Okay so — nobody really tells you this part about getting a shower with glass doors. You’re thinking it’s gonna be straightforward, right? Just pick a style, install the thing, boom done. Except that’s… not really what happens. At all.
Most people figure this out way too late. Like when there’s already demo dust coating every surface in the house and the contractor’s standing there giving you that look. The one where you know something just got more complicated and probably more expensive.
There’s this contractor out in Phoenix — or maybe it was Scottsdale, somewhere out there — been doing bathroom renos since like ’98 or ’99, probably done 250 jobs easy by now. Maybe more. And he says the glass door conversation is where projects either click into place or completely fall apart. Had these clients one time who just ordered doors online from… wherever. Didn’t measure the shower curb height right — or maybe didn’t measure it at all? — and after the first shower water was just everywhere. Not like a little bit. Like pooling on the bathroom floor, soaking into the baseboards, the whole disaster. Spent three weeks emailing back and forth with customer service, towels and bath mats everywhere trying to contain it. Finally just gave up and bought different doors that actually fit. The whole thing could’ve been avoided with what, 20 minutes of measuring? Maybe less.
Glass Door Types and Why It Gets Confusing Fast
Shower doors come in way more varieties than you’d expect. And honestly the options get pretty overwhelming once you start going down the rabbit hole. Pinterest doesn’t help. Neither do those bathroom remodel forums where everyone’s got opinions.
Frameless is what everybody wants these days. Clean lines, super modern looking, makes bathrooms feel bigger. But here’s the catch — they’re expensive. Like, noticeably more expensive. And the install has to be perfect or you’re gonna have issues. No frame means there’s nothing hiding mistakes, so if your walls aren’t straight (and older walls never are) or measurements are off even a little bit… yeah good luck with that.
Semi-frameless gives you most of that sleek modern vibe without the sticker shock. Still looks current, costs less, installation’s more forgiving. Then there’s fully framed doors. Some people think they look dated or whatever, but honestly with the right finish? Maybe matte black or brushed gold? They can look pretty sharp. Plus they’re way more budget-friendly and — not gonna lie — more durable than people think.
Sliding doors work great for smaller bathrooms where you can’t have something swinging out. Hinged doors need clearance to open, which seems super obvious but people forget constantly. The toilet’s right there. Or the towel bar. Or the vanity edge. Something’s always too close. Bi-fold doors are around too but you don’t see them much anymore. Probably because they’re kinda awkward?
Frameless Glass Enclosures vs Framed Setup
Glass shower enclosures without frames need thicker glass or they’d just wobble all over the place. Usually like 3/8 inch. Sometimes 1/2 inch thick even. That thickness is what keeps everything solid without having metal framing everywhere. The hardware’s really minimal — just hinges and maybe a handle bar. Looks super clean but… installation’s gotta be perfect. There’s basically zero room for mistakes.
Framed ones use thinner glass because the metal frame’s doing all the structural work. Way more forgiving when you’re installing them. They tend to seal better right away too without having to mess with it. The frame comes in whatever finish — chrome, brushed nickel, that matte black that’s everywhere now, oil-rubbed bronze for traditional looks. Whatever matches your faucets basically.
Different Glass Options and Safety Stuff
So not all glass is the same. This matters way more than people think about upfront. Tempered glass is pretty much required — most building codes say you have to use it anyway. If it breaks it crumbles into those little cube pieces instead of like… big scary shards that could really hurt somebody. Which yeah, definitely want that.
Shower doors should have some kind of protective coating or you’ll be scrubbing them all the time. ANZZI does this Tsunami Guard treatment on their glass — basically it’s water-repellent stuff that stops hard water spots and soap scum from sticking as much. Not like it never needs cleaning, but cleaning’s way less annoying. Totally worth it.
Glass thickness matters for the feel of it, not just safety. Thicker glass — like 3/8 inch or 1/2 inch — feels solid and substantial when you’re opening and closing the door. Quality feeling. Thinner stuff, maybe 1/4 inch, works fine I guess but sometimes feels a little flimsy? Know what I mean?
Then you got different textures. Clear glass, frosted glass, rain glass, that fluted pattern showing up everywhere lately. It’s basically trading off between privacy and making your bathroom look more spacious.
Privacy Glass Choices for Your Bathroom
Clear glass makes small bathrooms feel way bigger. It’s the most popular choice in master bathrooms where privacy isn’t really an issue. But if there’s kids sharing a bathroom, or guests using it, or you just… don’t want clear glass for whatever reason? Frosted or patterned makes way more sense.
Rain glass and fluted patterns are super popular right now. You get privacy without the bathroom feeling all dark and closed-in. Plus they hide water spots better which — let’s be real — matters because we all say we’re gonna squeegee after every shower but do we actually? Sometimes. Maybe. Not as much as we should.
Matching Hardware Finishes Throughout the Bathroom
The metal finish on your glass shower door needs to match — or at least coordinate with — the other stuff in your bathroom. Doesn’t have to be perfectly exact but it should look intentional. Mixing metals can totally work if you’re doing it on purpose with like an actual plan, but when it’s accidental? Just looks messy and unfinished.
Chrome’s the classic safe choice. Shiny, easy to find anywhere, goes with pretty much everything, doesn’t cost extra. Brushed nickel’s been popular for ages, probably because fingerprints and water spots don’t show up as much. Matte black is everywhere right now — looks amazing with white tile and modern vibes — but heads up, it shows water spots bad. Like every single one.
Oil-rubbed bronze works nice for traditional bathrooms or rustic looks. Brushed gold and champagne bronze are making a comeback for people wanting warmer tones instead of all the cool grays. ANZZI makes their doors in a bunch of different finishes so you can actually get things to match instead of getting “close enough” and hoping nobody notices. Spoiler: they always notice.
Why Measuring Your Space Right Matters So Much
This is where DIY projects go completely sideways. Shower openings aren’t always square. Or level. Especially older houses — walls can be out of plumb, corners aren’t actually 90 degrees, floors slope weird either for drainage or just because the house settled over time.
You gotta measure in a bunch of different places. Width at the top, width at the middle, width at the bottom. Height on the left, height on the right. Write down the smallest measurements because that’s what actually matters — you need everything to fit through the tightest spot. Leave some wiggle room too… most doors need about a quarter inch of play on each side for adjustment.
Shower curb height is also super important and people forget about it. Some doors sit on top of the curb, some fit against the side. Get this wrong and water’s leaking out onto your floor. Every time. Have somebody else check your measurements before ordering anything. Seriously just… do it. Trust me.
Standard vs Custom Sizing
Standard sizes run from like 24 inches to 60 inches wide most of the time. Heights are usually somewhere between 70 and 76 inches. If your opening fits in those ranges you’re golden — standard costs less and ships way faster.
Custom doors are for weird openings or specific design stuff where standard just won’t work. Cost more, take longer to get there, but sometimes you don’t have a choice. Alcove showers usually work fine with standard. Corner setups or those neo-angle designs though? Probably gonna need custom work.
Installation Difficulty Depends on Door Style
Framed doors are way more DIY-friendly. The frame gives structure and covers up little mistakes. Semi-frameless is somewhere in the middle difficulty-wise. Frameless though? Should really get professionally installed unless you’ve got actual legit experience and the right tools. Not like YouTube-watching experience… real hands-on experience.
The glass is heavy. Like really really heavy. A half-inch thick frameless panel weighs over 50 pounds easy. You need two people minimum. Mounting points gotta be rock solid secure. And drilling through tile without cracking it? Takes practice and the right bits. Everything’s gotta be perfectly level and perfectly plumb which is way harder than those home improvement videos make it look.
Professional installation runs anywhere from like $200 to $500 depending on the door type and where you are location-wise. For frameless especially that’s worth it. A poorly installed door leaks, doesn’t close right, could even be dangerous if glass isn’t secured properly.
What Else You’re Paying For Besides the Door
Glass shower enclosures start around $200-ish for basic framed ones. Go all the way up to $1,500 or more for premium frameless with all the fancy features. ANZZI’s got options across that whole range which helps when you’re trying to get decent quality without totally blowing your budget.
But here’s the thing — the door’s not your only expense. People forget about this part. There’s installation labor, any wall reinforcement work, new fixtures if you’re upgrading those too. Sometimes your existing tile needs fixing or waterproofing’s gotta get redone before new doors can even go in. Oh and permits if your city makes you pull them for bathroom stuff. Adds up fast.
Cheaper doors usually mean thinner glass, crappy hardware that corrodes within like a year, seals that don’t work great from the start. Spending more upfront typically pays off later because you’re not dealing with constant issues and replacements.
Maintenance Costs Down the Road
Glass doors need regular cleaning or hard water buildup and soap scum just take over everything. Squeegee after every shower — sounds annoying I know, but it helps so much. Protective coatings like what ANZZI puts on cut down how often you need to deep clean the whole thing.
Hardware can corrode over time especially if there’s not good ventilation in the bathroom. Quality finishes last way longer though. Seals and sweeps along the bottom might need replacing every couple years. Not huge costs or anything but worth knowing about upfront.
Why Established Manufacturers Like ANZZI Make Sense
Going with a reputable company means better quality control, actual warranty support when stuff goes wrong, replacement parts you can actually get if hardware breaks. ANZZI’s Tsunami Guard coating, their soft-close mechanisms, all the finish options… they’re clearly thinking about real-world use in actual bathrooms, not just making things look pretty in catalog photos.
They’ve got complete systems too — doors made to work with their shower bases and enclosures. Takes all the guesswork out of compatibility issues. And pricing’s pretty reasonable for what you’re getting feature-wise.
Plus they cover different styles and budgets. Need a basic framed door for a rental property? They’ve got that. Want high-end frameless for a luxury remodel? They’ve got that too. That kind of flexibility matters when you’re trying to nail down a specific vision without compromising on what you actually want.
Other Things to Think About Before Buying
How does the bathroom actually get used? Kids and guests means more traffic and probably frosted glass makes sense. Master ensuite? Clear glass opens everything up visually. Sliding or hinged? What direction does the door need to swing if it’s hinged?
Timeline matters too. Standard doors ship pretty fast. Custom work takes weeks at minimum. If you’ve got contractors and other trades trying to coordinate schedules, delays get expensive super quick. Like really quick.
And honestly sometimes you just gotta see doors in person before committing. Website photos only show you so much. The actual weight, how smooth the hardware feels, what finish colors look like in real lighting instead of on a screen — all that stuff matters. Hard to judge digitally.
Bathroom remodels are stressful enough without adding glass door drama on top. Do your homework upfront, measure carefully (then measure again for good measure), go with quality stuff from manufacturers that have good reputations, don’t cheap out on the install. Future you will appreciate it pretty much every single day.