Shower Doors: Framed, Semi-Frameless or Frameless?

The shower door is the last decision in a bathroom remodel and the one people regret most. What each type costs, how it seals and what hard water does to it.

The shower door goes in last, after the tile is finished and the plumbing is trimmed out, and by then most homeowners just want the project done. That is how a bathroom with beautiful tile ends up with a door that leaks at the corner, rattles when it closes or shows every water spot by the second week. The door deserves the same thought as the tile. Here is how the three types compare in a Florida bathroom.

Framed doors

A framed door has an aluminum frame around every edge of the glass and along the curb and walls. The glass is thinner, the frame carries the weight and the door is the least expensive option. The frame also gives a wide margin for walls that are not perfectly plumb, which describes most older homes in Lakeland and Bartow. The tradeoffs are looks and cleaning. The frame collects soap scum and hard water deposits in its channels, the bottom track holds standing water, and the metal finish eventually pits.

Semi-frameless doors

Semi-frameless doors keep a frame at the perimeter, along the walls and curb, but the door panel itself has no frame around the glass. It is a good middle ground: cleaner lines than a full frame, less cost than frameless, and still some forgiveness for out-of-plumb walls. It is the most common choice in mid-range remodels for good reason.

Frameless doors

A frameless door is thick tempered glass, usually three-eighths or half an inch, held by hinges and clips with no frame. It is the cleanest look and the easiest to squeegee. It is also the least forgiving. The glass is measured after tile is finished, the walls need to be plumb within a small tolerance, and the hinges need solid backing in the wall. Frameless doors do not seal the way framed doors do; they rely on tight tolerances, a sweep at the bottom and a small vinyl seal at the hinge side. A properly installed frameless door does not leak, but a rushed one does, and it drips at the corner where the door meets the fixed panel.

Plan for the door before the tile

The single most useful thing you can do is decide on the door type while the shower is being designed. A frameless door needs blocking in the wall at the hinge locations, which has to go in before drywall and cement board. The curb should slope slightly inward so water on the door runs back into the shower. The tile layout at the door edge should land on a full tile, not a sliver, because the door's channel or clips will sit right on it. If the shower is a full remodel, our walk-in shower guide covers the rest of the planning.

Glass options

Clear glass is standard and shows off the tile. Low-iron glass removes the faint green tint at the edges and is worth it next to white or light tile where the green shows. Frosted, rain and patterned glass add privacy in a bathroom shared by two people or one with a window facing the shower. Tinted gray or bronze glass is available but darkens the shower noticeably. Whatever the glass, it will be tempered, and once it is cut it cannot be changed, so measurements are taken after the tile is complete.

Hard water and glass

Central Florida water is hard, and untreated glass shows mineral spotting quickly. Most glass suppliers offer a factory-applied protective coating that makes the surface slicker so water sheets off and spots wipe away. It is worth the modest extra cost. Even with it, a squeegee after each shower is the difference between glass that looks new for years and glass that is permanently etched. Our post on hard water and fixtures has more.

Sliding, pivot or hinged

A hinged door swinging out needs clear floor space and a bathroom where the door will not hit the toilet or vanity. A sliding bypass door works on a tub or a wide alcove with no swing room, and modern barn-style sliders on a top rail have no bottom track to clean. A pivot door on a narrow opening gives a wider entry than a hinged door of the same width.

What it costs in the Lakeland area

Framed doors are the least expensive installed, semi-frameless are in the middle and frameless are the most, with custom sizes, coatings and premium hardware finishes raising each. Installation includes leveling, sealing and adjustment. A free estimate after the shower is measured gives an exact number.

Inventive Home Improvement installs shower doors as part of our bathroom remodeling in Lakeland, Lakeland Highlands, Haines City and throughout Polk County. Call (863) 633-5499.

Frequently asked questions

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