A blog devoted to the nuances of custom glass shower enclosures, including best design and installation practices, different glass shower systems, and shower hardware.
We're creeping into new territory with some in-house videos, and this Hydroslide video builds on last week's post. We have a whole slew of topics in development, but give us some early feedback as to what would be most helpful to have reviewed in-depth via video. Things like proper measurement and installation will be posted in due course.
Happy showering!
Not all bathrooms are enormous and luxurious, especially in homes built pre-1990. You don't need a huge bathroom to have a stylish bathroom, but shower enclosure options do dwindle as the size of the bathroom goes down. Many spaces can't accommodate a shower door that swings outward, leaving homeowners with a choice between bifold units and sliding shower systems. Now, bifold units are almost universally garbage. There just aren't many bifold systems that are both attractive and well-conceived, leaving sliding showers as the only viable options. Many people who prefer more minimal, modern decor are offput by the sliding shower options on the market though. Fortunately, there have been great strides in this area over the last few years, and homeowners with small bathrooms have two great options for modern sliding shower systems.
The picture above is the Skyline system from Cardinal. Available in 3/8" or 1/2 glass, these units have a very mechanical, almost industrial vibe. They consist of one fixed panel and one sliding panel, with the sliding panel usually positioned closest to the shower head. Two closeup pictures of the hardware system can be seen below:
Competing with the Skyline is the Hydroslide system from C.R. Laurence. The Hydroslide was first to market, and while it's similarly designed (one sliding panel, one fixed panel), the hardware system has a bit of a softer vibe than the Skyline. It's still very sleek and modern, but it definitely has a less mechanical look to it:
Happy showering!
We've heard the following statement too many times to count: "I just got back from a European vacation, and my hotel room had a single piece of glass on the tub. What's that called, and can you do it?!" There are various names for this shower system, including:
Whatever you call them (and we do call them "spray panels" for the record), they're handsome, relatively economical systems. What makes them unique is that there aren't many truly frameless systems for bath tubs, as even "frameless" sliding bypass systems have a metal header, metal wall jambs, and a metal sill. Usually, spray panels for tubs are 30" x 60" and have a rounded 10 degree radius edge on the top outer corner. They're typically hinged with two solid brass hinges plated in whatever finish matches the other bathroom fixtures (i.e., chrome, brushed nickel, oil rubbed bronze, etc.). A small knob is usually present as well to eliminate excessive fingerprints when the unit is opened and closed. At an installed price of around $900-$1200, they're comparably priced to sliding bypass systems, oftentimes coming in slightly lower.
Now, spray panels aren't viable options for every bathroom. Sometimes powerful shower heads will cause excessive water to spray outside of the tub when showering, or there could be a swing conflict with a toilet or vanity. How they fit in layout-wise should be the the very first consideration. Aesthetically though, they're very attractive systems, keeping water in while putting the tile on full display. It's an inexpensive way to go frameless without completely redoing a bathroom. So if you're tired of your boring shower curtain, it may be time for a bathroom facelift through installation of a spray panel.
Customers in the DC Metro region can get a quote or set up a measurement appointment by calling Shower Door Experts or dropping us a line via our website. Customers outside of our service area can order spray panels for self-installation via the following link:
https://www.showersmirrorsandmore.com/products/shower-enclosures/38-hinged-spray-panel
Happy Showering!
Whenever customers ask if they can just purchase materials (glass, hardware, gaskets, etc.) from us and do the installation themselves, we're happy to oblige. But first, we give them a boilerplate spiel about some of the issues we've run into over the years. A great installation starts with precise measurements, so it's critical that customers provide us with accurate dimensions and out of plumb and level conditions. When we quote a job, we lump measurement, delivery, installation, and warranty into one figure, but we can separate these items to tailor a package that makes sense for our customers. We can just measure, and then have customers pick up the unit and install it, or we can measure and deliver, and then have customers just do the installation. This reduces the total cost, but frequently customers run into issues with installation, and any cost savings get offset by us having to make a trip to salvage the install. That being said, our fees for measurement only and measurement/delivery are as follows:
Now, our preference for doing the measurement, delivery, and installation ourselves is not at all about the money. First, we prefer to have the responsibility be on our shoulders so there's no ambiguity as to whose responsibility it is if something goes wrong. If a client provides us with measurements and they make a mistake, there can be finger-pointing at the time of installation. This benefits no one, so we prefer to have control of all phases of the project. Second, we provide a warranty on the labor when we measure and install (different from the manufacturer's warranty on the materials), and this coverage against leaks and minor adjustments is not available when we don't measure and/or install. The manufacturer's warranty remains intact, but our labor warranty can be indispensable. Third, the installation itself can be a delicate, tedious procedure, and the difference between an A+ installation and a B- is razor thin. We don't try to put the fear of God in people by making it out to be rocket science, but there's definitely some nuance involved in a high quality shower installation. We have over 20 years of experience, so we can efficiently pinpoint and troubleshoot installation issues that would take homeowners and general contractors much longer to address. There's just no substitute for hands-on experience, period.
Please find a map of our service area below, and know that we'll sell a shower door to anyone who needs one, whether we do the installation or not. We genuinely believe that the slight additional cost of having us take care of the labor is well worth the cost though. When we measure and install a custom shower enclosure, it guarantees that we "own" the project so to speak, which means that we'll be there to take care of any problems that arise thereafter. As we always say, custom shower doors should be a once-in-a-generation project when done correctly, and this includes accurate measurement and expert installation. Saving a few bucks in the short-term just isn't worth it in most cases, because if something - anything - goes wrong, you'll be paying more money to have it fixed then you would've paid originally to have us just do the installation. For shower doors in Washington, DC, Western Maryland to Annapolis, Southern Pennsylvania, Northern Virginia, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia, we're your guys!
Happy showering!
Building on the introduction as to what glass sealant "is", it's important to understand how it works. On a microscopic level, glass is a relatively porous material. If you've ever been in the unfortunate position of having to scrub mineral deposits (hard water stains) off of glass, you can attest to the fact that once the stains are there, it's a bear of a project getting them off. Sometimes it proves to be impossible, depending on how long the stains have been present. As any acne-encrusted teen can tell you, it's all about the pores! A protective glass coating, or sealant, makes the surface uniform and somewhat Teflon-like, causing water to bead up and eliminating the microscopic nooks and crannies where mineral deposits and soap scum accumulate. For the chemist's view on how this works, see below:
"Buy Shower Glass Sealant, Get an Extra Two Weeks of Life FREE!!"
All kidding aside, we apply Vindico 10 year glass sealant to our shower installations in DC, MD, VA, PA, and WV. Please find a link to their website below, followed by a self-applied glass sealant we recommend for clients outside of our service area. And as always...
Happy Showering!
http://vindico.info/home_eng.html
https://www.showersmirrorsandmore.com/products/shower-maintenance/tpc-surface-protection
We've used a number of these products over the years, and we've refined what we look for in a glass sealant as a result. First, the product obviously has to work. Does it seal the pores of the glass and reduce the buildup of mineral deposits (the dreaded "hard water" effect) and soap scum? Second, it has to be convenient to use. Does it have the sort of longevity that precludes having to reapply it regularly? Does it have an explicit warranty regarding how long it lasts?
We use Vindico glass sealant since it more fully meets these criteria than any other product we've used. First, the stuff works! We have it on our home shower enclosures, our car windshields - basically, anywhere it can be used, we use it. Second, it's a one-time application at the time of installation, and the company guarantees it for a minimum of 10 years thereafter. A glass sealant with a 10 year warranty?! Yes, please. Without an explicit warranty, glass sealant has sort of a "magic beans" quality to it, making it as difficult to sell as it is to purchase. Vindico's 10 year warranty has been a game-changer, and since the one-time cost of glass sealant works out to about $5/square foot, it's usually a no-brainer. Our philosophy is: if it cumulatively keeps you out of the bathroom one weekend a year through reduced cleaning time, it's worth its weight in gold!
Lastly, glass sealant, aside from the way it improves shower enclosure ownership through a reduction in maintenance, is a fairly easy way to go "green". Sealed glass doesn't need to be cleaned with glass sprays or harsh chemicals of any kind, keeping these chemicals out of the watershed and out of your home. This will save you money, but it'll also save the planet in a small, but important, way.
More to come on the benefits of glass sealant, but consider this your crash course in what it does and why it's useful.
Happy showering!
