Hinged Doors
Hinged doors can be a one-piece door with hinges on one side or they can be 2 pieces with hinges on both sides. The doors latch with magnets when closed to make a waterproof seal. A hinged shower door is framed or frameless and made of plain and decorative glass. Hinged shower doors are simple for installing and can provide a better entryway if the doors swing-out. The price will depend on the style framed and frameless and the glass’s thickness in the door. There are drawbacks to hinged shower doors. Double hinged doors must be appropriately aligned in the middle to make a watertight seal. And steel hinges will rust over time if they are not appropriately maintained.
The pros and cons of Hinged Glass Shower Doors
Known for their style, and convenience: hinged glass doors are the best option for all styles of home. However, there are some essential points to consider before choosing them for your next bathroom renovation project:
Pros of Hinged Glass Shower Doors
Large Opening:
Hinged doors can open to a 90-degree angle outward. They give a safe, and wide entryway for seniors, and people who have challenges with their mobility.
Easy to Clean:
Different from sliding doors, hinged doors do not need tracks for opening or closing. Without the risk of rust or gunk buildup, this style of shower door is simple for cleaning and maintaining.
Aesthetically Appealing:
Hinged shower doors provide a clean, aesthetic appeal to all styles of bathroom.
Cons of Hinged Glass Shower Doors
Takes Up Enough Space
While hinged shower doors swing outwards to open, it is essential to make sure that your bathroom will have sufficient space to accommodate. For small bathroom spaces, sliding shower doors are preferred.
Water May Leak Out
Water leakage is a common issue for hinged shower doors, as the hinges make a smaller space between the door and wall where water can seep through. While side-mount hinges are sealed for improving water tightness, pivot hinges can’t. For preventing the risk of water leaks, it is recommended that users point the showerhead away from the shower door during use.
Sliding Doors
Sliding shower doors operate on a track and move side to side and don’t need room in front of the shower to open which makes them a good option for smaller spaces. Sliding shower doors can be frameless, framed, semi-framed. The price for the doors will increase for semi or frameless doors, with frameless being installed in high-end baths. Sliding shower doors are available in different kinds of glass, which can affect the price. Sliding shower doors are available in enclosures that are flat and curved. Curved enclosures offer more room than a flat enclosure. High-end sliding doors glide on 3 wheels allowing it to slide with a finger push. Sliding shower doors have disadvantages too. Sliding doors are hard to install than a hinged door. One of the major worries with a sliding door is the buildup of grime, soap, dust in the low track which will cause the door to stick and the track to rust if the track isn’t kept clean. Another disadvantage of sliding doors is limited access space to the shower since the doors are fixed.
The Pros and Cons of Sliding Glass Shower Doors
With sliding glass panels and a modern aesthetic, here are some pros and cons to consider when you will buy sliding glass shower doors:
Pros of Sliding Glass Shower Doors
Seamless Appearance
Sliding doors provide a bright and open aesthetic to any style of home. With big glass panels and hardware to match your bathroom, sliding shower doors offer a lovely, seamless aesthetic.
Functional Handles
Same to a towel bar, the handles of a sliding shower door can be used to hang towels, washcloths.
Effective Use of Small Spaces
If you have doors that slide open instead of swing, then sliding glass doors are the best space-saving option for your small bathrooms because they’re both functional and compact.
Cons of Sliding Glass Shower Doors
Limited Space for Entry
Since sliding doors can open far, they are not wide enough for parents who want to bathe their young kids, those who have special requirements, or people who want to have a large opening.
Difficult to Clean
While sliding doors are easy for cleaning from the inside, it can be difficult when you will clean the hardware or tracks.
Needs More Maintenance
As sliding shower doors feature metal tracks, the metal can begin to rust over time. As a result, sliding shower doors will need routine maintenance to work smoothly.
Which to Select
The size of the room is a major factor when you are selecting a hinged or sliding shower glass door. For rooms with limited space, sliding doors are a good choice. If you are interested in the uncluttered look of a frameless door, then it will affect the price and the same as the type and thickness of the glass. Decorative glass as well as thicker glass will cost you more than normal glass that has a minimum thickness. With a good understanding of the different kinds of shower doors, it’s obvious to see that every style is created with certain solutions in mind. From bathroom size and door functionality to aesthetic designing and cleaning, both sliding glass shower doors and hinged glass shower doors have a lot to offer. If you’re finding yourself torn between these 2 styles, here are some questions that you should consider:
- Do you have a small bathroom? Consider sliding shower doors.
- Do you need a large shower opening? Consider hinged shower doors.
- Simple cleaning and maintenance is important to you? Consider hinged shower doors.
- You can also consult a professional to know which door is best for your bathroom.