If only 15% more I say go for it. My quote for our custom shower is $2150 without and $3150 with. Sounds like I may need to shop around more.

Totally worth it. Why? you spend all that money on picking the perfect tile for your shower, then put a green filter (regular glass) in front!

Starphire has no tint so it shows the true color of the tile. I like how it disappears...
We have used it extensively in our house (after i discovered it).

We have had both in the same shower (don't ask - long story with lots of $ involved) and it is not worth it. I acutally hated the starphire - the glass looks different - cheaper. Of course - as always- just my opinion.

Good luck

Thanks for the replies everyone! We are still undecided so they are bringing out a sample of each when measurements are done. I'd like to see it in the bathroom light now that the shower tile is (mostly) in.
Ladycfp - Wow, what a price difference. Our quote is $2040 with regular glass and $300 more for starphire. That's for glass panels above two pony walls 30x33 each and a 30" door.

Lucycakes, who is your supplier? My quote is for 4 panels, one is 40x84, one is 18x84, one is 50x84.

I am so tired of getting that ripped off feeling. Thanks to this forum, I have been able to (mostly) catch it and regroup. My first remodel quote was mad, the second was worse, and the third (and winning) bid was a third less than the other two, and so far they have been a dream to work with! They are not the ones doing the glass, however.

Starphire versus clear? the beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I think there is also a difference in the amount of green tinge. I've seen clear that looks almost as colorless as Starphire.

Starphire can sometimes visually "disappear" so some like the slight green tint of clear glass as a reminder that yup, that is a pane of glass in front of me.

And some prefer Starphire because it does disappear.

Mongo

So, I'm curious why you aren't also considering the Glassguard product I've read about tonight, and because of that thread I'm now obsessed with shower glass (sometimes I sort of hate GW...)

Have you considered it and ruled it out for some reason? Appreciate you sharing the thought process, if so!

I'm not familiar with Glassguard. Is it a polymer sealer for water spots or a shatter guard?

Our guy who was supposed to come out on Monday for measurements never showed. He called three hours later and said "he was running late and would come later" My DH said don't bother. In the meantime, our tile guy highly recommended another glass person who it turns out also has done glass work for my DH's boss. He showed up on time and seemed to know his stuff. His quote was less than the one we were going with before.

He did not recommend Starphire. His upcharge for it was an additional 25%. He said that he puts in one or two a year. So I think we will not go for it. I know what you mean about GW, while I love to learn about all the options, it does make us obsessive at times.....

And what about Showergaurd? I wonder if it's basically the same as Starphire.

anyone?

I am using Starphire in my shower. After all the energy, money and design effort that went into what I think is going to be a fabulous finished product, I didn't want the green tint from regular glass to impact the visual effect I am going for. Everyone I have talked to about it agrees that it does make a difference. It is costing a bit more, in my case about 30% more, but I am doing it.

I did consider Showerguard. I couldn't get enough feedback from this board on actual experience with it and no one has heard of it around here (SW Virginia.) The only local dealer has only ordered it once for someone, for a lake house (read second home) and couldn't even intelligently discuss it. I was told it is NOT a coating on the glass, but when I asked if that meant it was safe to use a razor on it (to clean it for example) was told NO, so that does not quite compute.

Here is a link that might be useful: starphire glass

Showerguard is a process used in manufacturing glass that is a supposedly more permanent version of Glassguard (which needs to be periodically reapplied). Both keep the glass cleaner with less work. Starphire, on the other hand, is glass made with low iron content sand, and is thus clearer than regular tempered glass (which has that greenish tint which I, personally, prefer). In fact, soap scum and the like will show up on Starphire quicker than on regular tempered glass, or so I have been told, because it is so clear!

Just checked out the Showerguard site. They now offer ShowerGuard UltraWhite. (sounds like toothpaste) Anyway, it's their version of colorless glass.

Oops, my mistake! I meant Showerguard glass!

Click the link below and welcome to the world of who-knew-you-could-over-research-glass! (Warning: Do not click if you don't want to add to your glass dilemna and/or budget.)

I thought that everyone on GW, except for me, already knew about this option. (My poor GC promised to look into it for me; I wasn't there, but I'm sure his eyes were rolling.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Showerguard glass link

I had a quote of $450 more for Starfire for a 75" high, 62" wide opening. I went with the regular glass, in part because the slightly green tint goes better with my tile than the starfire, which to me looks like a blue tint.

10 year old post you dug up?

The Houzz gnomes apparently thought it's still a relevant dialogue because it appeared in our feed this am : )

yet 2 years later, this helps my decision :)

Helped with my decision too! Starphire it is for our showers.

Also helped with my decision, I will be going with Clear w/ Shower Guard coating.

If I can add to this - our shower tiles are a blue green (cifre opal turquoise if it matters). Worries the slight green tint some have mentioned occurs in regular glass might be accented by the green of the tiles? Does anyone have insights on whether the starphire would be worth it given our tiles? I’m trying not to over do it with extra green.

We have it in most of our bathrooms and I really wish I had in all.

All I can say is that if glass was over $2000 14 years ago, i'm terrified to get our bid 😂😭

Yes, it is worth it. I have new full-glass shower with minimalistic hardware. The crystal glass is gorgeous, and modern, and does not take away any of the beauty of your tiles or fixtures.