The Disadvantages of Frameless Shower Doors

They Cost a Small Fortune

• Not only is the engineering more complicated, but also the glass must be of substantial thickness to operate seamlessly outside the framework that keeps thinner panes encased in stabilizing metal. Think long and hard if your bathroom renovation is being done to put your home on the market. There’s a chance you’ll never recoup the extra money you pour into your bathroom remodel project if you choose a pricier door – especially if you’re already over budget when you compare the original estimate to the tab you’re still running up.

They Require Expert Installation

• It’s all a balancing act when that thick slab of cut glass is mounted on the hardware that allows it to pivot smoothly as it’s opened and closed repeatedly over time. Handy folks without plumbing credentials regularly replace or install 50-pound framed shower doors using basic tools and enough common sense to place and secure components, but on the other hand, frameless shower doors that weigh much more need TLC and EXP – that’s expertise – to do the installation job right. In most cases, that expertise comes with a heftier contractor fee, too.

Everything Costs Extra

• Purchase a pre-framed glass door retrofitted with handles, grip bars and built in attachments, but one of the facts of custom design is that you have the luxury of picking out – and paying a premium for – fittings that sell separately from the shower door. Imagine falling in love with the door handle on the model shower that captivated your interest; it’s shaped like a beautifully sculpted swan and you can’t imagine owning the door without the handle. Welcome to the world of extras. Designer fittings, sophisticated pivoting hardware and custom features all come with hefty price tags, so add another couple of cha-chings to your frameless shower door adventure.

There Are No Water Leakage Guarantees

• Even the most beautifully engineered all-glass shower installation portends more leaks and sprays than a framed shower door. Fact is, frameless doors don’t “seal” well. There’s no way to install magnetic strips and rubber flanges that prevent even the best-mounted showerhead from disbursing water here, there and everywhere. On average, there’s a quarter-inch gap between door and wall on typical frameless shower installations that can’t be avoided. Frameless glass door hinges must rest at a 90, 135 or 180 degree angle when the door is closed, so it’s impossible to avoid some water escaping from the enclosure, even if your contractor knows his stuff.