Choosing the Best Shower Enclosure for Your Bathroom

Whether you’re upgrading your dated shower doors or starting a bathroom remodel from scratch in your new home, choosing the right shower enclosure is a big decision. Shower enclosures are important to both the overall look and functionality of your bathroom. When starting the process of looking for a new shower enclosure, here are the main factors that you should consider.

Budget

The first step of any home improvement project is determining a realistic budget. Establishing a budget you feel comfortable with helps you know exactly what your options are, and on the flipside, which options are out of your price range.

If you’re in a situation where you need to finance your project instead of paying it all at once, we offer flexible and affordable options from GreenSky Credit. The application is quick and easy. Applicants are typically approved in 15 minutes or less.

Space

The size of your bathroom is an important factor in deciding on a type of shower enclosure. For example, a more compact bathroom is an ideal environment for a space-saving bypass enclosure. However, a larger bathroom could benefit from having a deluxe frameless enclosure as its main design element.

Before shopping for a shower enclosure, take accurate measurements of your bathroom and share these measurements with your salesman. They’ll help you determine which enclosures will work best, given the amount of space you have to work with.

Types of shower enclosures

Once you determine your budget and the amount of space you have available, you can start narrowing down the type of shower enclosure that’s best for your bathroom. At True View, we offer bypass, semi-frameless, frameless, and Hydroslide shower enclosures.

Bypass

Bypass enclosures are a great way to create an open and airy feel in any bathroom, no matter the size. Since the doors slide instead of opening outward, bypass enclosures can save you space, especially in a compact bathroom.

We have a large selection of bypass enclosures that can be custom sized to fit any space. We’re also able to accommodate for inline panels, which is ideal for extra-large width showers. Regardless of the size you select, bypass enclosures are a flexible, cost-effective option for any bathroom.

Semi-frameless

A semi-frameless enclosure can provide the same elegance of a frameless enclosure, at a lower price point. Semi-frameless enclosures utilize a metal frame around the entire structure, without framing the door itself. This allows the glass to remain a prominent part of the design and gives you the ability to customize your shower with premium metal finishes.

Frameless

Frameless enclosures are sleek and modern, providing a striking accent to any bathroom. As the name suggests, these enclosures are constructed without a frame, maximizing the use of glass and minimizing the use of metal framing. This gives the shower a minimal and premium look and feel.

Hydroslide

For a luxurious shower with unmatched appeal, there’s no better choice than a Hydroslide enclosure. Hydroslide enclosures are great options for compact areas because of their sliding doors, and can accommodate a wide range of designs. The premium look of a Hydroslide shower invokes the latest in European luxury. Similar to frameless enclosures, Hydroslide enclosures have minimal metal framing.

Style

Once you’ve determined the type of shower enclosure that you want, it’s time to focus on the details. Your choice of glass thickness, glass design, and finishes can influence the style of your enclosure. The goal here is to customize and curate an enclosure that fits flawlessly into the design of your bathroom.

Glass thickness

When selecting a shower enclosure for your bathroom, it’s important to consider glass thickness. The thickness of your enclosure not only influences its style, but also impacts its structural stability and durability.

At True View, our shower enclosures come with three different levels of glass thickness:

• 3/8” glass: This is the minimum level of glass thickness that will provide the stability your shower enclosure needs.
• 1/4” glass: This glass has a more substantial look and feel than 3/8” glass, and provides additional stability to the structure of the enclosure.
• 1/2” glass: This glass offers the highest level of durability, as well as visual appeal.

Choosing a glass thickness for your enclosure may come down to personal preference or your budget. Thinner glass options are more cost effective, while thicker glass has a more premium and visually impressive look.

The optimal glass thickness for your shower will also depend on how much weight your surrounding walls can bear. If heavier glass systems are mounted on weak walls, serious damage can occur. Before deciding on a shower glass thickness, consult with a professional to determine which option is right for your individual circumstances.

Glass design

The design of your enclosure’s glass can help it fit into the overall aesthetic of your bathroom. Glass designs can also have functional benefits like increased privacy and seclusion. At True View, we offer a variety of specialty glass designs for your shower enclosure, including:

• Frosted privacy glass
• Flutex glass
• Rain glass
• Cross reed glass
• Bamboo glass

Frosted privacy glass is one of our most popular options, as it provides privacy without sacrificing the premium look of the glass. More intricate designs such as rain, cross reed, or bamboo glass can help your enclosure stand out as the main design element of your bathroom. When you visit our showroom, you can see the glass we have available in person, so you can make the right choice for your project.

Finishes

For framed and semi-frameless enclosures, customizable metal finishes can add a touch of luxury.  It’s important to make sure that the finishes you choose for your shower enclosure coordinate well with the finishes of your faucets, cabinets, and other elements of the bathroom.

At True View, we offer a variety of premium finishes, including:

• Brushed bronze
• Chrome
• Gold
• Polished nickel
• Satin silver

When choosing a metal finish for your enclosure, consider the amount of maintenance and upkeep each finish needs. Polished finishes are elegant and striking, but require frequent cleaning to make sure they don’t show spots or hard water deposits. Brushed and matte finishes are lower-maintenance options that don’t show spots as easily.

How we can help

Do you have your dream shower in mind? Or, do you need help with design ideas and logistics? No matter what the case, our experts at True View can help. With over a decade of experience, we’ll be there to walk you through any shower enclosure project, from luxurious to budget-friendly and everything in between. Beginning with initial designs, all the way to final measurements and installations, we’re on the job from start to finish. When you work with True View on your shower enclosure project, you’ll enjoy a professional and quality experience. Contact us today to get started.