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One of the first considerations in choosing a shower enclosure is to decide if you want a framed or frameless shower door. Framed shower doors are made of thiner, less expensive glass, and so are more economical. Frameless shower doors are made of thicker glass which does not need the support of a frame, but they are more expensive.
Frameless shower doors offer several advantages. Most notably, with no metal frame, there are fewer places to trap water and for mold and mildew to grow. Another consideration is appearance. Frameless shower doors have a sleek, refined look that framed doors lack.
As mentioned before, price is a factor, so you will have to choose which style of shower enclosure you prefer. Only you can decide if the advantages of a frameless shower enclosure are worth the extra price.
Another factor to consider when choosing a shower enclosure is the obscurity level of the glass. Most people prefer glass that has been obscured by clouding or patterns in the glass. This gives one an added degree of privacy when showering. However, you may want a clear glass construction, if you had, for example, a view of the mountains out your window, and you wanted to enjoy it while you were showering.
If you choose to get a framed shower enclosure design, you'll have to choose a finish for the metal, also. Generally, you should have the finish of the metal in your shower enclosure match the fixtures in your bathroom. Remember that with most shower enclosures, the metal finish will have nothing to do with what metal the product is constructed with.
Visual design is another factor to consider when choosing a shower enclosure. Nowadays, you can choose from all kinds of unusual designs, including circular shower enclosures, etc. It's up to you how you want your bathroom to look!
Your home gives you the opportunity to express yourself with each room providing visitors with a little insight into your thoughts and emotions and with each room being as important as the last in creating absolute perfection. Your bathroom is a key room as not only is design important, but practicality, since a great amount of time is spent here. Your bathroom or en suite is typically your first port of all call in the morning and your last port of call in the evening therefore the products you choose must stand the test of time.
Since your shower tends to be your first port of call every morning it is important that you have a space where you feel refreshed and comforted, ready for the day ahead, though the biggest problem you will face when buying a new shower enclosure is choice. With so many styles available it can be difficult to know what style would suit best and most importantly, an enclosure that will fit your available space. Before you start looking through brochures and wandering around showrooms you must first be sure of the space you have to work with and the possible shapes of enclosures available to you, from a standard 760mm x 760mm square to a rectangle to even quadrants and offset quadrants.
Shower enclosures can be broken down into sections in that of enclosure doors, which seal off a recessed area, full enclosures including door and side panel(s) and finally, for those with the space, walk in enclosures, which can be seen as a wet room with side panel or a full walk in product.
Enclosure Doors
Enclosure doors seal off a recessed area of the bathroom or en suite providing a tiled cubicle without the need for a side panel(s), typically built at the bathroom design stage as a means of utilising available space, thereby not taking up valuable floor space that could be used for a bath. Typical enclosure doors include the following:
Sliding Doors – As the name suggests the door is split into two with the right hand section sliding to the left. This style of door ensures easy access to the enclosure whilst not being a hindrance to the room in opening outwards, which causes problems in some enclosures where space is a problem.
In-Fold Doors – In-Fold doors (or Bi-Fold doors as they are also known) are a concertina effect and again, like sliding doors, ensure that they make the most of the space and don't become obstructive due to them not opening outwards. This can be considered more practical than a sliding door as it provides a greater amount of space to enter and exit the enclosure.
Pivot Doors – A Pivot door is one that opens outwards away from the enclosure, just like any standard door, ensuring complete access to the enclosure. This type of door however can only be used where you have the necessary space to open the door outwards fully.
Enclosure Side Panels
Side panels can be used in conjunction with shower doors in order to create a full enclosure where a recessed option in your bathroom or en suite is not available. You have the ability to create an enclosure that suits the space you have and the style you want, with a modern and stylish enclosure providing you with that touch of class. Side panels come in an array of styles and sizes, each being linked with a shower door to provide a full and matching enclosure. For those of you looking for a different type of enclosure door in order to make the most of your space, the Corner Entry enclosure, as the name suggests, opens at the corner, allowing you to make the most of your space, compared to other types of doors that require entry at either side of the enclosure, which is not always possible.
Walk In Shower Enclosures
For those of you with the space you can opt for the ultimate luxury in a Walk In Shower Enclosure, a touch of elegance to brighten up any showering environment. Walk In enclosures can simply be a panel on a tiled floor, a panel attached to a shower tray or a full enclosure, their use dependant on personal style and available space. Typical Walk In enclosure panels start at 1500mm in length providing you with ample space to enjoy your shower. Prices are higher than that of the conventional enclosure and door though you are paying for that luxury item which will be the focal point of your bathroom or en suite.