How to choose a glass shower enclosure
Layout, glass thickness, hardware, and measure: what to check before ordering a custom shower.
A glass shower enclosure is both bathroom design and daily comfort: tempered safety glass, tight seals, and hardware rated for the panel weight. Before you order, look past catalog photos and map your real layout — alcove, corner, opening, or tub — where water drains and how much swing room you need.
Start with form. An alcove enclosure uses three walls and usually less glass — often the best value when walls are fairly straight. A corner unit closes two openings and works when there is no niche. A straight panel or door suits a wet zone already defined by tile and a drain. Tub screens are a separate case: deck length and mount type matter.
Residential showers typically use 8 or 10 mm tempered glass. Eight mm is lighter and more affordable for compact doors. Ten mm is stiffer on wide spans, flexes less when opening, and feels more solid. Extra-clear glass looks brighter; graphite or bronze tint hides water spots; frosted adds privacy.
Hardware is structure, not decoration. Chrome fits most tile; matte black and bronze support modern or warm interiors. Hinges, connectors, bars, and rollers must match glass weight and open cycles. Cheap hardware on a heavy 10 mm panel is a common cause of play and squeaks within a year.
Plan for waterproofing: perimeter seals, a threshold or pan joint, and correct floor slope. Glass does not bend — wall bow and slope are handled with channel and precise cut sizes from a measure. “Tape measure by eye” almost always leaves gaps or a crooked door.
A practical order: pick enclosure type → choose glass and metal finish → book a measure → approve drawing and package → fabricate → install with a water check. On the DUSH PRO site you can run the quiz for a ballpark; we lock the final price after specs and measure.
