Frameless Shower Enclosure Design Options

Enclosure Kits

• Frameless shower enclosures are available as enclosure kits that include frameless glass doors and walls, as well as a shower tray made of acrylic or fiberglass. These kits generally are designed to be installed against existing finished walls, which form the back of the shower enclosure. In certain cases, the kit can be installed directly on a tiled shower floor rather than on a prefabricated shower tray. Kits are available in rectangular configurations or with a space-saving rounded or angled front wall.

Custom Showers

• Because of their relative simplicity, frameless showers are well-suited to custom design applications. Walls can be oriented at a wide range of angles and along curves to fit into awkward or unusual spaces, and the layout of walls can be arranged to incorporate seating and other fixtures. The visual openness of frameless walls makes tight spaces seem lighter and larger, and uncluttered sight lines help to highlight high-quality materials and fixtures, making these showers especially appropriate in high-end, contemporary bathroom designs.

Frameless Doors

• Frameless shower doors can be used as an elegant final touch for a luxurious shower enclosure. Showers constructed of tile or stone walls may be enclosed with frameless glass doors, and kits featuring partial walls and swinging frameless doors are available to enclose bathtubs. Most frameless doors are hinged and swing open, but certain designs incorporate frameless sliding mechanisms.

Considerations

• The construction of frameless showers imposes certain design limitations. Frameless doors and seams between wall panels are susceptible to leaks, so shower sprays should be directed away from these areas. Surfaces of seats and shower curbs should be sloped so that water runs off of them back into the shower, and the angle where glass doors and walls meet finished walls should be as close to 90 degrees as possible to protect against leaks and insure proper operation of the door. The design of custom walls is flexible, but all glass panels should be at least four inches in width.