Glass shower enclosures are not created equally. This document outlines options for GOOD/BETTER/BEST so you can make an informed decision about this critical component.
Good - Store Bought Shower (one size fits most)
These are often purchased at a big box store, Wayfair etc. and serve a good segment of the market for an affordable and DIY-friendly approach to glass showers.

Positives - Low initial cost, typically an in-stock item so can turnaround quickly.
Negatives- Glass is generally between 3mm to 6mm thick. Parts are typically plastic or a low quality hardware, and it can be difficult or impossible to replace parts or glass due to the suppliers controlling the kits and glass design and not allowing aftermarket replacement parts. Since these are a cash and carry shower enclosure, they generally do not include installation unless offered by the retail store, nor will have on-going service outside of the standard manufacturer warranty. Bulky frames and larger visual sight lines to accommodate the minimum/maximum opening size each kit will install into are negative design features.
Better - Semi-Custom Shower
This is a typical “guy and a truck” style of shower, where glass is typically standard (green with a higher iron content), usually a fixed height, using “stock” glass doors, and outages in the walls or base are taken up in the u-channel or by a heavy reliance on silicone to make up any outage differences.

Positives - Lower cost than fully custom, typically using 8mm or 10 mm thick glass and having many of the custom features of the more expensive showers. Provides a more budget-friendly approach to glass showers.
Negatives- Glass is more prone to fall out if only silicone is used to hold the glass, or if the glass is only barely supported in the u-channel. Silicone is not meant to be a structural or long-term solution for support in showers, but to provide a water seal. Often the hardware is sourced from foreign suppliers as well with cheaper, untested components. Repair costs to maintain the safety of the shower enclosure or glass replacement costs due to it falling out and breaking after failure of the silicone or a hardware item can be expensive and a safety risk to the homeowner.

Example (left) is of a shower panel that was not shaped for the opening and fell out of the wall u-channel due to minimal hold in the channel, despite using a support bar to stabilize the glass panel.
Best - Fully-Custom Shower
This is achieved when the glass is fabricated to match the exact sizes and outages of the opening to ensure consistent attachment onto the wall. Installing to a finished point on the wall or to the ceiling, these showers typically use 10mm or 12mm thick glass for robustness and glass is low iron (clear), opposed to standard (green) for more visual appeal and flexibility in the design. Frameless showers (no visible anchors or channels in the wall) can only be properly achieved by planning ahead and having the tile notched to accommodate the glass, or with a u-channel embedded into the tile during the tile installation. Our preference to use clips or u-channel on top of the finished tile is to be as frameless as possible while providing a cost-effective approach.
We use industry-standard software for efficient workflows and to ensure safe shower designs every time.

Positives - No chance of the glass falling out of the opening due to the channel or silicone failing (with normal usage). Since the glass structure is supported mechanically, the silicone is not subject to movement which improves longevity and waterproofness. Since the glass is measured to the opening, it looks more balanced in the opening and does not appear to be “pieced together”. All hardware products are from North American suppliers who use reputable and reliable manufacturers with appropriate testing of their products. When combined with our glass treatment (Diamon Fusion) to maintain clear glass with no water marks, scale buildup , etc., this is the absolute best in class shower system.
Negatives - This is the highest cost solution, but also has the highest value and superior cost advantage over the lifecycle of the installation. If you want to do it once right, this is the best option.
It should be noted and expected that a shower door hinge will often compress it’s rubber gasket after installation as a normal occurance and we offer a free service call to adjust the glass and re-tighten the hinges/clamps. Also, door sweeps (on the bottom of a shower door) can wear out over time. These are normal maitenance items and our crews always have these parts available in vehicles, which is just another benefit of choosing a local supplier.
North Shore provides turnkey solutions for design, supply/install of tile, glass and all components related to any shower system.
Safety, Serviceability, Longevity and Beauty are what we offer for showers.
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