Shower Curtain vs Shower Door: Comparing Choices

When redesigning your bathroom, you must install a shower door or shower curtain if you want to keep the water inside your shower enclosure. Both options present several benefits and a few drawbacks. Let’s weigh the pros and cons of shower doors and shower curtains so you can make an informed decision.

Benefits of Shower Doors

Glass shower doors remain the preferred fix for open shower enclosures due to their modern appearance and long lifespan. However, they offer several other perks as well. Find the top five benefits of a shower door below.

1. Luxurious Look

To elevate your bathroom’s aesthetics, install frameless shower doors. Not only do they add a sleek, contemporary touch to your bathroom, but they also create the illusion of more space due to the transparency of glass. Plus, with various designs available on the market, you can find a style that complements your existing fixtures and decor.

2. Easy to Maintain

Many homeowners don’t take the time and energy to clean their showers, which allows mold and mildew to grow. Fortunately, cleaning glass showers does not take long because you only need to squeegee them after each shower. A mere 20 seconds of squeegeeing will help you keep your door hygienic and looking great.

3. Lasts Longer

With regular shower door maintenance and the latest glass door coatings, your unit will last longer than all the glass doors that came before it, making it a sound investment. Make sure you have professionals install your shower door to avoid damage and accidents. Incorrect installation will shorten the lifespan of shower doors and might even cause safety hazards.

4. Prevents Drafts

A professionally installed door will prevent cold drafts from ruining your luxurious shower time. At the same time, it will also stop heat from escaping, making your shower more energy-efficient and providing a more comfortable experience.

5. Keeps Water in the Enclosure

Full glass enclosures will stop water from splashing onto your bathroom floors, keeping them dry and preventing mold growth and other damage. By keeping the water in your shower, a door will help you avoid slips and reduce your cleanup time after each shower.

Additional Things to Consider When Choosing Shower Doors

Although glass shower enclosures are the ideal solution for most homes, they cost more and prove more challenging to install than other options. Discover some of the drawbacks of shower doors below.

Additional Cost

Glass doors represent an excellent long-term investment, but they cost more than shower curtains. If you have a limited budget, the price of a shower door and the installation cost might make it unaffordable. Many homeowners cite the additional cost of a shower door as a primary drawback.

Challenging Installation

Shower doors are heavier, bulkier, and take up more space than a shower curtain. Part of the reason for its considerable heft is the extra thickness and tempering of the glass, which prevents the door from shattering. Due to a shower door size and weight, you should hire an expert to work through the complex steps of an installation.

Floor Plan Consideration

For smaller bathrooms with limited space, a swinging shower door might not be a good option because it might require too much floorspace for opening and closing. However, we can help you find a shower door that works well in tight spaces such as a sliding shower door or shower screen.

Benefits of Shower Curtains

Despite their flimsy design and lack of aesthetic appeal, shower curtains offer certain benefits we should not overlook. Let’s explore the various perks of installing a shower curtain instead of a glass door.

Affordability

The main reason homeowners choose a shower curtain is that it can cost as little as $10, making it a perfect choice for consumers on a limited budget. If you have two or more showers, you can easily afford enough shower curtains for privacy and keeping your bathrooms clean.

Flexibility

You will find seemingly unlimited shower curtain designs on the market, making them adaptable to any bathroom decor. Traditional curtains come in a wide array of sizes to close off almost any shower enclosure.

Easy to Install and Disassemble

For the installation, all we need is a shower rod, curtain hooks, and the shower curtain. We typically use a tension rod to avoid drilling. It also serves as a smart solution if you rent because you do not need to ask for permission, and the rod proves easy to disassemble.

An Option for Tight Spaces

With smaller bathroom layouts you may find that a swinging shower door won’t fit your space. You can work with an expert glass technician to determine what style of door will best fit your bathroom’s layout. There may be other door options such as sliding or a shower screen to accommodate. For extremely tight spaces, you could consider a shower curtain instead as they come in various sizes.

Drawbacks of Shower Curtains

Shower curtains have their fair share of drawbacks. Most homeowners consider shower curtains a tradeoff between price and aesthetics. Let’s examine some of the main issues with shower curtains.

Imperfect Seal

Shower curtains do a decent job of keeping water in the shower enclosure, but a little water still gets out through the sides. This drawback increases the time you need to clean up after a shower and can damage your bathroom floor over time.

Mold and Mildew Growth

The bottom of a shower curtain is prone to mold and mildew due to constant exposure to moisture. You must regularly wash and dry your curtain to remove the soap scum and prevent mold and mildew from growing.

Lack of Visual Appeal

Even if you purchase the nicest shower curtain, it will not look as clean as a spotless glass shower door. Over time, shower curtains begin to look sloppy, especially if you do not maintain them properly.

Professional Shower Door Installers | Gatsby Glass

Now that you fully understand the benefits of shower doors versus shower curtains, you can consider your budget, shower layout, and bathroom decor to decide which option suits your home the best. If you need help choosing a shower door solution, Gatsby Glass’s team of experts can custom design a shower door option that will best fit your space. Call Gatsby Glass at 866-GLASS-64 to schedule a consultation today.