frameless shower track vs no track

7 years ago

I've had 2 different contractors here to quote me on replacing a framed shower enclosure with a FRAMELESS shower enclosure. One, does not install a track to hold the glass at the bottom, says the only reason for one is to hide chips in the glass by the installer (which sounds good but how does the water not drip through to the floor?) The other uses tracks to hold the glass (but IMO has potential for leaks due to silicone and junk building up). Can anyone tell me if they are happy or unhappy with their choice? The reason I need to replace my 2012 framed enclosure because it leaks through the silicone. Thank you for your advice!

Featured Answer

Helen

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I had a frameless shower "door" installed recently. There is a door section and there is a stationary section. There is no track at the bottom but there is a piece of small hardware (clip?) at the bottom of the stationary piece of glass.

I have no leaking from any portion of the glass - I even spray down the doors as the last thing I do before shutting off the water to make sure I don't have any stray blobs of shampoo or conditioner attached to the glass.

You didn't ask but are you getting some kind of protection for the glass? I went with Showerguard and it's really fantastic. The water in my home is hard and it dries without any streaks or blotches.

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Comments (9)

pennfire
7 years ago
I share Helen's thoughts on the door and glass protection. We did two new bathrooms in the past year - both with frameless doors
beeezer thanked pennfire
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Mrs. S
7 years ago
Why would you want a track for a frameless shower? The whole point is to get rid of the frame, for a more beautiful, clean look. Be careful that the lower horizonal surface under the shower door (the curb) is sloped inward toward the shower. I have 2 friends with shower curbs that were NOT sloped inward, with subsequent expensive re-dos of the curbs.
beeezer thanked Mrs. S
Jenn TheCaLLisComingFromInsideTheHouse
7 years ago
I don't have frame-less glass shower doors at our current home, but had them at our previous one. It was one of those shower/tub things with a cast iron tub, tiled wall enclosure, and of course the set of doors. Honestly I had more concern about the tile not going all the way up to the ceiling than the silicone getting junk built up or starting to leak because 1.) you can clean the area so junk isn't there long enough to build up and 2.) you can redo silicone as needed - if I can redo it, ANYONE can redo it!

Now, water droplets left on a ceiling/the foot of wall between that and where the tile starts - and no exhaust fan in a bathroom - that worried me. I'd leave the window open and have a small plug in fan set up on a counter-like area in there, but still had mildew and required putting a step ladder in the tub to reach up for cleaning. Yes, I'm short. I guess I should be glad that the ceiling didn't start falling down in chunks though? :P
beeezer thanked Jenn TheCaLLisComingFromInsideTheHouse
beeezer
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you, this has been helpful - I'm going to go without the track and I'm getting a quote on what this company uses instead of Showerguard - it is Endurosheild. Any thoughts on 76" vs 80" height? Currently have 76" and it provides great coverage - going to 80 would only be adding esthetic value.
millworkman
7 years ago
Enduroshield does need to be reapplied periodically unlike Showerguard.
beeezer thanked millworkman
Helen
7 years ago
There are numerous threads comparing various forms of glass protection.

After researching options, including the Enduroshield, I opted for Showerguard as the best most permanent option. I would suggest you read about the differences and then make your decision.
beeezer thanked Helen
Susan Benedetto
last year
can someone recommend a trackless door that does not need to be "screwed into" my cast iron tub?
millworkman
last year
No, the trackless units still require a guide at the base. Has to be screwed in. You "could" use a VHB tape but it will not last and will need to be replace periodically.