As shower units manufacturer in the shower industry since 2005, we produce the sliding glass shower doors and hinged bathroom doors in our shower factory, but we also use glass shower doors every day in our home. Today we would like to share our views and hope it helps to you.
When renovating a bathroom, one of the pivotal decisions homeowners face is choosing the type of shower door that best fits their space, functionality, and aesthetic requirements. The debate between sliding and pivot glass shower doors is a common one, each offering unique benefits and drawbacks. This article delves into the comparison, assisting you in making an informed decision for your bathroom makeover.
Sliding Glass Shower Doors: Maximizing Space and Convenience
Sliding glass doors, also known as bypass doors, are ideal for bathrooms where space is at a premium. They operate by gliding along tracks, which means they don’t require additional space to swing open. This makes them an excellent choice for compact bathrooms.
Advantages of Sliding Doors:
1, Space Efficiency: Perfect for smaller bathrooms as they require no extra space for door clearance.
2, Ease of Access: Their side-to-side opening mechanism allows for easy entry and exit, even in restricted spaces.
3,Water Containment: Sliding doors are effective at keeping water within the shower area, reducing the risk of spills onto the bathroom floor, as such sliding shower doors usually match with higher aluminum profile, which functionally prevents water splashing out.
4, Better Cost Price: Sliding shower doors usually use shower rollers which can be normal or higher quality spare parts. Such shower door rollers parts are very common in the market and cost price cheaper compared with pivot hinge, that also explains the most hot-selling shower door enclosures in the whole global market are the sliding one, especially for shape of quadrant and corner entry.
5, Easy to Repair: One set of sliding shower doors usually have 8pcs shower door rollers on it: 4pcs up plus 4pcs down rollers, or total 4pcs if only one glass sliding. If one of rollers gets broken, just need to change that damaged one is ok. Conric use the most popular shower door rollers for our customers, which is easy to obtain in local market, or get directly from us, we offer life-long after sales service for our partners, and usually we load some extra easy wearing parts when loading the containers, so our overseas partners can keep in their warehouse and dispatch the needed shower enclosure parts quickly to their end customers.
Drawbacks:
1, Cleaning Difficulty: The tracks and overlapping design can make sliding doors more challenging to clean, as water and soap scum tend to accumulate in these areas. Here we suggest to use toothbrush to clean it, very helpful.
2, Limited Opening Width: The fixed panel means the entry space is somewhat restricted, which could be a consideration for accessibility. The opening width usually around 50cm for 90x90cm size quadrant double sliding shower doors.
Pivot Glass Shower Doors: Elegance and Accessibility
Pivot shower doors, often referred to as swinging shower doors or hinged shower doors, swing open like a traditional door. They can pivot from the side or can be center-mounted to open both ways, offering a versatile and stylish option for any bathroom layout.
Advantages of Pivot Shower Doors:
1, Larger Opening: They provide a full opening width, making entry and exit more accessible, especially for those with mobility issues.
2, Easy to Clean: Without the tracks that sliding doors have, pivot doors are generally easier to keep clean and free from build-up.
3, Aesthetic Appeal: Pivot doors offer a sleek and elegant design that can make a bathroom feel more spacious and luxurious.
Drawbacks:
1, Space Requirements: They require clear space in the bathroom to swing open, which may not be practical in tighter spaces.
2, Potential for Water Leakage: Since these doors swing open, there’s a higher chance of water escaping onto the bathroom floor if not properly sealed.
3, Cost Price: As the pivot hinges hold for the heavy glass door, it requires high quality of such shower door part, otherwise, it easily gets broken in daily use. So the cost price generally could be higher compared sliding shower doors which generally use normal shower door rollers. Conric in bathroom glass shower doors manufacturer market for almost 20 years, we are strict to choose the best qualified pivot hinges for our OEM and ODM customers, the pivot inner part is made of at least stainless steel or brass, instead of zinc, as zinc is not that lasting and easily get rotted. We have to think longer for the end-users, this is also a good method for us to avoid claims from our distributor or retailor customers.
Decision Factors
- Bathroom Size and Layout:
Consider the size and layout of your bathroom. Sliding shower doors are better suited for smaller spaces, while pivot doors can be a luxurious addition to larger bathrooms.
- Accessibility:
Think about who will be using the bathroom. Pivot doors offer a wider opening, which may be necessary for those needing extra space to navigate in and out of the shower.
- Maintenance:
Your willingness to clean and maintain the door could influence your choice. Sliding doors require more effort to keep the tracks and overlaps clean, whereas pivot doors are easier in this regard.
- Style and Aesthetics:
The design of the door can impact the overall look of your bathroom. Pivot doors tend to offer a more elegant and open feel, which might align better with certain design aesthetics.
Conclusion
Both sliding and pivot glass shower doors have their place in bathroom design, offering distinct advantages based on your specific needs and preferences. While sliding doors excel in space efficiency and water containment, pivot doors stand out for their accessibility and ease of cleaning. Ultimately, your choice will depend on your bathroom’s size, layout, and your personal style and functional requirements.
Remember, the best bathroom is one that balances practicality with personal taste, ensuring a space that is both functional and inviting. Whichever option you choose, make sure it complements your bathroom’s design and meets your everyday needs, creating a sanctuary that you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Lastly, Conric as an experienced bathroom shower doors manufacturer, we offer professional OEM and ODM B2B services and full bathroom shower solutions to our customers with competitive prices, because we are aiming for long term cooperation. Welcome to contact for any questions or inquiries about shower doors, we are glad to assist your business, our biggest advantage is the ability to help our partners growing.