A frameless glass shower enclosure is made up of 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch tempered and polished safety glass. This glass has greater strength and does not require heavy metal framing around it. A frameless shower gives an all-glass look to create a more “open” appearance. Frameless glass showers can be used in many different bathrooms styles, from conventional elegance to minimalist chic. Call us today for your custom glass shower doors.

A frameless glass shower enclosure is aesthetically superior to any other shower solution because it highlights the tile and other bathroom features. Frameless showers do not have thick metal framing. In addition, frameless glass shower doors are easier to clean because they don’t have metal framing. You only have to clean the glass and minimal perimeter support. For these reasons as well, frameless custom glass shower doors tend to last longer than one with a framed shower door.

A framed shower is constructed with thinner 3/16 inch or 1/4 inch glass. It relies on a metal frame to strengthen the enclosure. Framed glass showers can be designed to have an elegant look and by using a complementary finish on the frames, the shower can become a beautiful centerpiece of the bathroom. When you need wholesale glass supply for your new shower, be sure to contact our team.

Depending on the size and design, a framed shower could cost less because it uses thinner glass and is easier for a trained technician to install. A framed shower can also be the centerpiece of a bathroom by combining the finish on the frame with beautiful shower hardware. Contact us today for custom glass shower doors for your framed shower.

While framed showers have thinner glass measuring 3/16” or 1/4” thick, frameless showers use architectural glass that is 3/8” or 1/2” thick. Framed showers also have a metal frame surrounding the custom shower glass doors while frameless showers have minimal metal supports. This makes framed showers a bit harder to clean while frameless showers don’t have framing to clean around.

The first decision you'll have to make is on the style of your custom glass shower doors. There are a lot of glass styles to choose from but the most popular are:

•  Clear Glass: We recommend this for darker tiled bathrooms. It has an inherent slight green tint to it which you’ll notice on the edge of the glass 
• Low-Iron Glass (such as Starphire): This higher transparency glass allows the true tile color to show through. We recommend this for white or light tiled showers. Low-iron glass provides a truly elegant shower appearance.
• Frosted Glass: This partially opaque glass is made from acid-etching or sandblasting and can be done on the entire glass pane or made into a design.
• Rain Glass: This is a factory-made design that runs the glass to add texture and privacy to your shower.

You'll also need to decide on the glass thickness type. For frameless showers, the strongest glass we offer is 1/2" architectural glass, which is recommended for frameless showers. 3/8” glass is also available for frameless showers. We can make a recommendation on which thickness to choose based on your shower design. For framed showers, we recommend 3/16” or 1/4” glass because the glass is lighter but the doors are very sturdy given the metal frame.

The next decision will be the type of glass shower door hinges you want:

• Pivot hinge: For those who want the largest amount of glass surface in a frameless shower, pivot hinges are the best. Pivot hinges mount to the top and bottom corners of your shower door and are hardly noticeable.
• Side-mount hinge: For those who are looking to bring an accent into their shower design, side-mount hinges can be the answer. Side-mount hinges are notched into the sides of the shower door, so the hinges are visible.
• Glass to glass hinges: These hinges allow you to connect two panels of glass for a seamless look and open the glass door panel 90 degrees.

When it comes to hinge design, there is a large selection of hinge styles to choose from. In general, there are two basic styles: square hinges and rounded edge hinges. Square hinges tend to be suited better for contemporary looks while rounded hinges lend themselves to a more traditional look.

Another decision you'll have to make is what type of connecting hardware clips you want to use. Glass-to-glass metal clips are only about two inches wide and are notched directly into glass panels. When placed correctly, metal clips provide ample support. U-Channels are metal channels that provide continuous support of the glass, especially heavy glass. Like hinges, U-channels come in decorative finishes that can be matched to shower hardware and are often chosen because they bring style and definition to a shower.

The configuration is the last major decision you'll have to make. Your glass shower configuration will first be determined by your existing bathroom space and where your plumbing is now unless you are completely remodeling or newly building your bathroom. We have decades of experience helping homeowners plan the best shower configuration for their bathroom and we’ll be delighted to help you find a configuration that best fits your bathroom.

Most shower doors are 24 to 30 inches wide. The widest door is 36 inches. Anything wider than 28 inches will require heavy-duty hinges and have additional costs. You may want a door wider than 26 inches or a combination of a panel and door depending on how you and your family use the shower. We can help with that decision when we provide your wholesale glass supply and work with you on the shower design.

We recommend a frameless glass enclosure to be 72 to 78 inches in height but we can make a solid recommendation when we see your bathroom configuration. Contact us today to get started on your wholesale glass supply and design needs.