Your New Frameless Shower: U-Channel or Clip Installation?
A frameless shower is a beautiful new addition to any bathroom. It gives your bathroom the illusion of more space, opening the area to a light, airy, and spa-like feel.
U-channel Installation Method
Frameless showers are frameless in the sense that you will not see an unattractive frame surrounding the enclosure’s edges as you would in a typical shower. However, frameless showers do need some kind of device to keep the panels of glass strong and in place. One such device is a U-channel, or a tiny U-shaped metal frame. Yes, it is technically a frame, but it will not compromise your desired aesthetic of a minimal shower space.
The U-channel is a metal tract that acts like a pocket for the glass panels to fit into. The finished product hardly shows the frames and offers a strong foundation for your enclosure. Plus, this type of installation is fast and easy. Modern U-channel installation methods don’t require silicone sealants between the metal and glass. Instead, clear vinyl grasps the inside of the U-channel, securing the glass. The downside to this installation method is that owners will have to clean and scrub to keep mildew from manifesting between the frame and glass.
Installation Using Clips
Clip (or “clamp”) installation uses small metal clips to hold the glass in place, attached to fixed panels on your tile floor. There is no metal tract running the length of your glass when you choose this type of installation – just small clips holding your glass effortlessly in place. Clips have earned the reputation as “fully frameless” for shower enclosures because they truly don’t use a frame. Clips create a clear, almost uninterrupted shower space. They also don’t require cleaning to prevent mold and mildew. However, clips tend to be slightly more expensive and time-consuming to install.
Choosing Your Installation Type
Both types of installation achieve the frameless shower appearance that’s so desirable today. One is not necessarily better than the other; it depends on personal preference. Consider your budget and time frame, but look at the bigger picture – do you want a small metal frame or no frame at all when you walk into your bathroom and look at your shower? Contact the experts at Maryland Frameless Showers to get more details about each installation type.