Semi Frameless vs. Frameless Shower

Semi-Frameless

• A semi-frameless shower door keeps the appearance of framing materials to a minimum. For example, instead of using wide metal framing for corners or around the shower door, in a semi-frameless shower the framing might only be one inch wide on the corners. The same is true for the door, in that the framing will be narrow, or the door may be frameless. A semi-frameless shower is typically less expensive than a frameless shower. A semi-frameless shower can be placed right behind a bathtub or installed as a stand-alone unit that is not attached to the tub. In most cases, the shower is made of solid glass, as opposed to plexiglass, because the shower needs to be constructed with a material that is strong.

Frameless

• A frameless shower conveys a sleek and ultramodern look in a bathroom. Hardware and any metal objects are kept from view. The goal is to create a showy display of glass, and glass only. As a result, you also get to show off every shower fixture from the shower head to the knobs for adjusting water temperature and flow. This makes a frameless shower a good way to go if you’ve invested in high-end fixtures, multiple shower heads and distinctive tile choices that should be seen and displayed for their look. Glass quality and depth is also important when designing a frameless shower environment.

Similarities

• Semi-frameless and frameless showers can be installed behind a tub, or as separate units. When they are installed behind a tub, they have an L-shape or a “window-box” shape. L-shape showers are also called corner showers. The glass on L-shape showers faces away from the back wall and one sidewall, hence the L-shape name. Window-box showers are also called alcove showers. They have glass on three sides. The fourth side is the back wall of the shower and is typically tiled. You can also be creative in the type of glass you use for either a semi-frameless or a frameless shower. For example, instead of using all clear glass, you can use etched or frosted glass with patterns or designs for a peek-a-boo effect. Thick, architectural-quality glass, ranging from one-quarter to one-half inch in thickness, is often chosen to make the shower strong and sturdy and to help prevent leaks.

Differences

• A frameless shower gets you as close as possible to having a shower that is entirely made of glass. Doors pivot and are void of handles and hardware on frameless showers, while doors on a semi-frameless shower might have a thin metal edge along the door and on the edge where the door meets the facing wall. You can also opt for a door-less design on a frameless shower to accentuate the all-glass and minimal metal appearance. Frameless showers have metal or stainless steel L-shaped clips on the floor, typically at a midpoint, and at the top of the shower to support the glass. Semi-frameless showers typically have an L-shaped metal frame that runs from the base of the floor to the top of the glass.