What Can You Do if Your Previous Frameless Shower Screens Have Leaked?
Frameless shower screens have grown in popularity, with their very clean, almost invisible lines that don't make the shower stand out. This is wonderful for those who prefer a more understated bathroom design. However, frameless shower screens have developed a—not always accurate—reputation for leaking. This could make people turn to framed doors once again. But, is that really the right choice? It turns out, much of that reputation is based on simply not knowing what to do to make the screens watertight.
Framed Screens Have Built-in Seals
Part of the appeal of framed shower screens is that the frame forms a built-in seal that keeps water from dripping out into the rest of the bathroom. While a showerhead might rarely be aimed at a corner or door, where an opening could exist, the spray from the water as it hits you can ricochet anywhere, including toward any gaps in the shower screen. With the frame in place, there are no gaps.
But Those Frames Can Corrode
One of the reasons for the switch to frameless shower screens is that the metal of the frames can corrode, due to both damage and age. The frames also require the use of more materials, which, if you're trying to reduce your resource footprint, doesn't sound so nice. A frameless shower screen still uses glass and some metal for, say, the door hinges, but it's still not nearly as much.
Use Silicone Seals and Sweeps for Frameless Screens
So, if you've dealt with leaking frameless screens in the past, but you aren't sure you want to get a framed screen, what can you do? The solution is simple: Install silicone seals over gaps (such as in corners) and door sweeps. You don't see these seals in a lot of home decor images, but they do work, and they make frameless screens a lot easier to deal with. Best of all, if the seals deteriorate, you don't have to replace the entire screen; you change only the seal. And you can put seals only in the spots where you've noticed leaks.
Personal preference does affect which type of shower screen you choose; some people prefer one over the other just because they like that one. Yet other people think they prefer one type when really, the other type was just installed incorrectly. If you've had frameless shower screens that have leaked in the past, that might not mean it's time to go back to framed screens. Instead, it could just be a matter of having a new frameless shower screen installed, this time with seals and sweeps. Those could be what turn that frameless shower screen into one of the better bathroom fixtures you've ever bought.
Contact a service that installs frameless shower screens to learn more.
