Practical shower screens: Sliding shower doors

Whether you are upgrading your shower area or installing a new one, one of the main decisions you'll have to make is what type of shower screen would best suit your bathroom. Fortunately, shower screens have come a long way so there are several classy and practical options to choose from.

The advantages of a sliding shower door

Sliding doors on shower screens have been available for some time but the older models could develop problems with their sliding action, could pop off their runners and were difficult to clean, especially around the frames and fittings. Improvements in design though have made them a viable option once again and today's sliders offer better features like:

• Trackless sills to prevent trapped hair and soap scum
• Smooth rolling operation
• Frameless door panels
• New designs

Sliding shower screen doors are one of the best options where space is an issue as they do not require the space allowance for inward/outward opening doors. They are ideal for small bathrooms with limited options for shower screens.

Modern sliding shower screen doors

Gone are the old framed panels with all the fiddly bits that made cleaning your sliding shower doors such a chore. The new versions have eliminated the problem with sleeker frames and trackless sills for a much more streamlined door.

Even better, sliding shower screen doors are now available in frameless versions too! Frameless doors are made from toughened glass so they're very safe and the look is very classy. They are an excellent choice if you want an unobtrusive look with your shower recess as there are no frame lines to break up the space.

The glass is available in coloured tints as well or you could opt for an etched or painted version to really put your individual stamp on your bathroom. The other good thing with sliding shower doors now is that you can choose either flat or curved sliders which are ideal for corner showers in smaller bathrooms. New designs offer features like doors that can slide both ways as well as panels that can be fitted to slide inside the shower unit.

So check into the new-look sliding shower doors for your next bathroom upgrade!