Sliding Shower Doors Vs. Hinged Shower Doors
Looking for some ideas when updating your bathroom with a glass shower door? Learn more about the differences between a sliding shower door and a hinged shower door. Both types of glass doors will add value to your home in several ways, so here are the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Why Upgrade to a Glass Shower Door?
The shower is always the focal point of any bathroom. Besides avoiding breezy drafts or the annoying clinging of a shower curtain, glass shower doors offer an instant lift to your bathroom. Cleaner, brighter, safer, and more functional, glass doors will upgrade your bathroom and may even save you money in the long run while increasing the resale value of your home.
How to Choose the Right Door
When remodeling your bathroom, the size and layout will play a major role in choosing the best type of shower door: hinged shower door or a sliding shower door.
Budget can also play a role but the best indicator of price is the the glass thickness, type of glass chosen, and the style (frameless, semi-framed, or framed).
Hinged Shower Door Pros
Both frames and frameless hinged shower doors swing to open. Hinges for the doors are drilled directly onto the wall.
Frameless hinged doors use less brackets so they have a great aesthetic look.
A hinged shower door does not have any dirt-trapping tracks at the bottom so keeps the shower clean is much easier.
Hinged shower doors can easily open at least 90 degree so getting in and out is easier, especially for those with mobility issues.
Hinged Shower Door Cons
Since they open so widely, more space is needed to open the doors which may be a problem with a small bathroom or one with a complicated layout.
When opening the door outward after a shower, water may drip down on the floor causing a mess or safety issue.
Sliding Shower Door Pros
Traditional sliding glass doors have a track at the bottom. Trackless and frameless sliding doors are also available.
Sliding shower doors work better in small bathrooms since the doors will not take any more space opening out into the room
Sliding doors handles can double as a towel rack saving even more room in small bathrooms
Sliding doors give easy access to either side of the shower making them a good choice for tub access
Sliding doors have a pleasing, aesthetic look that still allow light into the shower area, highlighting tilework.
Sliding Shower Door Cons
Cleaning is more difficult for sliding doors with a track on the bottom. Lodged soap and grime can eventually cause rust and doors may become more difficult to move over time.
Unlike an fully open hinged door, access to the shower is limited to the opening provided by sliding one door at a time.
See Why Southington Glass is your Glass Shower Door Expert
For over 60 years, Southington Glass Company has provide a variety of glass products to enhance your home and business. Call us at 860-628-2438, visit our website at www.southingtonglass.com or come see us at our showroom at 416 North Main St. Southington, CT to view a quality selection and advice on shower and tub enclosures, custom glass and mirror products, windows and more.