Choosing the Right Shower Door and Tray
Shower Doors
A practical and inexpensive way to give your bathroom a lift is to install a new shower door. It could be plain and simple or decorative, depending on which best reflects your personal style.
The type of door that will work best depends on the design of your shower, the size of the opening and the practical space considerations that determine how your door should open.
It is important to ensure that you take accurate measurements – measure the opening width and height to the nearest 1/16th of an inch. You then need to decide if you want your door to be framed or frameless:
Framed doors come in a variety of finishes so it is easy to find one that complements your decor.
The door design includes a track which can collect and trap water, requiring regular cleaning.
Frameless doors are newer in design and are available in different thicknesses and styles of glass such as frosted, tinted and textured. Glass thicknesses vary and usually the thicker and heavier the glass is, the more secure and smoother the gliding of the door will be. They are also easier to keep clean and have the added bonus of being available with mounted towel bars or handles.
There are various types of shower doors to choose from:
Pivot
Most pivot shower doors swing outwards from the shower enclosure, saving space in the showering area but you do have to be aware of anything around your shower enclosure and ensure that there’s enough space for the door to swing freely without hitting anything. They can be installed to open right or left to fit the layout of your bathroom and are often used in alcove and corner, stand-alone showers
Bifold
Bifold doors open into the showering area with a folding action and as the door folds, they do not use up any of your external bathroom space. They have a smooth and fast opening movement so allow an easy access to the shower itself.
Sliding
The sliding shower door is usually reserved for larger shower enclosures and the smooth sliding action makes it very easy to open and close. They take up very little space and consist of two or three panels that slide past each other on top and bottom tracks.
Round
Round shower doors have a curved glass design which creates a more spacious showering area. They open inwards and are attached to the top and bottom of the frame for stability. This type of door can be reversible for right or left access.
Shower Trays
Size
Shower trays are available in a wide range of sizes, so no matter what size and shape your enclosure it should be easy to find one to fit. Due to some types of under-floor plumbing, it is not always possible to fit a shower tray directly to the floor. If this is the case in your bathroom, you can purchase a riser kit which will raise the height of the shower tray. This ensures easy access to the plumbing and pipe work underneath.
Deeper trays are ideal if you have a power shower and non-slip surfaces are always a good idea for safety.
Materials
Resin-Stone and Acrylic are the most common materials used for shower trays and there is very little difference between them when it comes to appearance but stone resin shower trays are more durable then the acrylic ones.
Easy bathrooms have an extensive range of shower doors and shower trays to choose from, so why not come along to one of our showrooms and have a look? Alternatively, browse online and if any advice is needed, talk to a service advisor on our live chat system.
