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We really liked the glass doors when we bought our brand new house twelve years ago. We used the squeegee regularly. A few years ago, I noticed water spots on the doors. After spending a small fortune on cleaning items, not to mention getting a sore arm, I was told that once the spots get started, it's impossible to clean them off. When our current doors wear out or look exceedingly awful, they'll be replaced with curtains. No more glass doors for us.
I did a quick search and found the last time this subject was covered was back in 2012/2014. Likely out of date by now.
Are glass shower doors for a tub shower combo "OUT"? My builder did not offer that as an option. If we want them it will be something we have to do after the home is closed on. It left me wondering if people just don't do them anymore?
There are the sliding kind. But I've also seen a glass "wall" with a small area you can step into the tub left glassless on the end furthest from the shower head. Ive also seen a door that swims out there as well. The last two are significantly more expensive than the sliding door version.
Are any of these options "IN"? The Designer at our appointment to choose our options told us that those are out of date. People prefer shower curtains.
They aren't out at all, in fact they are standard in custom builds or higher end tract homes.
What is out is the sliders your builder puts in. They spec those because they are cheap, no other reason. They look dated, the tracks are a maintenance nightmare as well.
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Originally Posted by turf3
"People prefer shower curtains"? Really? Sounds like BS to me.
I stayed in a hotel with that partial glass wall and it was a real pain. I like to mix hot and cold while the water's running from the spout, then send it to the shower and step in, so I don't get frozen or scalded. With that setup you have to lean way way around to be able to put your hand under the spout. Also, if you aren't careful you can point the shower head out the gap and spray water all over the floor.
Just go for the standard sliding glass doors for the tub/shower. For some commercial reason the builder doesn't want to do these, so you'll just have to have them installed later.
Anyway, if you have it done later you won't pay mortgage interest on it.
That's just poor design though. The proper way to construct the partial glass wall is to put the controls on the open end of the enclosure (or on the side wall). Actually that is the proper way with a slider system or hinged glass door as well, and the only reason you see it any other way is because somebody was cutting corners in a remodel project and didn't want to spend the money to move the controls to the correct wall.
He should just have the builder not put in any doors, if he wants a different system - and see if the builder will deduct the cost (about $500), from the sales price. Because its just going to cost him more money to tear it out and put in what he wants. Plus they will drill the tile and then he'll have unsightly holes or patches to contend with.
I LOVE our glass shower doors. So easy to clean and no shower curtain clinging to you when you are trying to shower and NO mildew, etc.
Be diligent about using a squeegee, do it every time you shower and it will be an automatic thing within a couple of weeks. We built this house in 2013 and our shower doors look as good and new today as they did the day we moved in... no streaks or water marks at ALL.
I doubt someone with shower curtains could say the same thing that they look as good as the day they hung them.
A little bit of Windex every now and then and our glass doors inside and outside look great.
I have a 1965 house that has not been updated much, and one of the bathrooms has a stand alone shower. It has some sort of sturdy plastic shower door that looks like frosted glass, but isn't. It is not stylish but I love that it doesn't need to be squeegee'd, ever, and still looks fine to me.
My tub/shower combo has sliding glass doors, but to be honest I never use it. I like the stand alone shower because it is easier to get in and out of, and more spacious.
I'd never go with a clear glass door, no matter what the current trend is - too hard to keep clean and sometimes you do actually want privacy! Even in a relationship/married, I want to shower unseen and sometimes your SO ends up in the bathroom at the same time - much more flexibility if the glass is somewhat occluded.
Agree 100%. There is something creepy about taking a shower in full view of anyone who walks in. I always think about that scary scene in the movie “Psycho†in which the woman gets stabbed multiple times in the shower.
I remember many years ago we looked at a house for sale. The second the front door was opened my eyes went straight up a half flight of stairs to a glass shower door! I told my husband there was no way I would have a house where the clear glass shower door was visible from the front door so it would always have to be perfectly clean. Let alone if someone was showering and the bathroom door got opened and then someone came to the front door!
Shower curtains and liners are replaceable when you get tired of them or want to shift colors. Tossed in the wash or tossed in the trash. I'm on well water that is high in tannins as well as minerals. Water is softened, but transparent or semi-transparent glass is still a pain to keep clean. I had to replace the original tub and opted to give away the glass slider doors. They always looked filmy and the tracks were a corroded grungy mess. The person who took them regretted it. What happens to be in style means little or nothing to me and will probably change before thinking about selling anyway. Only thing I miss about doors is the ability to keep my dog in the tub during those dreaded baths .
Hear ya, I was on city water, if you can believe that and still found problems. Curtains two thumbs up!
The old fashioned style of glass shower doors do look dated IMO.
But modern, frameless or semi-frameless IMO look great and would be considered a higher end finish. They aren't cheap - prices here don't include install, which can be quite a bit more than the cost of the door itself
They aren't out at all, in fact they are standard in custom builds or higher end tract homes.
What is out is the sliders your builder puts in. They spec those because they are cheap, no other reason. They look dated, the tracks are a maintenance nightmare as well.
That's just poor design though. The proper way to construct the partial glass wall is to put the controls on the open end of the enclosure (or on the side wall). Actually that is the proper way with a slider system or hinged glass door as well, and the only reason you see it any other way is because somebody was cutting corners in a remodel project and didn't want to spend the money to move the controls to the correct wall.
He should just have the builder not put in any doors, if he wants a different system - and see if the builder will deduct the cost (about $500), from the sales price. Because its just going to cost him more money to tear it out and put in what he wants. Plus they will drill the tile and then he'll have unsightly holes or patches to contend with.
Perhaps there is some confusion to my original question. our MASTER bathroom WILL HAVE a seamless glass enclosure for the shower. As will any secondary bathroom that has a shower only. We have one bathroom that has a tub and shower combo. On this one we asked that a glass door/enclosure be put in and they told us those were dated and they didn't offer that option. To your comment about higher end homes having these. Well maybe in our area that isn't true. We are building in a higher end community.
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