shower Archives - Shower Door Experts

Expert Advice: Cleaning Your Shower Door

Posted on April 17, 2022April 26, 2022 by Emily Watkins

Cleaning Glass: an Expert’s Guide

On a recent Facebook post, somebody new commented: “Offer [a shower door] you can get clean. One that you don’t need vinegar, SOS pads and sand paper and hours of hard elbow grease.” And, friends, we do! All our shower doors, in fact!

Person cleans glass shower door — Not how you want to spend your Saturday…

How Glass Works

Glass is made from sand. To the naked eye, glass appears smooth, but it actually has tiny ridges and valleys where soap scum loves to hang out. That’s why using abrasives like sand paper is a really bad idea for your shower door! You’d only be making the surface rougher and happier for the scum!

What To Do

Your shower door experts recommend a two step approach: prevention and maintenance.

Prevention: Glass Sealant

We offer this service to all our clients. It seals those pores and ridges in your glass to prevent scum from accumulating in the first place. It’s kind of like wrapping your shower in Teflon®. You’ll still have to maintain the door, but opting for sealant does reduce those “hours of hard elbow grease” our Facebook follower so hates. We love hanging out with shower doors, but you have other things to do!

Maintenance: Microfiber

After every shower: quickly wipe down the glass with a microfiber cloth – or squeegee! it’s fun!
1-2 times per week: when the shower is still wet, give the glass a more thorough wipe with a microfiber cloth.
Once a week: when the glass is dry, evenly spray a soapless repellent cleaner on the entire surface. Then use a clean dry microfiber cloth to wipe in a circular motion and buff to a shine!

Our preferred cleaner is Diamond Blue Wash. It’s environmentally friendly and doesn’t leave any residue for you to scrub away later. Do get in touch with any shower maintenance questions at all. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram for stunning shower doors. And feel free to stop by our Jefferson, Maryland showroom to pick up some cleaner and microfiber cloths!

Acid Etched Shower Door in Greencastle PA

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Acid Etched Cambridge Unit in Greencastle, Pennsylvania

For those who prefer to keep the mystery alive, we present: acid etched shower doors!

This is our popular Cambridge double sliding unit, fully frameless for a stylish modern look. The client opted for completely acid etched glass. We also work with local artisans who can acid etch patterns into the glass, which I personally love. Partially etched glass, whether a privacy bar or funky pattern, is fun and also lets more light in. Some people prefer a “shower cave” especially in the morning, but you can also install additional lighting in the shower enclosure if you prefer privacy and a sunnier start to the day.

We really enjoy coming up with custom solutions to your showering visions! From a recent Google review from client Joanne: “The gal in the office who schedules the installation is super friendly and helpful.” That’s our Emmarose! She’s fantastic. (Don’t worry, she’s not writing this – hah hah – Emily is the blogger!) So if you’re in the greater Washington DC area – including our southern Pennsylvania friends! – give us a shout to talk options. You can also follow us on Facebook and/or Instagram for design inspiration and the fun things we get up to!

Expert Advice: Matte Black Trend

Posted on September 25, 2021September 26, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Matte black is a bathroom design trend that’s here to stay! We get quite a few questions and comments about matte black options, so here are some ideas to consider when you’re considering a new shower look…

Black and Light

One of the most popular – and show-stopping! – iterations of the trend is black against white or light-colored walls and tile. This beige space, which could have been dull on its own, is completely transformed by the black hardware.

Mix and Match

Matte black can stand alone, but it also plays well with other metallics and colors. Here the black shower frame is paired with silver-tones, marble, and stone for a unique but entirely cohesive look. Grid showers are also having quite a moment, and these two trends are a match made in shower door heaven!

Be Bold

Chrome is the standard choice for bathroom hardware, but it can fade into the background. Totally fine if a neutral is what you’re after. We love how these folks in Frederick paired a more neutral handle with a bold black faucet and painted panels. And that tile! This unit definitely makes a statement!

Or Start Small

If you want just a bit of black in your bathroom, it’s easy to switch up your cabinet pulls or faucet. For the shower or tub that could mean just a black shower head or handle. Who knows, you might get carried away by the trend!

Get In Touch!

We’d love to know what you think about this design – really! Matte black: yea? nay? We are quite active on Facebook, and you can also get in touch the old fashioned ways – well, not carrier pigeons but, you know, phones and email! We’re also on Instagram where we share even more shower door pics for design inspiration.

Or if you’re ready to dive in, you can get a free quote anytime!

Corner Upgrade in Fairfax

Posted on July 19, 2021July 19, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Frameless Corner Unit in Fairfax, Virginia

This week we are taking you on a journey from meh to fab! So many homes in our area built between the 1980s and 2000s have similar master bathroom layouts: a soaking tub adjacent to a shower stall. Often the corner shower has an ugly metallic frame. (Sorry, not sorry.) It’s a functional but outdated look. And that’s why this is our best-selling layout!

We put in a lot of frameless corner units like these when homeowners decide to refresh or remodel. It’s a solid investment, something you can enjoy every day and know will retain its value. Unless your clunky metal shower is actually made of gold, I guess. Then maybe keep the metal. Otherwise, frameless* is the future!

*Within the shower industry, “frameless” refers to any shower enclosure that doesn’t have metal adhered to the edge of the glass. Some people think frameless means no metal whatsoever. This is not the case. Frameless units can be virtually metal-free, except for clips on any stationary panels, hinges, and handle. But frameless also covers units that may have a header atop the unit and u-channel on the stationary panels.

For more upgrade inspiration, follow us over on Facebook and Instagram! If you’re ready to get started on our refresh journey, you can start a quote here on the website or get in touch for a chat. We are always, always down for a shower chat.

Minimalist Matte Black in Mount Airy

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Minimalist Matte Black in Mount Airy, Maryland

Another piece of matte black eye candy! We never get tired of the matte black trend – and neither do y’all. I’ll get back to the glass in a sec, but can we bask in that funky hardware? The bath faucet, shower head, and hook are so cool! But we’re the door experts, so let’s move on to that…

Still here? Okay, let’s geek out. Sharp-eyed blog readers will notice that the hinges are behind the front face of the glass. What’s going on there? The main appeal of these offset hinges is that more of the metal is “hidden” on the inside of the shower. Sometimes this is a technical solution, but we won’t geek out that hard today. The takeaway is that offset hinges are one option to double down on a minimalist shower aesthetic.

And now for something completely different. From our fearless leader, Noah…

For more shower door hilarity, follow us over on Facebook and especially Instagram. You can also get in touch with us at info@showerdoorexperts.com – or go ahead and start a free quote here on the website!

Frameless and Framed in Frederick

Posted on June 14, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Frameless Swing Door with Knee Wall Panel in Frederick, Maryland

This week we’re going back to basics: what is a frameless shower door? We’re fluent in showerdoor-ese, of course, but we don’t expect our clients to know all the industry jargon. So let’s start with this frameless swing door we installed in Frederick, Maryland last week. Within the shower industry, “frameless” refers to any shower enclosure that doesn’t have metal adhered to the edge of the glass. That’s pretty “clear” (hah hah) in the photo below. The only metal in sight is the hardware. It’s a design that’s increasingly popular but not the only way to go…

You might think that “frameless” = no metal at all. But not so! A door can be frameless even if it has a metallic header on top and a channel on the bottom. In that case the metal still isn’t adhered to the edge of the glass.

For contrast, here’s another installation we did in Frederick last week. It is a fully framed bypass unit in matte black. You can see that the glass has metal on every side. In general, framed shower doors are less expensive than fully frameless doors. (That said, a non-standard layout could cost more, so definitely check with us or start a free quote to get all your options.) It’s a traditional – even retro! – layout. In this case, trendy matte black modernizes the look.

We are always happy to nerd out about design and lingo! Get in touch if you have any questions at all. You can also pick up more ideas over on our Facebook and Instagram. Or stop by our showroom in Jefferson, Maryland!

Angled Cape Cod Shower in Adamstown

Posted on June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Angled Cape Cod Unit in Adamstown, Maryland

Angled bathroom ceiling? No worries! Unique angles need custom solutions, and that’s what your local experts are here for! If you’re just starting out on your renovation journey, this kind of angled ceiling is also known as a Cape Cod. For our purposes, any shower door that needs a corner sliced off to make it work is also considered a Cape Cod unit. So while doing your research you might see the terms angled, sloped, slanted, or Cape Cod. Whatever you call it, after the initial free quote, we will come to your home or business to take an exact measurement of your enclosure. That’s the part where we get to use lasers! We ❤️ our jobs.

Other design notes? We supplied and installed the 10″ corner shelf. Glass shelves are great for extra storage that doesn’t clutter up the clean lines of your enclosure. These clients also upgraded their pull handle to our ornate Symphony style. The hardware is all chrome, which pairs well with the light hues of the tile and paint. In general, this unit hits a really sweet spot between vintage and modern design.

What do YOU think about this design? We live for feedback, so let us know on Facebook and/or Instagram. Or stop on by the showroom for a chat! We’re in Jefferson, Maryland and enjoy meeting new people. Tell them Expert Emily sent you and ask for a free rubber ducky!

Bronze Shower in Silver Spring Wins Gold!

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Shower Bench & Oil Rubbed Bronze Hardware in Silver Spring, Maryland

Bronze isn’t third place this week! This stylish and functional shower unit is #1 in our hearts. Why? It not only turned out great, but it’s a testament to good design. In 30 years, we’ve seen a lot of shower layouts! And we highly recommend investing some time up front to think through your options before any remodeling work starts. It can open up design options you might not have thought about – or thought possible! That’s the beauty of custom work.

So what do we have here? First, the shower and bath tub are playing very well together. The off-center spigot of the tub shows that somebody really thought this one through. We helped that corner along with a 1/4″ grind/cut out in the top of the bench so the panel fits seamlessly. So you might want to re-think any “unusable” nooks in your bathroom!

The oil-rubbed bronze hardware also ties the space together. We do offer robe hooks (and towel bars), but in this case the client already had one installed. So the order in which you buy your hardware is also something to think about. There’s nothing wrong with some mix and match hardware if that’s your vision. (Brushed nickel and matte black, yes please.) But it can save you time, frustration, and money to bring us in early in the process. We’re also just really fun and love to chat about shower design!

If you’re still in the lookin’ around stage or just really love well-designed bathrooms (you’re not alone!), you can find us over on Facebook and Instagram.

Full Height & Full Heart in Rockville, Maryland

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door of the Week: Full Height Door-and-Panel in Rockville, Maryland

We went to great lengths to get this door installed. Eh? Eh? 😂 Well, technically, we went to great heights. This full height corner door-and-panel unit is a perfect match for the rain shower head. It won’t let any water escape, but there’s still plenty of space at the top for ventilation. How do we keep so much glass sturdy? Full height corner units require two clamps, one toward the top and another near the bottom. It really is amazing what you can do with frameless glass and clamps!

Design notes: these clients opted for a standard handle and chrome hardware. That makes sense for a design where the shower, not the hardware, is making the statement. (We dig that eastern blue tile!) They also wanted a 10″ shelf in the corner. Yes, we do shelves! And, as you can see, the shelf passed our rigorous durability test. It easily withstands the massive weight of our complimentary rubber ducky. Yes, you will get a ducky if you purchase a shower! And next week you can get a free rubber ducky just for starting a free quote! Just email Emmarose at office@showerdoorexperts with the rough dimensions of your shower and the code LIFEQUACKS. (We will NOT put you on a mailing list, promise.) For now here’s a free coloring sheet:

For more fun and bonus shower pics, head on over to Facebook or Instagram! And even if you’re not ready for a free quote, you can always get in touch with questions. We love to chat.

A Tale of Two Maryland Showers

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Emily Watkins

Shower Door(s) of the Week: Minimalist v. Cozy in Maryland

We couldn’t decide which of these custom showers to feature this week, so why not both? About the only thing they have in common is that they’re both in Maryland and keep water off the bathroom floor…

Spray Panel

In corner one we have a spray panel straight from Kensington, Maryland with clean minimalist lines. Expert Schuyler notes that it almost looks like a fancy hotel shower. The spray panel has just two wall clips and a channel along the bottom that secure the glass in place. The bench completes the almost industrial look. Does this design speak to you? Or are you more of a…

Panel-Door-Panel

In the other corner we have a cozy panel-door-panel from New Market, Maryland. The door hinges are glass-to-glass, placed at the very top and bottom of the door so the customers doesn’t get a face full of hinge first thing in the morning. And don’t let the pink and flowers fool you: this isn’t your grandma’s shower. (Or else it is, and your grandma is super hip!) Older showers might have a lot of metal around the edges. Also known as “framed,” in the biz. Frameless showers are more modern, stylish, and let in lots of light.

Also of note: the duel benches are a nice touch. It’s always handy to have space for your bottles and a spot to shave your legs. (This observation brought to you by Expert Emily.) Or just sit and ponder for awhile. You can see that the benches are angled so water doesn’t accumulate on them. This kind of design feature is why it’s so darn cool to get a custom shower door. You can design your dream shower, and we’ll make the glass work!

We’d love to hear your take on either or both of these shower designs! We’re always hanging out on Facebook and posting showers and fun pics on Instagram. (Send us a message in either place with the code SHOWERTHOUGHTS for a free rubber ducky!) Also waiting by the computer and phone to answer your questions or start a free quote.

Tag: shower