Top 6 Types of Shower Glass | Buying Guide
There are a number of elements that you have to consider while choosing a shower enclosure. Of which, glass type is the primary and most important one. The right glass type not only accounts for the enclosure strength but also claims the right aesthetic value. Taking the significance of choosing the right glass in view, we will focus on this very factor in the following discussion. We will shed light on some common types of shower glass to make the decision easy for you.
Table of Contents
1. Clear Shower Glass
Clear glass is the standard transparent glass that we see all around us. It is the most commonly used type of glass. The standard clear glass is considered transparent but it actually has a slight greenish tint in it. We are so used to this natural tint that we mostly ignore it. Some of the upsides of using clear shower doors are as follows.
- The clear glass doors go with any interior style.
- They add a timeless elegance to the bathroom interior with their transparency.
- Clear glass is the most common choice for shower doors because of its minimalistic aesthetics.
- Clear shower doors provide an uninterrupted view inside the shower. This feature allows you to incorporate radiant tiles and stones to complement the bathroom interior.
- Clear enclosures make small bathrooms appear larger by allowing easy flow of light and transparency. The bathroom also feels open and well-lit with clear shower doors.
The only disadvantage of transparent glass is the extra effort required to keep it spotless. Due to absolute clarity, the water and finger marks appear right away on the glass panels.
2. Low Iron Shower Glass
Low iron shower glass focuses on ultimate clarity. The greenish tint in the standard glass is eliminated to achieve low-iron glass by adding small amounts of iron to the glass during the manufacturing process.
- Low-iron shower glass has better clarity than traditional glass. It, therefore, allows the real colors of the shower tiles and backsplash to shine through.
- Due to absolute clarity, low-iron glass allows more light to pass through the panels. Thus, illuminating the bathroom interior better.
- Low-iron shower glass lacks the mild tinting of clear glass, so you can have brighter showers and more light in your bathroom.
Fingerprints, stains, and water streaks stand out more in this type of glass. So, you need to be careful about the shower glass clarity.
3. Rain Shower Glass
Rain glass is designed with a pattern that resembles raindrops. The raindrop pattern is cut onto one side of the glass to reflect rain. This pattern is a style-forward alternative to opaque glass.
- Rain shower doors add superior aesthetics to the bathroom interior.
- They complement any bathroom decor and instantly contemporize the space. Therefore, many homeowners choose rain shower doors for instant remodeling.
3. The uber-chic format of rain sets it apart from the rest of textured glass. The modest scale of the rain pattern does not detract the eye from the rest of the interior. The rain shower doors effortlessly blend into the bathroom aesthetics.
4. You can make your shower area the focal point of the bathroom by choosing rain patterned shower glass.
5. The glass has a pattern rather than frosting. So, it allows the light to pass through while obstructing the direct view into the shower. Therefore, rain shower glass is a perfect pick for ensuring high privacy and easy flow of light.
6. The rain pattern is only carved on one side of the glass. So, its cleaning is also easier.
The shower glass design works better for some bathroom sizes as compared to the others. Since it hinders the direct view, it would reduce the visual dimensions if used in a small bathroom. Therefore, rain showers are considered better for larger bathrooms.
4. Frosted Shower Glass
Frosted glass is known for its high privacy value. It is made opaque through the technique of acid-etching or sandblasting. The process of acid-etching is done on one side of the glass panel to achieve an opaque texture. This texture keeps light from flowing through the glass panel completely. Thus, giving the surface a translucent look.
- If you want to ensure better privacy in your bathroom, frosted shower doors are the right pick for you.
2. Although the frosted shower glass interrupts the direct view inside the shower. But they don’t interfere with the flow of light. The light can easily pass through the frosted glass panels, making the bathroom interior bright and well-lit.
3. Frosted shower doors work well in multi-person households. Even if someone is inside the bathroom, the opaque coating on the shower door prevents them from seeing through.
4. Frosted glass is the easiest to clean. Only one side of the glass is frosted while the other one is smooth. So, the cleaning time is cut to half. Furthermore, the frosting prevents fingerprints and smudges from being as noticeable as they would be on clear glass.
Frosted shower doors work better in a larger bathroom space than in a smaller one.
5. Bronze Shower Glass
The shower glass tinted with a bronze color is called bronze glass. It has a classic bronze hue that adds a flavor of uniqueness to the bathroom interior.
- Like clear glass, bronze glass allows you to see through the glass panels. However, the quantity of light that passes through the glass is reduced based on the intensity of the tinting.
- With bronze shower glass, you can add a touch of your unique personal taste to the bathroom.
- Bronze shower glass is known for its rustic vibe. So, if you have a retro interior theme in the bathroom, complement it with bronze shower glass.
- The stain and water streaks would not appear as evidently on the bronze glass as they do on the clear glass. Therefore, cleaning it is also easy.
6. Gray Shower Glass
The shower glass with a gray tint is considered gray glass. It is on the darker sides of the tints. Keep in mind that the gray glass would look darker with thickness. The standard thickness for shower glass is ⅜” to ½” based on the glass type. So, you can choose the thickness in this range according to your aesthetic preferences.
- You can achieve an absolutely unique bathroom interior by integrating gray glass in the shower.
- The dark hue would ensure better privacy value.
- Gray shower glass allows the lights to flow through. However, the degree of light flow will vary based on the intensity of the color tint.
- Darker colors are considered contemporary hues. So, integrating gray glass in the shower is a sure shot to achieving the modern bathroom aesthetics.
Final Words
We have covered the most in-vogue types of shower glass. There are plenty of other types as well. You can pick any type of shower glass according to your style and interior demands. Tempered glass is the standard glass used in shower doors. However, you can choose any glass type to achieve the desired aesthetics. Make sure to incorporate the elegance of shower glass in your interior and keep up with the design trends.