If you've been scouring design websites and blogs lately, assembling your idea book for an upcoming bathroom remodel, odds are you've noticed the word frameless being bandied about. Frameless cabinets and showers are the standard for most contemporary Chicago bathroom remodeling projects - even for bathrooms with a more traditional flair.
Features That Define a Frameless Glass Shower
Frameless design finishes are popular because they yield a clean and unfettered look. This is especially true with frameless shower glass because there is no cumbersome metal interrupting expanses of glass, and this lack of obstruction also allows for an uninterrupted view of the tiles.
There are several features that define frameless glass doors.
The absence of a metal frame. In a traditional shower door system, the metal frame provides structural support for thinner, more fragile glass panels. With the thicker, more durable glass used in frameless shower designs, this support is unnecessary. Instead, frameless shower doors are mounted with sturdy hinges made to hold the heavy glass panels in place.
Thicker, heavier glass. As we mentioned above, the glass panels used in a frameless shower door are much thicker and heavier than those used for a framed shower door. Your frameless shower glass is tempered and will typically range from 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch thick. A single panel can weigh upwards of 70 pounds. This is one reason why it is so important that your shower is installed by a professional. The solid nature of the glass adds to your shower's luxurious look.
Versatile entry options. There are kinds of ways to design a frameless shower. They can be curbless, meaning there is a completely even transition between your bathroom floor and the shower. They can be open, with only a single glass panel, or partial panel, to protect the bathroom from shower spray. You can also choose doors that slide or pivot to allow shower access.
Chicago Bathroom Remodeling Ideas: Enhance Your Bathroom With a Frameless Shower Design
There are several ways you can use a frameless shower to enhance your bathroom design.
- Maximize the light flow. These showers are especially beneficial in smaller bathrooms, or bathrooms that lack natural light. Since there is no frame or solid wall showers, light can pass through the shower unobstructed.
- Make it a steam shower. Frameless glass showers can be made into steam showers with the right design approach. Typically, we recommend leaving a few inches of space between a shower wall and the ceiling to allow moisture to escape, helping your home maintain optimal whole-home humidity. This isn't possible with a steam shower. Instead, you will take the walls up to the ceiling, which should be slightly sloped and tiled to improve moisture elimination.
- Go tile wild. Frameless showers give you the opportunity to use artistic and creative tile work so that the walls and floors of your shower also exist as a work of art.
Looking for more Chicago bathroom remodeling ideas? Visit the Kitchens & Baths Unlimited showroom or schedule a consultation.
