Choice #1: Framed or frameless?
Shower doors come with or without metal frames. Those without metal frames are made of thick glass, and do not need a frame for support. Framed shower doors, on the other hand, are made from thinner glass that requires the extra support of a metal frame.
Frameless shower doors have several distinct advantages over framed shower doors. First of all, the lack of a metal frame means there are fewer places to catch water and / or to grow mold, mildew, etc. Secondly, frameless doors have a sleek, refined visual appeal that framed doors don't have.
Choice #2: Bi-fold, pivot, or sliding?
Shower doors are also available with different methods of opening and shutting them.
Sliding doors are probably the most common design. They are design for half of the door to slide behind the other half to open. The disadvantage to this design is that it doesn't work well with shower stalls, due to the width it requires.
Pivoting shower doors open just like a standard door does. The disadvantage to this style is obvious – it requires enough space in the room to swing open.
Bi Fold shower doors are somewhat of a compromise between the first two designs. They don't require width, nor do they require a lot of space in the room to open up into.
Choice #3: Finish
If you choose a framed shower door, you'll have to choose a finish for the metal, too. Most of the time, you'll want to choose a finish that matches the finish of your other bathroom fixtures.
