Shower Door Basics

A sliding glass door where both doors slide freely back and forth. Also known as a full bypass shower door.

Small metal strip across the bottom of the shower door that is usually attached directly to the threshold / sill of the shower or tub.

The area in which your shower is located. It can also be made of acrylic, vinyl, tile, and other substrates.

The glass panel on a sliding glass door system that does not move. In this style of shower, you can only exit and enter from one side of the enclosure.

There is not a metal frame attached to the glass panels, and what metal is visible, is minimal. Delta® Paxos or Mod are examples of frameless shower door designs.

One door opens at a point connected with a hinged part attached to a side wall.

Learn the difference between hinged and pivoting shower doors.

A coating that is applied in a thin layer to glass to help repel water; Spot Guard.

The measurements wall-to-wall at the top and bottom of an enclosure are not the same.

One door opens at a point, either connected at the bottom or the top of a jamb.

Learn the difference between hinged and pivoting shower doors.

The measurements wall-to-wall at the top and bottom of an enclosure are the same.

The distance from the center of a circle to its edge.

A type of shower door comprised of one stationary panel, installed closest to the shower head.

There is not a metal frame attached to the glass panels; however, there is a stronger frame that is still visible around the glass. A good example of this is the Delta® C500 sliding shower door.

Long plastic pieces that typically have a fin that not only aids with water retention but helps prevent the edges of the glass from contacting the sides of your enclosure.

The area in which your shower is located. It can be made of acrylic, vinyl, tile, and other substrates.

A strong, break-resistant type of safety glass. This glass has been heat-treated to withstand greater forces on its surface than annealed (un-tempered) glass. If broken, it will shatter into small granular pieces rather than jagged shards. Refer to the Glass Safety page for more information.

The lip of the shower or bathtub base. The bottom of the shower door will be installed along this lip, so it is important to make sure it has enough clearance. Refer to our How to Measure Guide for more specifics.

A shower unit with a very low to no threshold, so the floor of the shower is essentially flush with the bathroom floor. This allows for barrier-free entry, which can benefit those with limited mobility.