Glass Shower Enclosures: What You Need to Know Before You

Glass Shower Enclosures: What You Need to Know Before You Buy

Gone are the days when bathrooms were cramped, no-frills spaces with a simple toilet, sink and standard-size tub/shower combination. Today’s homeowners want spa-like bathrooms that offer beauty as well as function. One of the emerging trends is the stand-alone shower enclosure with crystal-clear glass that shows off the elegant fixtures and rich materials of the shower, such as marble, soapstone and granite.

Unfortunately, many people don’t realize that ordinary glass is porous. When hard water, soap and even household cleaners are combined with the heat and humidity typical of shower environments, glass can corrode and no amount of scrubbing will remove the staining and scale that result.

One remedy that homeowners can turn to is spray-on or wipe-on treatments to protect the glass. But when these coatings wear off, staining, streaking and corrosion can occur. Another solution, ShowerGuard™ glass from Guardian Industries, uses a patented ion beam technology to permanently seal the surface of the glass during manufacturing. With this new product, there is never a need to reapply...