Frameless Vs. Framed Shower Surrounds

Construction

• Framed shower surrounds have an exposed metal frame that holds a glass door and outer shower walls in place. The support the frame provides allows contractors to install lightweight glass for the shower surround, which is less expensive. Higher-priced glass that's 3/8 to 1/2 inch thick may be used for frameless shower surrounds. Installers often use clear silicone to seal the wall joints of frameless structures to avoid adding any metal supports to the surround.

Decor

• Frameless designs draw less attention to the shower and allow homeowners to play up decorative details in their bathrooms. For instance, frameless showers with clear glass surrounds reveal intricate tile work on a shower wall. Frameless surrounds are usually easier to keep clean. Moisture gets trapped in the metal tracks of framed designs, which encourages the buildup of mildew. Metal frames also may rust at some point, which makes it difficult to keep the shower surround from looking dingy no matter how often it’s cleaned.

Leaks

• Leaks may be a problem with some frameless shower designs, especially if an installer aims shower controls toward an area that's vulnerable to leaks. For example, placing body sprayers near a frameless shower door causes a force of water to pound at the door's unsealed seams and leak out. Framed surrounds tend to do a better job at preventing leaks. Frameless enclosures usually lose some water no matter where the shower controls are located, however.

Steam

• Frameless showers that also include steam generators may not retain as much heat as framed versions. In some cases, a removable clear strip that fits the shower door may come with a frameless surround to prevent most of the steam from escaping. Nonetheless, a totally vapor-proof surround may not be ideal due to the potential for increasing mildew growth.