execution are the key to success. Professional wall and floor surface preparation and frameless shower installation is absolutely necessary. Another important consideration is a placement of your shower head in your shower stall so that water does not hit gaps between glass panels and walls directly.

Frameless shower doors are luxury. Each year, I have frameless shower enclosures installed countless times in clients’ homes. It’s a matter of expectations. Small water drips are not an issue in well-executed frameless shower designs. I hope these thoughts are helpful to you as you are “leaking” into your luxury bathroom remodeling project. Have a wonderful day!

*Featured image credit: Yoko Oda Interior Design, LLC