About Sliding Shower Doors
When designing a bathroom with a tub or shower, one consideration is what type of enclosure to install. An option is the sliding shower door. Does this Spark an idea?
Identification
Sliding shower doors consist of bypass doors that are installed in a row of tracks that run along the entrance of a shower or bathtub. When opening, one door is pushed behind (or in front of) the second door. The doors can be made of materials such as glass or acrylic. Some are clear, allowing a view into the shower or tub. Others are obscured glass or are embellished with designs. The metal tracks are often chrome or gold in color.
Features
Sliding shower doors provide both function and decoration for the bathroom. Typically the handles double as towel bars, stretching the width of a door. Roller mechanisms are sometimes installed in the lower rack, to assist the sliding of the door from side to side. The doors can be lifted out manually, if they become jammed, and then reinserted.
Types
There are various types of tub and shower enclosures to protect the bathroom floor from water, and provide varying degrees of privacy. Shower curtains are inexpensive and come in hundreds of patterns and designs. Hinged shower doors are more suitable for narrower openings.
Benefits
Sliding shower doors outperform shower curtains in keeping the water in the tub and off the floor. Shower curtains have a limited life span and will need to be replaced numerous times during the life of a sliding shower door. Aesthetically, shower doors are more attractive, and from a resale perspective, give the bathroom more appeal. Shower doors are viewed as an upgrade, whereas shower curtains are considered a budget item.
Warning
Sliding shower doors are not suitable for showers with narrow openings. There must be sufficient room for the two bypass doors to stand side by side, with one being able to move behind the other to provide access. Sliding shower doors may not be convenient as bath tub enclosures for small children. Shower curtains are more practical for parents who need to assist their children in bathing. Hard water deposits can build up on glass sliding doors, which will create additional maintenance. One way to reduce hard water deposit is to install a soft water system.
Tags: shower doors, Sliding shower doors, About Sliding, About Sliding Shower, bypass doors
