Every aspect of shower design has hidden pitfalls that we work to expose. For a swing door to pass building code inspection, it must swing outward, and it must provide at least 22” wide access.
When planning your shower design, keep in mind that Building Code Requirement IRC P 2708.1 (2000 edition) states that all hinged shower doors must open outwards. Hinged shower doors that swing inwards only are not permitted by code. There are reasons this code is in place.
An outwards-swinging door is generally considered safer than an inwards-swinging one, but it does depend on the environment. Ideally, you want a shower door for maximum accessibility and mobility within the bathroom layout. Free-swinging doors (doors that open both outwards and inwards) make great halfway alternatives.
If it opens towards you and the handle is on your right, then it's a right-handed door. If the handle is on your left, then it's a left-handed door. Style of your bathroom: The style of your bathroom can determine the type of shower door you choose. For example, hinged doors work great in traditional bathrooms.
One side of your bottom sweep will have a drip edge or lip - that side is installed facing the inside of the shower.
Insert the new door knob latch on the inside edge of the door. The tapered side of the turning lock should be facing the strike plate on the door frame.
Unfortunately, there's no easy answer to this question. Some people find that they can evenly soap and rinse their body by facing the water, while others find it easier to avoid getting soap in their eyes by facing away from the shower.
Right-handed baths are identified in exactly the same way as left-handed models, only in the opposite direction. For right-handed shower baths, this would be with the shower end or widest part installed against a wall on its right-hand side.
They're available in various sizes and styles to fit different bathroom spaces, presenting themselves as corner sliding doors, recess sliding doors, sliding quadrant doors, and straight wall sliding doors. Many of our shower doors are reversible so that they can be installed with a left or right-hand opening.
Protection from the elements. An outward-opening front door is exposed to the elements, such as wind, rain, and snow. It will experience more wear and tear over time. An inward-opening door is protected from the elements.
The sheet of glass is attached to an adjacent surface with hinges so that it can swing out into the bathroom or both inward and outward. Two hinge options are offered: Wall mounted – These hinges attach the glass door to an adjoining wall or panel of glass.
Keep doors closed all the time.
Keeping your shower doors closed at all hours of the day locks in moist air and can lead to mold. After you shower, the interior space is at its wettest point. Try to keep the doors open for a half hour or so until the steam clears.
Pros and Cons of a Glass Shower Door Swinging Out
With an outward swinging door, it makes it easier to enter and exit the shower space. No additional space inside the shower is taken up by the door. In addition, if you fall while in the shower and need help, someone can easily get to you.
Generally, interior doors will swing into the room, opening towards the nearest perpendicular wall in the room. You'll want the door to allow the most open space in the room when the door is open. After you determine door swing direction, you can use the above method to determine the hand of the door.
Outward door swing is required by code. If the shower occupant is having a problem and needs help, they may be blocking the door from swinging inward. The door must swing outward to allow another person to reach them.
The easiest way to figure out which kind of tub you'll need is to stand in front of your shower as if you are going to go into it. If the drain is to your right you have a right handed tub, and if the drain is on your left you have a left handed tub.
A door closing in an anti-clockwise direction (6) would use right handed hinges. Using the above diagram, a door closing in a clockwise direction (5) would need a right handed door lock. A door closing in an anti-clockwise direction (6) would need a left handed door lock.
Sliding patio doors: For sliding patio doors, handing is determined by which panel slides when viewed from outside your home. A left-hand opening door has an operable panel on the left side, and a right-hand opening door has an operable panel on the right side.
Keep the Shower Head Position in Mind.
If you are installing a sliding or rolling shower door, position the inner panel by the wall where the shower head is located for maximum waterproofing. For swing doors or door and panel configurations, we recommend that the hinge is opposite of the shower head.
A: Smooth side in to help avoid collecting dirt and mildew.
Have no fear – we've done our share of research, and the answer is clear: post-shower is definitely the way to go. Sure, washing your face in the shower saves time but it can also do more harm than good – like, clogging pores with other products (gross) or drying out skin with hot water (ouch).