Why Choose Shower Doors for Your Bathroom Remodel
If you’re in the process of making decisions for a bathroom remodel in your New Hampshire home, you’ll need to choose what enclosure you want for your bathtub or shower. While many people love shower curtains for their ability to soften a bathroom and for the many patterns and colors available, more and more people are choosing shower doors. Read on to discover why and to see if shower doors might be the best option for you.
They are Low-Maintenance
Unlike shower curtains that grow mold and mildew and need washing or replacing, shower doors are easy to clean. Simply squeegee them down after you shower or wipe them with a soft cloth and glass cleaner. Shower doors also keep your floor cleaner because they keep the soapy water in the shower where it belongs: no leaks, no puddles, no mess.
They are Versatile
Shower doors go with any type of decor. They have a minimalist, clean look that can lean modern or traditional, depending on what the rest of your bathroom looks like. You can get shower doors installed for a tub/shower combo, a walk-in shower, or a curbed shower, for just about any size and shape you need.
We love FW Webb’s prefabricated shower doors, especially the Maax and Fluerco brands. There are endless design options, a variety of finishes, and lots of size options available.
They Highlight Your Shower
If you have stone shower panels like Swanstone or Syn-Mar, you want to show them off. They’re beautiful and make a statement in your bathroom. Clear glass shower doors allow you to highlight your stone panels or tile work, letting the shower design really show. If you don’t want your shower on full display, you can still have shower doors instead of curtains. There are etched glass options available, like these striking raindrop-designed ones from Maax.
They Make Your Bathroom Appear Larger
If you have a small bathroom and want to make it appear larger, shower doors are the way to go. Instead of stopping your eye, as an opaque curtain does, shower doors draw your eye in farther to the back of the shower wall. Because they don’t act as a visual barrier, the room appears larger. Your shower or shower/tub combo is the biggest single element of your bathroom, and if you can make it all but disappear, you’ve gained a lot of visual space.
They’re More Eco-Friendly
Shower curtains need replacing eventually–sometimes fairly often, depending on the humidity in the area and how well the bathroom is ventilated. Some shower curtains are made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which is linked to all kinds of health problems. But even PVC-free shower curtains and liners are still often made with forms of plastic, which is harmful to the environment. Glass shower doors do not need to be replaced and so will last a very long time, and, unlike shower curtains and liners, won’t end up in the landfill.
They Add to Your Home’s Resale Value
Because of their clean, modern look, glass shower doors increase your home’s value. They look trendy and yet timeless, they complement any bathroom style, and they look high-end. A bathroom remodel can give you an ROI (return on investment) of around 60%, and glass shower doors add to the appeal for most home buyers if you decide to sell.
They’re More Accessible
With more and more homeowners deciding to stay in their homes as long as possible, the ability to age in place has become very important. Making a bathroom accessible to a wheelchair or someone with limited mobility is one of the most important ways to support aging in place. If the bathroom remodel includes a curbless shower with glass doors, it will be easy for an elderly homeowner or relative to navigate.
Shower Doors We Love
FW Webb sells a myriad of prefabricated shower doors that fit any budget, design preference, and need. Some of our favorite brands are Maax and Fleurco.
Maax Shower Doors
Like all shower doors, Maax designs are made of safe, tempered glass. They come in a variety of designs, finishes, and functions like
Clear glass or raindrop patterned.
Sliding doors, pivot doors, and even square sliding doors for a corner shower.
Round, quarter-circle doors for a softer look in a corner shower.
Brushed nickel, chrome, dark bronze, or matte black finishes for handles and frames. There’s even a striking matte black with brushed gold detail.
Framed and frameless options.
Fluerco Doors
Fluerco designs are modern and clean. Like Maax, Fluerco offers many options and finishes.
The Latitude line: gorgeous doors with a silk-screened grid design. They’re the perfect blend of striking and easy to care for. The grid comes in a variety of colors like matte black or bronze.
Clear frameless or framed doors.
Sliding or hinged doors.
Two-sided shower doors (framed or frameless), where two sides of the shower are walls and the other two are glass.
Tub or shower doors.
Framed or Frameless?
If you’ve decided to go with shower doors for your bathroom remodel, the next decision is whether you want framed or frameless doors. There are benefits and drawbacks to each.
Framed doors are generally more inexpensive than frameless, partly because they are easier to install. They also are less likely to leak over time, because of the rubber seals connecting the glass to the frame and the frame to the tub or shower pan.
Frameless doors open up your space even more than framed doors because there is no frame to establish the shower boundary. They are visually appealing and on-trend, and they look modern and clean. They carry a reduced risk of mold and mildew because they lack the rubber seals that framed doors use, so they are easier to clean.
Ready to Get Started?
We can help you in make decisions about glass shower doors and every other aspect of your remodel.
If you’re considering shower doors and want more information, give us a call. We’re happy to discuss your bathroom dreams and help you bring your vision into reality.
