What to Expect During the Custom Shower Door Manufacturing Process
How We Make Sure You Get The Shower Door You’re Looking for In Your Country Club Isles Bathroom
The custom shower door manufacturing process occurs after the design of your door and right before the installation. At The Original Frameless Shower Doors, we include several important steps to ensure that the final product meets the customer’s needs and preferences.
The glass panels are cut to the precise dimensions specified in the design, and any necessary holes or cutouts for hardware installation are drilled or cut. This is when we temper the glass, and add our StayCLEAN coating to simplify the cleaning process.
Custom shower door manufacturing involves close collaboration between the customer and the manufacturer to create a tailored solution that meets the customer’s design preferences, functional requirements, and budgetary considerations. From initial consultation to final installation, each step is carefully executed to deliver a high-quality, custom-crafted shower door that enhances the beauty and functionality of the bathroom space.
How Glass Shower Doors Are Packaged For Delivery
Generally speaking, it’s critical to protect the integrity of the custom glass door and prepare it for delivery. We package our multi-paneled enclosures in custom-made wood crates, ensuring a safe and damage-free delivery. Single doors or panels are shipped in custom-made cardboard and wood boxes.
Custom Glass Shower Doors Are Extremely Safe
All frameless shower doors and enclosures should be made up of either heavy 3/8” or ½” safety tempered glass. This makes them a durable and safe choice for any bathroom. Tempered glass is much stronger than traditional float glass. It is designed to break into very tiny pieces, as opposed to regular glass, that breaks in large chunks.
Here are some safety considerations beyond it being tempered and thickness.
- Quality: The quality of the glass itself is essential for safety. High-quality tempered glass undergoes rigorous testing to ensure its strength and durability. Purchasing shower doors from reputable manufacturers who adhere to safety standards and use high-quality materials is essential.
- Edge Treatment: The edges of tempered glass shower doors are often treated to reduce the risk of injury. This may involve grinding, polishing, or adding protective coatings to the edges to make them less sharp.
- Proper Installation: Proper installation ensures the safety and functionality of glass shower doors. This includes using appropriate hardware, such as hinges and handles, and following manufacturer guidelines for installation. Improperly installed shower doors can pose a safety risk due to instability or failure of the hardware.
Overall, tempered glass shower doors are considered safe when manufactured, installed, and maintained correctly. However, it’s essential to exercise caution and inspect the doors regularly for any signs of damage or wear that could compromise their safety.
Aesthetic Considerations for Shower Door Glass
We always recommend clear or ultra-clear glass when installing in a new or renovated bathroom. Clear glass also gives you an ‘open’, more roomy-looking bath, while patterned or rain glass will provide privacy when installed in a shared bathroom.
Here are more aesthetic considerations:
- Glass Type: Various types of glass are available for shower doors, each offering different aesthetic effects. Clear glass provides a clean and modern look, allowing maximum visibility within the shower space. Frosted or obscured glass offers privacy while still allowing light to filter through, and it adds a sense of elegance or sophistication to the bathroom. Textured glass, such as rain or ripple patterns, creates visual interest and enhances the overall design.
- Frameless vs. Framed: Frameless shower doors are popular for their sleek and minimalist appearance. They create a seamless look, allowing the beauty of the glass to shine through without the distraction of bulky frames. Framed shower doors, however, offer additional support and stability. It’s important to remember that the frames are bulky and allow a place for water to pool at the bottom.
- Hardware Finish: The finish of the hardware, such as hinges, handles, and towel bars, can significantly impact the overall aesthetic of shower doors. Common finishes include chrome, brushed nickel, oil-rubbed bronze, and matte black. The hardware finish should complement other fixtures and accents in the bathroom to create a cohesive look.
- Glass Thickness: Glass thickness also affects the aesthetic of shower doors. Thicker glass conveys a sense of luxury and durability, while thinner glass may appear more delicate and modern. The choice of glass thickness should align with the bathroom’s desired aesthetic and design theme while keeping safety and durability at the forefront.
- Customization Options: Many manufacturers offer customization options for shower door glass, allowing homeowners to tailor the design to their preferences. This may include custom etching, printing, or adding decorative elements to the glass panels to create a unique and personalized look.
- Maintenance and Cleaning: Consider the maintenance and cleaning process when selecting shower door glass. Glass with special coatings or treatments, such as anti-spot or easy-clean coatings, can help minimize water spots and soap scum buildup, reducing the need for frequent cleaning and preserving the aesthetic appeal of the doors.
Overall, the aesthetic considerations for shower door glass should align with the bathroom space’s desired style, functionality, and maintenance requirements.
The Production Process for Shower Door Glass
A lot goes into making a custom frameless shower door enclosure. First, exact sizes must be taken to the 1/16” of an inch. Once final sizes are taken or provided, your design is sent to our optimization department, where your tight sizes are changed to ‘cut sizes’, ensuring a perfect installation. Optimization then programs our CNC table that cuts your glass. Then, your glass goes into a special CNC polishing machine that high-polishes all the edges.
When done, the edges of your glass will look like a mirror finish. From there, it goes to the drilling stations. Every hole or notch is cut here, either by one of our glass artisans or by a CNC hole machine. Then, your glass is off to the custom-made washing machine. Your glass will then be heated to 1200 degrees and instantly cooled in the tempering process. From there, the final step is to put your glass panels into our exclusive StayCLEAN® booths, making your glass water and stain-repellent.
The Hole Drilling and Cutout Processing For Shower Doors
Before your shower door glass gets tempered, one of the last processes is to drill and notch all holes needed for hinges, clamps, and handles. At The Original Frameless Shower Doors, we have multiple custom-made drilling machines that simultaneously drill both sides of the glass, ensuring no clips are made.
Glass Tempering Process for Shower Doors
After all fabrication is complete, the last step is tempering the glass. The glass is loaded onto a conveyor belt-driven table run by a massive computer. Glass slowly enters the heating chamber and is ‘cooked’ at about 1,200 degrees for between 15 and 20 minutes. Then, the glass moves to the cooling chamber. The rapid heating and cooling process turns regular float glass into tempered glass. Once the glass comes out of the cooling chamber, it is inspected for warps, burn marks, or scratches.
Available Choices For Hardware Finishes
There are several choices for hardware finishes on glass shower doors, allowing homeowners to select options that complement their bathroom design and personal preferences. Some standard hardware finishes for glass shower doors include:
- Chrome: Chrome finishes offer a sleek, modern look that coordinates well with various bathroom styles. Chrome hardware adds a shiny and reflective appearance to shower doors, creating a polished and contemporary aesthetic.
- Brushed Nickel: Brushed nickel finishes provide a softer and more subtle appearance than chrome. This finish features a matte or satin texture with visible brush marks, offering a sophisticated and understated look that complements a wide range of bathroom designs.
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze: Oil-rubbed bronze finishes are warm and rustic, making them ideal for traditional or vintage-inspired bathrooms. This finish typically features dark tones with subtle highlights and a slightly weathered or antiqued patina, adding character and charm to shower door hardware.
- Matte Black: Matte black finishes have surged in popularity recently due to their modern and minimalist aesthetic. Black hardware creates a striking contrast against the glass panels, providing a bold and contemporary look that works well with monochromatic or industrial-style bathrooms.
- Polished Brass: Polished brass finishes offer a luxurious and timeless appeal, evoking a sense of elegance and sophistication. Brass hardware adds warmth and richness to shower doors, creating a classic and upscale look that pairs well with traditional or eclectic bathroom designs.
- Stainless Steel: Stainless steel finishes provide a clean and versatile option for shower door hardware. Stainless steel is known for its durability and resistance to corrosion, making it a practical choice for high-moisture environments like bathrooms. This finish offers a modern and understated appearance that complements various design styles.
- Gold: Gold finishes, including polished gold or brushed gold, offer a luxurious and opulent look that adds glamor to shower doors. Gold hardware creates a sense of luxury and refinement, making it an excellent choice for upscale or contemporary bathrooms seeking sophistication.
Homeowners can select the finish that best suits their design preferences, complements their bathroom decor, and creates the desired aesthetic impact in their space.
Get Your Custom Shower Door from The Original Frameless Shower Doors
At The Original Frameless Shower Doors, we work hard to ensure that you receive the shower door you are looking for. We take every step possible in manufacturing to ensure that the door you receive matches your style choices while remaining highly durable. We have more than 30 years of experience helping our customers enhance the look of their Country Club Isles bathroom. Give us a call at 954-656-3700 or complete the form today!
