One of the original reasons corner shower stalls began gaining popularity was because they were ideal for small bathrooms where effective use of floorspace was critical. Because they were typically installed in tight spaces, the door options available were rather limited as well. As more and more consumers began to install corner showers, not just for their efficiency, but there beauty as well, the options for corner shower doors began to expand. While there are still only so many ways you can install a door, knowing the basics of the choices you do have is crucial to selecting your best option.
Pivot Door
A pivot door works as would a standard door in your home. Instead of being hinged on the sides, however, it is attached at the top and bottom to the frame. The door pivots on the attachment points and opens outwards. While the pivot door is the most traditional in appearance, it doesn’t always work well in small spaces since it requires a bit of clearance room to open all the way. Pivot doors are most often found on corner showers that are installed as a companion to a traditional bathtub in a master bathroom where spacial concerns aren’t an issue.
Sliding Door
A sliding door is ideal for rectangular corner showers due to the extended width of the enclosure panel they must have to work properly. A sliding door typically consists of two panels set within a track, mounted at the top and bottom of the shower unit. Each panel can pass either in front of or behind the other in order to create an opening for the shower unit. A benefit to a sliding door is that it can be opened form either side and does not require any additional space, other than what the shower itself is already taking up, in order to open and close.
Bi-Fold Door
A bi-fold door is somewhat of a hybrid between a sliding door and a pivot door. It is fixed within a track at both ends, but hinged in the middle and able to fold in on itself. The bi-fold door is ideal in spaces where there is a slight amount of room to spare for door clearance outside of the shower unit, but not enough for a full pivot door. Since the bi-fold door folds in half on itself, it only extends out half the distance of a standard door.
While there are other door options available, these are the three most common.
Related posts:
