Why Choose Sliding Shower Doors Over Hinged Shower Enclosures?
When planning a bathroom remodel or if you are just planning to redo your shower, it is always important to keep the little details in mind. One of the most overlooked details in most remodels is what style of shower door works best for a given environment? Many people do not even consider that there is a difference or that there’s a reason for a difference! We will discuss the pros and cons of both hinge door showers and sliding showers below to let you decide which product would work best for you.
Hinged Doors
Hinged door showers are the most common style of shower enclosure. There are hundreds of thousands of homes in the United States that feature just a single hinged door going into their walk in shower. Some styles are framed which feature a framed piece of glass that has a hinge on one side and a magnetic strip on the other so that it provides a more water tight seal. Others are considered “frameless” or “heavy glass” and feature a piece of monolithic glass that has polished edges and door hinges mounted through holes in the glass, these while providing a more luxury feel are less waterproof than their framed counter parts.
Pros
• Large openings, featuring doors that can open up to 90 degrees giving you openings as big as 34″
• Easier to clean, no odd shaped components to clean around.
• Cheaper than their sliding counterparts
Cons
• Frameless versions can explode if you bump a water basin or cabinet hard
• Potential leakage issues over time
• Require more space to open
• Required by building code to at least open outward
Sliding Shower Doors
Sliding shower doors are a fantastic alternative for compact areas because they don’t require space in front of the shower to open and move side to side on a track. Shower doors that slide open might be frameless, framed, or semi-framed. Semi-frameless and frameless doors typically come at a premium, with the latter being placed in luxurious bathrooms. The price of sliding shower doors can vary depending on the type of glass that is offered, as well as the kind of track that the doors operate on.
While sliders do give an advantage in terms of usability for tight spaces, they do come with their own set of disadvantages as well. For example, it is even more important to stay on top of the maintenance for the slider systems than for hinged doors, if build up occurs along the track, eventually the slider will no longer roll properly, impaired by rust and gunk, and the hardware will have to be replaced for it to operate effectively.
Pros
•Safer, less chance of bumping the door into a water basin or cabinet
• Effective for use in tighter bathrooms
• More aesthetically pleasing, and different styles
Cons
• More expensive
• Maintenance is more important
• Tighter openings
Which to Choose
There are a number of factors that should come into play when deciding which type to choose from.:
Firstly, what is the size of the room? Hinge doors typically work better in open spaces where they aren’t hindered by walls.
Are there any obstructions to a hinging door? Sliders can make it possible to ensure that you won’t bump a nearby cabinet or toilet, this is perfect if it is going into a guest bath or hall bath where children often use the shower.
What is the budget for the project? As sliders can be typically as much as 40% more expensive, budget comes into play here.
Are you more comfortable with a larger entrance? Consider going with the hinge option which can feature doors as wide as a 34″ comfortably.
If you are still uncertain, or if you are looking to get an estimate on the cost for a shower that fits your needs, click the button below to get in touch with us.