Frameless shower screens are your shortcut to bathroom sophistication

It's easy to see why glass frameless shower screens are so popular. They're a perfect match for the minimalist look, disappearing into the background while designer baths, basins and tiles take the spotlight. The simple glass panels are also easy to clean, eliminating corners and crevices where mould once prospered. But the surprise is their affordability. While frameless shower screens look super expensive, the simplest type can be yours for about $700. And you don't have to splash out on a new bathroom to enjoy the latest look because they can be retrofitted into existing bathrooms.

Bruce Tosello, national marketing manager at Stegbar, says frameless shower screens are made from toughened glass in various thicknesses: 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm. "The difference between them is purely aesthetic. A 6mm screen is just as safe and functional as a 12mm screen, but obviously you can be more creative with 12mm," Bruce says. "For example, it can be used as a dividing glass between the shower and toilet, and attached just along the wall and floor. You can't do that with a 6mm, as it would get too wobbly."

Frameless shower screen designs

Ian Koochew, executive director of the Australian Glass and Glazing Association, says 10mm, clear toughened glass is the most popular frameless shower screen choice because it creates a smart, architectural look. However, coloured, patterned, frosted or slumped glasses are also options and can provide a touch of privacy, if necessary. Green, grey, bronze and blue are considered standard frameless shower screen colours, but others are also available. Custom-designed patterns can also be painted on to the surface and burned into the glass during the toughening process, says Ian.

Installing a frameless shower screen

Other factors to think about include the configuration of your frameless shower screen and the methods of fixing it to the wall, floor and possibly ceiling. The configuration – fixed panel, door panel or a combination of both - will depend on your budget, design and needs. For example, a walk-in shower might need only a single, fixed panel, while corner showers might also need a door. The screens are held in place by a combination of silicon, aluminium channels or/and chrome clips (hinges), depending on the configuration and look you want. Ian says semi-frameless shower screens – which need support around their entire perimeter – are very popular because of their lower cost.

Whichever type you choose, Bruce says choosing a frameless shower screen is a quick and cost-efficient way to give existing bathrooms a makeover. "Perhaps more than half of our shower screens business involves taking out the old screen and putting in a new frameless or semi-frameless one," he says. "With a coat of paint and a new screen, you can change your bathroom remarkably. And it's a low-cost thing to do, versus a renovation that might cost you $5000 or $10,000."