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Framed, Semi-Framed vs Frameless Shower Door: What is Your Best Option?



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Glass shower doors can help transform your basic and boring bathroom into something glamorous and sophisticated. Choosing the best shower doors for your bathroom can be confusing since there are factors that you need to consider before actually buying them.

From the types of glass shower doors alone, you are left with three options: framed shower door, semi-framed shower door, and frameless shower door.

In this short guide, we will give you an in-depth discussion on the different types of glass shower doors so you should know which one works best for your bathroom and your references.

Differences of the Three Shower Door Types

  1. Framed Shower Door

This type of shower enclosure has a heavy-duty metal frame around its edges and the door opening of each panel. Its frames work best to compliment if your bathroom has some textured patterns.

One of the features of framed enclosure that is more advantageous than the two is its stability. Frameless enclosures are usually made of thinner glass. We all know that glasses are easy to break which can be risky and can cause injury. With the help of an aluminum frame around the glass, it makes the door more steady and durable, thus reducing the risk of shattering.

  1. Semi-Frameless Shower Door

Semi-frameless enclosures have metal framings on the top and the bottom part of the glass. Usually, the opening panels also don’t have frames. This type of enclosure is usually used for someone who wants to incorporate their bathroom with less to no obstruction to the view into the shower.

The metal framings on the top and bottom of the glass are there to control the dripping of the water to the floor. And since not the totality of the glass is framed, this type of enclosure is usually made of thicker tempered glass.

  1. Frameless Shower Door

This type of enclosure is best for bathrooms with minimalist aesthetic choices. It is usually used to provide a clearer view of what’s inside of your shower. Since the glass is frameless, it highlights the tiles and shower head more, exuding its high-end features.

Frameless enclosures are mostly made out of tempered glass, which is way thicker than what is used for framed shower doors. Since it has no supporting metal frame, it has a thicker pane to make it more durable.

Best Type of Glass Door Based on Categories

  1. Installation

When it comes to installation, framed enclosures are the easiest to install among the three. It is because the glass is thinner and much lighter than what is used for the frameless ones. One factor that makes it easy to install is the metal framing where the glass sits.

On the other hand, frameless shower doors are more labor-intensive since they are heavy. The clips used to hang the door should be sturdy enough to prevent the glass door from sagging over time.

  1. Costs

Evidently, using a framed enclosure is cheaper than frameless ones. One framed glass door costs around $200 to $350 and the installation costs around $100. Meanwhile, the frameless enclosure costs approximately around the range of  $600 to $800. The installation cost runs from $300 to $400 approximately.

The semi-frameless door costs around the same as frameless shower doors since they don’t have metal framings surrounding them, which adds to the difficulty of installation.

  1. Lifespan

Since framed enclosures have metal framings around the glass, they are more prone to collect mineral deposits that can cause corrosion. But this risk can be prevented if the metal frames are covered with powder coating.

Frameless shower doors don’t usually develop problems because they have no metal frames surrounding them that collect minerals. Frameless enclosures are usually made from tempered glass, which is way thicker and stronger than what is used on the framed ones. If properly taken care of, this type of shower enclosure can last up to 30 years.

Remodel Your Shower Room into Something Elegant!

We’ve discussed that adding shower enclosures in your shower room adds sophistication and elegance, further enhancing the aesthetics of your bathroom & Bathroom remodeling. Both, framed, semi-framed, and frameless shower doors serve their own purpose. It’s just a matter of taste preferences of what works best for your bathroom.

Not all bathrooms are the same but you can always find a way to customize your glass enclosures. If you are looking for custom framed, semi-frameless, and frameless shower doors, you can call your Coastal Closet and Shower or the closest glass shower door provider near you.

Not all bathrooms are the same but you can always find a way to customize your glass enclosures. If you are looking for custom framed, semi-frameless, and frameless shower doors, you can call your Coastal Closet and Shower or the closest glass shower door provider near you. Cypress Woods Conway SC  

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