Installing a Glass Shower Enclosure? Avoid These Mistakes

Are you are building a bathroom from scratch or remodeling your bathroom? If so, you might consider adding a glass shower enclosure.

Glass shower enclosures can be a clever way to add modernity and elegance to your home. Glass shower enclosures are now available in numerous aesthetically pleasing designs and do not take too much space.

However, to enjoy all the aesthetic and functional benefits of the shower enclosure, you must avoid some common mistakes that homeowners make when installing these enclosures. Below are some of these mistakes.

Not Considering Drainage

Since you'll be using the shower frequently, the dirty water should exit the enclosure as fast as possible to avoid water stagnation. Water stagnation can be a nightmare, as you have to drain the water manually after using the shower.

Luckily, you can avoid drainage problems by ensuring that the shower's floor slopes towards the drain. The slope should be slight to avoid slipping.

Improper Positioning of the Showerhead

To avoid damaging the drywalls outside the enclosure, ensure that water from the showerhead only falls inside the enclosure. Therefore, you should place the showerhead close to the middle of the enclosure.

Choosing a High-Maintenance Design

While each design has its benefits, some designs will require more cleaning than others. For example, while a frosted glass enclosure offers additional privacy, the textured glass is harder to clean due to the ridges. Also, avoid a framed shower enclosure design because the framing might make the cleaning process more tedious.

Leaving Hard-to-Clean Gaps Between Walls

If you install glass next to a wall, the gap left could be hard to clean or dry if water infiltrates the space. Such spaces provide the perfect conditions for mold and mildew growth, leading to unpleasant views.

Not Protecting Your Glass Enclosure

Unprotected glass may be cheaper but more prone to corrosion and staining, requiring frequent cleaning. Therefore, if you use this type of glass on your enclosure, the accumulated maintenance costs may exceed the savings made during the purchase.

Choosing an Outdated Glass Shower Design

Due to improvements in technology and innovation, the glass shower designs used a decade ago may not be trendy today. So, if you want an up-to-date feel when in your bathroom, ensure that your chosen glass shower has the latest features and matches today's décor trends. For example, a framed shower door might look outdated compared to the modern frameless bathroom enclosure designs.

Choosing a Swinging Shower Door

Since swinging doors require enough space to open freely, this door type may not be perfect if you don't have enough space in your bathroom. In addition, the risk of damage is higher in this type of door, as they can bump on other fixtures in the bathroom when opening.

The best door type for smaller bathrooms is frameless sliders and bypass doors.

Installing a Shower Bench with the Wrong Slope 

If you have to install a shower bench in your enclosure, ensure that the bench does not slant towards the wall. With such a bench, water will pool along the wall, leading to an accumulation of scum along the wall. The dampness along the wall can also lead to the growth of mold and mildew.

To avoid this problem, ensure that your shower bench slopes towards the floor to allow water to run off onto the floor and eventually to the drain. This way, you can maintain a clean and pleasant bathroom environment.

While glass showers add style to your bathroom, any mistake during installation can lead to serious safety and functionality issues. All the above mistakes are avoidable if you work with professionals during the design and installation stages. At Concord & Antioch Glass, Inc., we have the skills, experience, and equipment needed to provide excellent glass installation services. Contact us today to learn more about our residential and commercial services.