Frameless shower doors are becoming increasingly popular today when remodeling bathrooms. There is nothing worse than stepping into a bathroom and having the door curtain fall right through the front door onto the floor. This creates an instant barrier between you and your shower. You can often find these doors in styles that match contemporary bathrooms like clean cut and chrome designs.
Frameless doors come in the same sturdy glass but have a thicker, smoother pane of glass on the inside to prevent chipping. Hidden grab bars, snaps, and door controls are placed in the center of the frame and are along the edges and corners using a thick, clear silicone to seal the entire glass. The outside of the frame is covered with a clear polyurethane coating to help prevent scratches. The coating does not interfere with the operation of the tub and shower as it is impenetrable by water.
A frameless shower door can be installed by simply unscrewing the hardware from the showerhead and then carefully pulling the door out of the way. The main piece of hardware is located along the top of the glass and requires two people to properly perform the installation. The other piece of hardware is located over the drainage hole and is secured with an additional two screws. After removing the outer cover, you will need to remove three pieces of the trim. The trim pieces are not affected by the installation process and only require two people.
Once the trim is removed, you will need to locate the screws that secure the metal frame to the outside. These fasteners are also called “nut grips”. Once the nuts are removed, it is necessary to remove the trim around the edge of the glass. This will give you access to the metal frame. Once the metal frame is unscrewed, you will notice that two long pieces resemble braces. You must turn these pieces 90 degrees to the right and left to loosen them from the sides of the frameless shower door.
Once the two long pieces of metal are loosened, use pliers to pull the two apart using the leverage provided. You will find that this task is easier if you start using both hands to assist you. Once the framework is loosened from the sides, you will need to align the frameless shower door in-stock using a screwdriver.
When installing either frameless shower doors or traditional shower doors, it is necessary to use accurate measurements. To determine your correct in-stock measurement, take out your measuring tape, and measure from the top to the bottom of the frame. Use a mirror to ensure that you are taking the proper measurement. It is also helpful to mark the top and bottom of the frame so you can determine which measurements fit best. If you are using either plastic or metal doors, you will want to make sure that the distance between the top and bottom of the frame is at least six inches, where it is wider than the width of the doorway itself.
Once you have your measurements taken, you will need to purchase the appropriate frame type. If you are using metal, you will need to determine how thick you would like your in-stock frame to be. For example, oval-shaped frames will tend to fit tightly on narrow walls while rectangular and square ones may fit better on wider doors. If using plastic or composite materials, consider the overall size of your bathroom so that you can ensure that the frameless shower door will not be noticeable. You will also want to choose whether you will have interior or exterior frameless shower doors so you can match the finish of your fixtures and cabinetry.
One of the most important pros of using a frameless shower door is that it offers an unparalleled aesthetic appeal to any bathroom. This type of door can dramatically change the way a bathroom looks and feels while also improving the energy efficiency of the room. The additional space that it provides allows more privacy as well, which is especially useful if your bathroom is attached to your home. The pros are many, but you will likely only experience the greatest benefits when installing it yourself. There are plenty of do-it-yourself guides on the market today that will walk you through the entire process, making it easy for even the most inexperienced do-it-yourselfers to get a functional and beautiful new enclosure.