If you are remodeling your bathroom, then it is a great time to design the shower of your dreams. Glass shower enclosures are attractive, durable, and they add a modern touch to any bathroom. However, you may have misconceptions about glass shower enclosures that are making your new shower style choice more difficult than it should be.
Read on to learn three common glass shower enclosure myths and the truth behind these misconceptions.
Myth #1: Glass Shower Enclosures Provide No Privacy
If you have a large family, then you may need a shower exterior that provides privacy from other family members who may need to use the bathroom at the same time. Or you may have simply grown used to the privacy an opaque shower curtain offers while you shower and think you will not feel as comfortable showering in a clear glass enclosure.
While shower enclosures can be created with crystal-clear glass, you can choose from many other glass styles if you want a glass shower enclosure that provides more privacy.
Shower glass enclosures can be created with frosted or textured glass to increase shower privacy without blocking light. For even more privacy, choose colored textured glass.
An alternative way to increase glass shower enclosure privacy is to opt for clear glass, then install privacy window film on the exterior surface of the shower. You can then change the privacy film as desired or remove it altogether if you later find you prefer a completely clear glass enclosure.
Myth #2: Glass Shower Enclosures Are Dangerous
Many people who would love to install glass shower enclosures opt for other shower alternatives due to a fear that they or a family member will accidentally break the enclosure glass and cut themselves. This is a valid concern because all glass can break.
However, glass shower enclosures are made with one of two types of safety glass: tempered glass or laminated glass.
Tempered glass is much stronger and resistant to breakage than traditional glass because it is heated to an extremely high temperature and then rapidly cooled during the manufacturing process. In addition, if tempered glass does break, the edges of the shards are less sharp than traditional glass and less likely to cut human skin.
Laminated glass is also commonly called “unbreakable glass,” although it can technically break. This type of glass is made up of one thin sheet of clear vinyl sandwiched between two thin sheets of glass. If laminated glass breaks, all glass shards remain firmly attached to the vinyl, reducing the chance that a chunk will break loose.
Myth #3: Glass Shower Enclosures Are Difficult to Keep Clean
Like many homeowners, it may seem like you clean your home windows one day and they are dirty the next. Clear glass does show dirt very easily and can seem difficult to keep clean. This fact may lead you to believe that you’ll have trouble keeping your glass shower enclosure free from dirt, soap scum, and hard water mineral deposits.
To prevent the formation of mineral deposits on your glass shower enclosure, ask your shower enclosure design expert if they can install hydrophobic glass or coat the interior surface of your shower glass with a hydrophobic coating. Hydrophobic glass and coatings repel water to prevent hard water mineral buildup. Many of these coatings also repel soap scum and dirt.
In addition, while soap scum may be very difficult to remove from other surfaces, removing it from glass is actually easy. To clean your glass shower doors, simply spray the glass with a solution made of water and plain white vinegar, then leave this solution in place for 5 to 10 minutes as it dissolves soap scum. Finally, remove soap scum with a squeegee.
Forget any myths you have heard about glass shower enclosures. These enclosures can provide privacy, are not dangerous, and are typically very easy to keep clean. Contact the glass experts at Martin Glass Co. today to discuss your options for custom glass shower enclosures in St. Louis.