Adding a shower is one of the top items on most homeowner’s dream list for bathroom renovations. The ultimate shower design has a glass enclosure and multi-level spray heads. But for this article we will focus on the enclosure.
Glass shower enclosures are easy to clean and help prevent water spills in to the room. But there are some things you need to know to ensure that the enclosure is well made and won’t leak.
A few good design tips include:
Do you want a Shower Curb?
Shower curbs do serve a purpose which is to prevent water spilling into the bathroom. However they are a matter of personal preference. If the home has an elderly or disabled resident you may want to forgo the shower curb in deference to their safety. Just keep in mind clean up may require extra work if water leaks under the door into the bathroom.
What are the Ideal Angles for Shower Hardware?
You may not have given any thought to the angles of a shower but they do matter. Ideally the enclosure should be designed using one of these angles 90 degrees, 135 degrees, or 180 degrees between the glass panels. The reason for this is the majority of shower hardware is designed for these angles. If your shower enclosure deviates from these angles it will make installation more difficult and could result is water leaks and even breakage of the glass panels. Using these angles will ensure the enclosure will be easy to install and should not experience any leakage.
How Thick Should the Glass Panels Be?
The first thing you need to look for when choosing glass panels is the thickness of the glass. This is important for safety. Ideally the thickness should be no less than one-half inch. The thicker the glass the more sturdy the enclosure will be but it will also affect the weight of the panels.
Where is the Best Place to Put the Showerhead?
Ideally the showerhead should be placed so it sprays away from the door to avoid water leakage. If it is impossible to face the showerhead away from the door choose a shower head that faces downward or has a low pressure water flow. If you choose a multi-level shower spray the same information is important to keep in mind.
Is there Sufficient Support for the Shower Door?
When building the walls surrounding the enclosure it is important to ensure that there is sufficient support for the weight of the shower door. The thicker the glass in the door the more support it will require.
Industry standard is at least a double 2×4 frame where the door hinges attach to the wall. When attaching the door hinges it is crucial to make sure that the hinges are anchored into solid wood and not just the room’s dry wall. If not properly supported it is likely the door hinges will eventually pull away from the wall.
These are just some of the important tips you need to consider when installing a glass shower enclosure. The bathroom design experts at Joseph Kitchen and Bath can help you choose an enclosure that will give you the shower of your dreams.
Call us at (905) 707-7756 to make an appointment to learn all about glass shower enclosures.
