Have you decided to renovate or remodel your bathroom? If so, one key choice you’ll need to make is between a shower curtain vs glass door.
At first glance, shower curtains may seem like a logical choice. For starters, they’re very budget-friendly, with some options costing as little as $15. They also offer a simple way to change the look of your bathroom.
Well, we’re here to tell you shower doors have their advantages, too! Though its upfront cost is higher, a glass door will often pay for itself in the long run. If you can afford it, there’s not much reason to avoid doing it.
Need some convincing to install a glass shower door in your bathroom? Read on for a quick list of the essential benefits these doors can offer!
Modern Aesthetic
A glass shower door is one of the best ways to transform a bathroom. Rather than closing off your shower area with a curtain, you can use glass to open it up. It’s a sleek, minimalist, and, most importantly, modern approach.
Adding a glass door also allows you to show off your interior design elements. Have you spent some time finding the perfect faucet finishes for your bathroom? A glass door will ensure everyone can see them.
More Design Options
Custom-made shower doors can be a great fit for tricky spaces. Glass doors can accommodate all sorts of non-standard angles, heights, and recesses. The only downside is that customization may come at an added cost.
The doors themselves offer a variety of design options. For example, you can choose whether you want a hinged or sliding glass door. You also get to decide where to put the door and where you want it to open.
Improved Functionality
Though it can look nice, a shower curtain isn’t ideal for water containment. How many times have you stepped out of a shower and almost slipped on a puddle? How long does it take you to get rid of that extra water?
With glass shower doors, this won’t be an issue. These doors create a tight seal, preventing any water from dripping out of the shower area. These doors also don’t pivot outward, making them ideal for smaller bathrooms.
Added Character
Glass doors come in many materials and thickness ranges. If you want to protect your privacy, for instance, you can opt for a frosted finish. This design can bring a very different character to your bathroom.
The many types of glass shower doors also allow you to play with colors, patterns, and textures. Door hardware plays a key role here. The fittings options include everything from a matte nickel to anodized bronze.
Increased Convenience
Glass shower doors can adapt to a variety of needs. For example, a person with reduced mobility would likely enjoy a frameless door. These doors remove the need to step over high thresholds, reducing the risk of falls.
Glass doors can also come with many opening systems. These include fixed, swinging, sliding, and folding systems. All of these options can be the right fit depending on the size and style of your bathroom.
Budget Flexibility
There’s no denying that glass shower doors are a big investment when you compare them to a simple curtain. If you’re on a tight budget, though, there are a few ways to make the math work in your favor.
For instance, you may decide not to enclose the entire shower area with glass. Instead, you can opt for a shower screen. This is a single piece of hinged or fixed glass that serves as your water barrier.
Another option is to resist the temptation of frameless glass showers. As long as you have some framing, you can use thinner (less pricey) glass. A semi-frameless design is also a viable budget-friendly option.
Lower Maintenance
If you’re a shower curtain person, you know how hard it is to maintain. Soap scum and mildew build up easily on both curtains and liners. For your curtains to look nice, you’ll need to wash them fairly regularly.
Meanwhile, cleaning glass shower doors couldn’t be much easier. You can use almost any product, and you’ll have a presentable door within minutes. For harder water stains, you can always use distilled white vinegar.
Higher Durability
As long as you maintain them properly, glass doors will last a long time. They’re naturally more resistant to damage, corrosion, and wear and tear. These features make them ideal for bathrooms with high traffic.
Why are glass shower doors so durable? It’s because most modern glass doors are made of tempered glass. This type of glass goes through a process called quenching, which makes it far stronger than regular glass.
Enhanced Safety
Another benefit of tempered glass is that it provides a higher level of safety. If tempered glass breaks, it will shatter into small, smooth pieces. Normal glass will shatter into jagged shards, increasing your risk of injury.
What’s more, tempered glass will keep you safe no matter where you are when it breaks. Even if you’re standing right next to the door at the point of impact, the glass will crumble evenly and keep you away from danger.
Increased Home Value
With all the benefits we described above, is it any wonder glass shower doors add resale value? A glass door provides both style and functionality, giving it a fairly high ROI when it comes to bathroom renovations.
Your ROI will also depend on the installation method. Installing a glass shower door can be a DIY project, but it requires the right tools and solid technique. If you haven’t done it before, it’s best to leave it to the pros.
Shower Curtain vs Glass Door: Which Is Better?
As you can see, the choice between a shower curtain vs glass door isn’t complicated. As long as you’re willing to spend a little, a glass shower door is the perfect long-term solution for any bathroom.
Are you in the market for a custom shower door? At CKV Finished Products, we create shower doors for all tastes and styles! Contact us here to find out why we’ve been in this business for 29 years!