Designing Custom Glass Shower Doors

Remodeling, or adding on a bathroom in your home, can be a fun and creative endeavor, and designing custom glass shower doors can definitely be a part of that.  Of course, there are some decisions to make in this process.

What is a Custom Shower Door?

Basically, a custon shower door is a shower door, or set of doors, that you design with a glass designer.  You can find someone to create the design with you at a specialty glass shop, or a home improvement store.  You usually cannot find this type of specialty help at your basic hardware store. 

Design

This is where you get to be creative and have fun.  Start perusing home decorating magazines, and looking at shower doors online, to get an idea of what you want in your design.  Are you looking at a sliding glass shower door; a corner shower glass door; a full length shower enclosure?

You also need to think about the type of design.  It could be a full door design, and you can even design a specialty shower door handle.  There are some incredible ideas to glean from.

Another basic design feature is frosted shower glass.  This is a great option if privacy needs to be considered, or if the design you choose is something etched.  You may want to stay with clear glass for the shower enclosure if you have unique features, like a view to the outside, etc. 

Configuration

As you are looking at designs, you will need to consider the configurations of the space you are working within.  For instance, are the walls strong enough to support a full length glass shower door?  These doors can be quite heavy and need to have the appropriate support. 

You also need to think about the ventilation of the room and the measurements.  There is a wide variance of sizes that you can consider, but the proper ventilation system needs to be present.

Budget

The budget that you are working with can have an impact on your design options, so choose carefully in order to stay within your allotted amount. 

It’s important to remember that any enclosure that is not plumb, level, or standard in length, will raise the cost of the materials and any installation.

Other Considerations

Make sure when designing and purchasing that the door is made of tempered glass (the standard shower door material).  The reason for this is to prevent large, sharp pieces in cases of breakage. 

Installing the shower door (once you have it) is an option, although you will need help, and it may be challenging.