If you have decided to go for custom glass shower doors instead of a curtain for your shower or bathtub, you still have a final choice to make. Would it be frameless or framed? In general, both of these shower glass enclosures are popular alternatives to curtains as they are more effective at keeping water from splashing out, providing a more luxurious look, and are easier to maintain. Moreover, unlike shower curtains, they don’t draw in the cold air as you shower and don’t pose potential health problems caused by PVC liners. Now, to help you decide which option to take as your custom glass shower doors, let’s differentiate the two shower enclosures.
Framed Shower Doors
Typically, a framed shower glass door has metal frames for support and structure that are installed against the shower walls and connected to the base where the doors are hung. Compared with their frameless counterparts, the glass used in framed doors is thinner, ranging from ⅛ inches to ¼ inches. Also, they tend to be available in sizes that have limited options for custom glass shower doors, depending on the specific dimensions of your shower area. If you still decide to use framed shower doors but prefer a more modern look, then a semi-frameless door would be a perfect option for you. They have a partial metal frame for further support and expose at least one edge of the glass.
Frameless Shower Doors
Since they do not come with metal frames, frameless custom glass shower doors are made with thicker tempered safety glass. They get their support from installation mounts and metal hinges instead. Without the frame, these shower enclosures provide a much sleeker, transparent, and cleaner appeal. Better yet, they are easily customizable which makes them a perfect option if you have a unique shower space.