Niccolo
Member
I have to rebuild a defectively tiled shower in a home I recently purchased and am mulling shower design issues.
The prior shower had a frameless, floating glass construction, with a door hinged off a piece of glass that was anchored only at the base and wall but not on top. But there was a tiled bench which meant that one of the two door hinges was anchored into the bench, rather than glass, adding stability.
I want to remove the bench for a cleaner aesthetic (instead using a teak bench). My general contractor is skeptical of hinging a door off even a thick piece of glass that is not supported from above, and I am sympathetic with his conservative design impulses. So the options are:
1) Run the non-door glass pieces from the curb on the ground all the way up to the ceiling, anchoring them there. Door would be lower to allow a significant space for steam to vent, i.e. *not* fully enclosed steam shower construction. Pros: Stability and I think it could look good. Cons: Cost of extra glass, reduced steam venting (fan is located in ceiling just *outside* the door area), and one could argue it would look better not to run the glass to the ceiling.
2) Metal frame member on top of both the non-door and door glass. Pros: Stable and cheaper. Cons: Looks less nice.
3) Floating construction without supporting the non-door glass pieces from above. Pros: Looks good and cheaper. Cons: Less stable over time, given lever effect of heavy glass door when open.
Feedback welcome!
The prior shower had a frameless, floating glass construction, with a door hinged off a piece of glass that was anchored only at the base and wall but not on top. But there was a tiled bench which meant that one of the two door hinges was anchored into the bench, rather than glass, adding stability.
I want to remove the bench for a cleaner aesthetic (instead using a teak bench). My general contractor is skeptical of hinging a door off even a thick piece of glass that is not supported from above, and I am sympathetic with his conservative design impulses. So the options are:
1) Run the non-door glass pieces from the curb on the ground all the way up to the ceiling, anchoring them there. Door would be lower to allow a significant space for steam to vent, i.e. *not* fully enclosed steam shower construction. Pros: Stability and I think it could look good. Cons: Cost of extra glass, reduced steam venting (fan is located in ceiling just *outside* the door area), and one could argue it would look better not to run the glass to the ceiling.
2) Metal frame member on top of both the non-door and door glass. Pros: Stable and cheaper. Cons: Looks less nice.
3) Floating construction without supporting the non-door glass pieces from above. Pros: Looks good and cheaper. Cons: Less stable over time, given lever effect of heavy glass door when open.
Feedback welcome!
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