The Top Five Fashionable Options For Modern Shower Enclosures

The Top Five Fashionable Options For Modern Shower Enclosures

When people step into a residential bathroom one of the first items they notice is the shower. That being said it is important that your shower enclosure actually accentuates your bathroom. It needs to match your personal style as well as serve as a functional bathing area. There are many options in which to choose from, so without further ado here are the top fashionable options for modern shower enclosures. They are all popular choices; it just becomes a matter of personal taste.

The Frameless Glass Shower Enclosure

There is a good reason that frameless glass shower enclosures are such a popular choice with homeowners in this day and age. We spend a tremendous amount of time in our bathrooms on a daily basis, yet they tend to be the smallest rooms in the house. Glass shower enclosures provide openness, fluidity, and flow; thereby creating the optical illusion that there is more square footage or space in the bathroom. They are also extremely easy to clean and maintain. Most are treated with special finishes that help to repel those nasty water spots and soap scum.

The Glass Block Shower Enclosure

Glass block shower enclosures are both stylish and adaptable since they can be built into pretty much any size or shape imaginable. Modern glass blocks contain various textures and etched patterns that provide the homeowner with a personalized style. Glass blocks also provide strong architectural lines that give residential bathrooms a clean, yet stated design. There are a plethora of options available regarding the blocks themselves including various colors, styles, and thick nesses. Most of the glass block shower enclosures of the past did not include a door. However, the more modern designs now include stylish, frameless glass doors in order to effectively keep the water from escaping.

The Sliding Glass Shower Enclosure

Many people would like to include the modern look of glass, but simply do not have the space in their bathroom for a swinging door. This is where a sliding glass shower enclosure comes into play. They are not only saving, but also extremely fashionable. From a design aspect, sliding glass shower enclosures have the ability to be customized in order to fit any space. They are the perfect solution to showcase your shower while still providing you with enough room for other bathroom related activities.

The Textured Glass Shower Enclosure

The textured glass shower enclosure is perfect for homeowners that would prefer privacy while in the shower stall area, without having to incorporate the frosted look. As a tremendous bonus, the gorgeous textures of the glass are vastly enhanced when the water runs down them. People relate this feeling to being in an expensive spa. In addition, textured glass does provide some see through aspects, which gives the bathroom the aspect of having more space. At the same time the texture masks specific details, so it does provide privacy.

The Tile And Glass Shower Enclosure

The tile and glass shower enclosure combines a frameless glass shower door with walls that are tiled with various materials such as stone, ceramic, or even glass tiles. For an added punch of style and function a tile surround with frameless glass windows may be included. This design aspect allows light to enter into the shower space, which in turn makes the interior feel much larger.

If you are located in Scottsdale, Arizona or surrounding areas please contact us today for all of your glass shower enclosure needs. Our team of expert designers and installers are here to serve you.

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Custom Glass Countertops

Custom Glass Countertops Add Elegance To Your Home

If you are looking to add a dose of elegance to your home, than custom made glass kitchen countertops will certainly add that beautiful, eye-catching, and unique design aspect that you have been searching for. Although Granite has been the standard high-end kitchen countertop of choice for years, other quality materials are beginning to push this dinosaur into the background. Glass is definitely leading the charge based on its distinctiveness, durability, and flexibility of design. In fact many clients relate their glass kitchen countertops to a piece of fine art with the added benefit of being extremely functional.

Due to their translucent splendor, glass surfaces in general leave quite the impression. This is especially true when incorporated into large, impressive surface areas such as the kitchen. Custom glass countertops are available in a plethora of colors and textures. These features allow for a design that is based on your exact specifications. It is not out of the ordinary to see a color palette chock full of a mix of blues, browns, greens amongst many other colors. They tend to introduce your kitchen to a combination of the brightest and lightest surfaces available on market today.

Glass countertops are stain resistant and extremely durable. Many people are surprised by this revelation based on their experiences with the fragile nature of other glass objects such as mirrors. In fact, glass countertops are sturdier, and even easier to maintain than their granite counterparts. Speaking of granite, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association the costs are relatively the same. It is not like you need to break the bank when you make the choice to install glass.

If the glass countertops are colored or translucent, textured or smooth, they may be easily combined with other materials in order to make an even more unique design. For example, glass is the only countertop material where LCD lighting can be installed beneath the counter in order to provide a backlit ambiance. This feature adds an entirely different look and feel to the room. Of course the lighting enables the countertop to change colors and or brightness whenever it suits you. Imagine having the ability to change an opaque clear look into whichever color you want, whenever you chose to by simply flipping a switch or changing a light bulb. In addition, homeowners greatly appreciate the fact that they will never tire of the permanent material because they have the ability to constantly change the look with absolute zero effort or additional costs. Now imagine if you were able to do that with your wall colors, or flooring. This aspect provides an added artistic, and customized touch to the material that you simply cannot achieve with granite. Accents of aqua, turquoise, and various other shades of blue are popular choices these days.

Glass countertops are available in a variety of thick nesses, with a range of 3/8-inch to 1/2-inch being the most popular for daily kitchen use. They are typically constructed out of annealed or tempered low iron clear glass based on the durability and safety aspects that this type of material provides. Homeowners often decide to include a polished edge in order to further enhance the natural materials. Unlike natural stone, custom glass countertops have the ability to be designed without unsightly seams.

A Cut Above Glass is the leading designer and installer of glass in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas. Please contact us today for an initial consultation regarding glass kitchen countertops or any other of your glass related needs.

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Discount Shower Bites Homeowner in the wallet

Discount Shower Bites Homeowner in the wallet

Although the phrase “you get what you pay for” may be a bit of a cliché, it certainly rings true in regards to your bathroom shower door hardware. Many homeowners do not realize this fact, which is why we are writing about it today. Although the less expensive knock off products may be stylish, and look great when first installed they tend to wear out quickly. In some cases the inferior materials actually cause expensive damage. Here is an example of what can happen when your builder or home improvement contractor installs shower door hardware that is simply not up to par.

We received a call recently, and the customer explained that he needed us to replace all of his shower door hardware. Apparently both of the hinges had failed. They were loose and popping causing him to rightfully worry that the glass door would fall of and break. In addition, the finish on his bathroom hardware had worn off. Our company was more than happy to help. We ordered the new hardware, and schedule an appointment to install it.
When our field technician arrived at the house, he was able to see that the builder had installed a frameless glass shower door on cultured marble, and failed to secure it properly. The hardware, including the failed hinges was of extremely poor quality and could not stand up to the moisture created by the shower. We replaced all of the hardware with brand new CR Laurence hardware, replaced the door seals, and properly cleaned the door.
The lesson to be learned here is that you need to make sure that your contractor is installing quality hardware in your new shower, and not that inexpensive Chinese knocks. Please contact A Cut Above Glass for any of your glass related needs in Scottsdale, Arizona and surrounding areas.

 

 

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10 shower Questions

 

1. “Are shower doors adjustable?”

Yes, shower doors are adjustable, both framed and frameless doors are adjustable. Frameless showers have two screws that can be loosened allowing the glass to be adjusted. Framed or “stick Stall” showers have to be adjusted by removing screws from the frame, re adjusting and then drilling new holes. If you feel like attempting either of these, feel free to give us a call and we will do our best to give you advice.

2. “Are shower doors made of tempered glass?”

Yes all showers should be made of Tempered glass for your safety. Logo’s or “bugs” are stamped onto the corner of the glass to help identify whether the glass has gone through the tempering process.

3. “Can a glass shower door be cut?”

 No, showers doors are tempered and once tempered, they can not be cut or shaved.

4. “Can a shower door open in?”

Yes a shower door can open in, however it must open out as well.

5. “Can I put rain x on my shower door?”

Before & After Rain-X

Yes, make sure that you clean your shower door and then apply Rain X as often as needed. Rain X glass cleaner is also available. We can also pre order glass treatment prior to installation. Make sure to ask your glass consultant about options.

6. “can you have a shower without a door?”

Yes, we install shower screens in all sorts of applications. Keep shower over spray in mind when planning so your wall does not get wet with overspray.

7.  “Can you put a frameless shower door on a fiberglass shower?”

Yes we can install frame-less shower glass on a fiberglass stall. Most frameless doors are custom ordered to allow for the perfect fit.

8. “What is the cost for a frameless shower door?”

Frameless showers start at $450 for a single pivot door and can cost upwards of $4000 depending on your application and glass choice.

9. “Do all frameless shower doors leak?”

No, not all frameless showers leak. In most cases seals and thresholds can be installed as to prohibit leakage.

10. “What is the maximum size for a shower door?”

Frameless shower door width is restricted to 34” using three hinges by the hardware manufacturer. Hinges are available to install a 38” wide door, however the hardware price goes up dramatically.

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