When you buy a shower enclosure, it’s not just a matter of choosing the design you like. The right cabinet for you will fit your space, suit the way you use your bathroom and make everyday upkeep easier.
There are a wide range of shower enclosures in framed, semi-frameless and frameless styles, sliding options and different shapes to suit different bathroom layouts. So how do you select the right one?
Here is a simple shower enclosure buying guide to help you make the decision.
Why Choosing the Right Shower Enclosure Matters?
Shower enclosures create a distinct separation of wet and dry areas of the bathroom. This keeps the water in the shower area and makes better use of the space in the bathroom. Jaquar shower enclosures are available in standard sizes and are designed to optimise bath spaces.
The choice comes down to more than appearance. Your bathroom layout, available clearance, preferred door style, glass thickness and maintenance requirements all need to be considered.
Key Factors to Consider Before Buying a Shower Enclosure
1. Bathroom Layout
- Begin by looking at the space available for the enclosure and the movement around it.
- For bathrooms where space is limited, sliding shower doors can be a practical choice. Sliding range uses a top-hung channel that provides a free walkway, along with ball-bearing rollers encapsulated in brass.
- Corner, square and rectangular layouts offer different ways of using the available space. For a larger bathroom, hinged or pivot doors may be considered where there is sufficient clearance. Jaquar's range includes square, rectangular, quadrant and corner enclosure options.
2. Door Opening
- The door should open comfortably without interfering with other bathroom fittings.
- Shower enclosure range includes sliding, hinged, pivot and bi-fold door options. Sliding doors can work particularly well where floor space is limited, while hinged and pivot doors require enough clearance for the door to open.
- A walk-in style can also be considered depending on the bathroom layout and the type of enclosure you want to create.
3. Glass Quality
- Glass is one of the most important components of a shower enclosure. Shower enclosures are made with tempered glass and we have 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm glass option available. The quality of glass is tested through fragmentation, ball drop, free fall and visual defect tests.
- Tempered glass is designed to break into smaller pieces if it does break, which helps to minimize the risk of injury.
- When comparing glass shower options, look at the available thickness and the quality standards followed by the manufacturer rather than choosing only on appearance.
4. Type of Glass Enclosure
This is one of the most common decisions in a bathroom enclosure guide which is the best choice: semi-framelss vs framed vs frameless shower doors
- Frameless: A clean, contemporary option that uses hardware to keep glass panels in place, instead of a frame. Jaquar’s frameless range uses brass hinges with nickel and chrome plating.
- Semi-frameless: A compromise between the open look of frameless glass and the support of profiles.
- Framed: The glass is held by frames on all four sides. Jaquar’s framed enclosures are available in square, rectangular and semi-circle shapes.
The best choice will depend on the look you want, the bathroom layout and the type of enclosure that will work for your room.
5. Cleaning and Maintenance
A shower enclosure is always in contact with water, soap and moisture so maintenance counts.
Jaquar shower enclosures come with Easy Clean with Anti Limescale Treatment that helps in easy cleaning. The range also uses brass hardware and powder-coated aluminium profiles.
Choosing an enclosure with easy-clean features can make a difference to the amount of time spent maintaining the glass and fittings.
6. Hardware Fittings
Glass is only one part of the enclosure. Hinges, rollers, profiles and other hardware also contribute to how the enclosure works.
Jaquar's frameless hinges are made of brass with nickel and chrome plating and are tested for 5 lakh cycles. Its sliding range uses brass-encapsulated ball-bearing rollers and carries a five-year warranty on rollers. The aluminium profiles have a 15 mm adjustment to accommodate variations in wall surfaces.
These details are worth checking when comparing different shower enclosure types.
Which Shower Enclosure Should You Choose?
Bathroom Requirement | Option to Consider |
Limited bathroom space | Sliding enclosure |
Contemporary appearance | Frameless enclosure |
Traditional framed look | Framed enclosure |
Flexible balance of frame and glass | Semi-frameless enclosure |
Larger bathroom with door clearance | Hinged or pivot enclosure |
Space-efficient corner layout | Quadrant or corner enclosure |
The right choice will always depend on the actual bathroom layout and available space.
Quick Checklist Before You Buy
✔ Measure the available bathroom space
✔ Check the door opening clearance
✔ Choose the enclosure style
✔ Check the available glass thickness
✔ Look for toughened safety glass
✔ Consider easy-clean requirements
✔ Check the quality of hinges, rollers and profiles
✔ Compare warranty and service support
Final Thoughts
The perfect shower enclosure is one that suits your bathroom, works well with the space available and meets your everyday needs.
Whether you prefer a framed, semi-frameless or frameless design, Jaquar offers shower glass partition across different styles, sizes, shapes and door configurations. With toughened safety glass, Easy Clean Anti Limescale Treatment, brass hardware and a one-stop Design, Installation and Maintenance approach, the range is designed to make choosing and using a shower enclosure simpler.
A little planning before you buy can go a long way. Measure your space, consider how the door will open, check the glass and hardware, and choose a design that works with the rest of your bathroom.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. What glass thickness is recommended for shower enclosures?
A. The appropriate option depends on the enclosure design and application. Jaquar offers tempered glass in 6 mm, 8 mm and 10 mm options for its shower enclosures.
Q. How do I choose the right shower door type?
A. Start with the available space. Sliding doors are suitable where floor clearance is limited. Hinged and pivot doors need sufficient space for opening. Jaquar also lists bi-fold doors as an available shower enclosure door type.
Q. Should I choose sliding or pivot doors?
A. The decision depends on the available layout. Sliding doors are generally suited to bathrooms where space is limited, while pivot doors can be a suitable option when there is enough clearance for the door to open comfortably.
Q. Are shower enclosures suitable for family bathrooms?
A. Yes. A shower enclosure separates the wet and dry areas of the bathroom and helps contain water within the shower space. Jaquar enclosures use toughened safety glass and undergo quality checks for glass strength and performance.
Q. Do shower enclosures help prevent water leakage?
A. A properly designed and installed shower enclosure helps contain water within the shower area. Jaquar describes its enclosures as separating wet and dry areas, while its installation guidance highlights correct fitting and sealing as important steps in preventing leaks.
