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Shower Doors and Enclosures
The most common type of solid shower enclosure
(as opposed to a simple shower
curtain) has
two doors that slide horizontally,
usually
independently of each other.
Each door normally
is made from a single pane of
glass framed
in metal. These doors, in turn,
are mounted
side-by-side in a larger metal
frame that
has two tracks (channels) in
both its upper
and lower sections. This setup
is normally
called a bypass door.
For a sleeker, more elegant alternative,
there are numerous types of enclosures
with
a hinged door. These designs
can be frameless,
or at least with much thinner
frames than
the sliding doors require. Doors
that swing
outward from the shower obviously
require
a more spacious bathroom than
does a setup
with sliding doors. You may be
able to overcome
this difficulty by mounting a
door that swings
into the shower stall, rather
than out. If
so, be very sure that such a
design does
not create a safety hazard by
making using,
cleaning, and maintaining the
shower unduly
awkward.
If the shower is mounted above
a bathtub,
ensure that climbing over the
tub wall will
be safe in both directions, when
the tub
is both wet and dry. Consider
placing handholds
in appropriate places. Take measures
to give
secure footing both inside the
tub and on
the floor just outside it. Even
if there
are no aged or infirm members
of your household
now, look ahead. Anticipate your
own possible
needs as you age, or if you should
be injured.
If the tub actually will be used
for bathing,
the enclosure must not impede
your ability
to sit down in the tub and get
out. An inward-swinging
door may be a problem in this
case. Take
care that your shower enclosure
does not
eliminate too much of the ledge
space on
the tub that you would like to
use while
bathing, or as a handhold to
climb out.
Deciding how high your enclosure reaches
(whether all the way up to the ceiling, or
somewhere below it) involves both aesthetic
and practical considerations. What will look
better? What is necessary to keep water from
splashing outside the shower area? What is
necessary to make the entry door high enough
so that no one bumps a head?
The glass that you select can
be clear, frosted,
etched with designs, and/or tinted
with various
colors. Much more importantly,
seek a shatterproof
safety glass. This substance
normally is
really a polymer that is softer,
more flexible,
and less brittle than true glass.
The tradeoff
is that its surface is more scratch-prone.
Accordingly, you must be very
careful to
use non-abrasive cleaning products
recommended
by the manufacturer.
Indeed, an important issue with
any type
of shower enclosure is proper
maintenance
to keep it clean, free of mold,
mildew, soap
stains, and water stains. Be
sure to understand
these requirements, including
manufacturers’
suggestions, when choosing among
designs.
One oft-cited drawback of the
traditional
bypass door is that it can be
difficult to
keep clean in the tracks and
where the glass
portion of the doors meets their
metal frames.
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