Shower Doors

Tired of your shower curtain? If you want to upgrade your bathroom, consider installing a shower door. These sleek, appealing doors are perfect for adding an air of sophistication to any bathroom!

Any Style for Every Shower 

There are all kinds of bathroom configurations out there, and different ones call for different styles of shower doors. Fortunately, there’s a door for every shower!

Dual and Single Sliding Shower Doors

Sliding shower doors offer you an elegant and space-saving solution. Single sliding doors include two glass panels: one fixed and one sliding. Double sliding glass doors have two sliding panels.

Advantages of sliding shower doors include:

• Space saving
• High durability
• Easy maintenance
• Versatile installation options

Sliding doors look nice and make getting in and out of the shower easy, so they’re a good choice for many people!

Frameless

Frameless shower doors are not surrounded by any type of frame. Instead, they use thick panels of glass with smooth edges.

Advantages of frameless shower doors include:

• Giving your bathroom a look of modern luxury
• Have a very long lifespan
• A sleek, modern aesthetic ideal for contemporary homes
• Easier cleaning compared to other shower types
• Doors that can swing both outward and inward

With a frameless shower, you can make the most of the space in your bathroom. These doors can be tricky to install, so it’s generally wise to hire a professional!

Framed, Frameless, and Semi-Frameless Shower Doors Explained

If you aren’t familiar with shower doors, it’s useful to know the difference between these types:

• Framed: Includes a metal frame surrounding the glass
• Frameless: Has no frame around the glass, offering a sleek look
• Semi-Frameless: Some parts of the shower are framed, and others are frameless

Frameless panels are some of the most popular, as they give your bathroom a luxurious look. Framed showers can give your bathroom a vintage-inspired aesthetic, and semi-frameless are often the most cost-effective.

Pivot Doors

If there’s plenty of room inside and outside of your shower, a pivot door may be a good choice. It can swing in either direction to open.

Advantages of pivot shower doors include:

• Easier to clean than hinged doors
• Multi-direction swing makes it easier to get in and out of the shower
• Versatile installation
• High durability and stability
• Cost-effective option
• Compatibility with walk-in showers

Pivot shower doors are some of the most common options, so you’ll likely have plenty of models to choose from!

Hinged Doors

Hinged shower doors only open in one direction. Like pivot doors, they need enough space to swing open.

Advantages of hinged shower doors include:

• Offer a more upscale look than sliding doors
• Easy access
• Versatile design
• Compatibility with bathtubs
• Better water containment

Hinged bathtub shower doors are great for creating a luxury look, and they’re also easier to install than most types of shower doors.

Finishes/Materials: 

Although some have more than others, every type of shower door has some hardware. Here are a few of the finishes you can choose from:

• Bronze: This is usually stainless steel with a bronze finish
• Oil-Rubbed Bronze: Oil-rubbed bronze shower door hardware has a special finish that gives it the look of aging bronze
• Stainless Steel: Best at protecting against corrosion
• Chrome: A good choice if you want extra-shiny hardware

In many cases, bathrooms with a modern look feature stainless steel or chrome hardware and shower control panels. Bronze shower door hardware is great for creating a vintage-inspired look.

Shower Door vs. Screen

If you need to save space and want something more affordable, you might want to consider a shower screen. Unlike a door, which is a solid panel, a shower screen has multiple hinged glass panels. Screens are also called bi-fold or tri-fold doors, depending on the number of panels.

Full Shower Enclosure

If you like the look of glass shower doors, you might want to upgrade to a glass shower enclosure! These enclosures include glass panels. They’re often placed in a corner of the bathroom.

Full enclosures can make your bathroom look bigger, and they’re an ideal choice if you want a modern look. However, if you’re budget-minded, their higher cost can be a downside.

Other Important Considerations

Before selecting a shower door, here are some other things to keep in mind:

Glass Thickness

According to most experts, your shower glass must be at least ⅜ inch thick to prevent breakage. However, if you want your shower to look extra impressive, go for thicker ½ inch glass!

Glass Texture

If you want a little more privacy in the shower, you might consider textured glass. Frosted glass is an option, but if you want more light, consider “rain” glass (a streakier texture) or hammered glass instead.

What Shower Doors Are Easiest to Install?

Generally, framed shower doors are the easiest to install. All you need to do is connect the frame to the rest of the shower.

What Shower Doors Are Easiest to Clean?

Because they don’t have seals that can grow mold and accumulate soap buildup, frameless bathroom shower doors are the easiest to clean.

Quality You Can Trust

At Seconds and Surplus, you don’t have to sacrifice quality for affordability. We take pride in offering top-of-the-line shower doors, bathtubs, and bath accessories for less. Check out our selection!