What Is The Difference Between Hinge And Pivot Shower Doors?

What Is The Difference Between Hinge And Pivot Shower Doors?
  • Author: Amanda Arnold
  • Posted On: November 15, 2021
  • Updated On: October 3, 2023

There are many things to think about while constructing a new shower. Make sure you’re well-informed before selecting whether it’s about showerheads and faucet finishes or pivot doors. Let’s speak about shower doors for a moment.

Shower doors with hinges and pivots are among the most popular. What is the distinction between the two? After reading this article, we hope that you will better understand the many types of shower doors and be able to make an informed decision.

It’s implied that hinged and pivoting doors are interchangeable. They aren’t. Even though both hinged and pivoting shower doors contain hinges, the two doors open in very different ways. Let’s look at both doors in more detail.

shower riser kit is a shower door comprising two parts: the hinge and the pivot. The hinge is part of the shower door that attaches to the wall, and the pivot is part of the shower door that attaches to the ceiling. Both types of shower doors have their benefits and drawbacks.

Hinge shower doors are typically easier to install than pivot shower doors and tend to be more affordable. However, hinge shower doors can be more difficult to clean and may not provide as much privacy as pivot shower doors. Pivot shower doors, on the other hand, provide more privacy and are easier to clean.

However, they can be more expensive to install and require more maintenance than hinge shower doors. Ultimately, the type of shower door you choose will depend on your preferences and budget.

Hinged Shower Doors: An Overview

Let’s begin with the hinged glass shower door. When you need to open something, it can swing outward. They are trendy for standalone showers.

Hinged Shower Doors.

This is an attractive option if you have a tiny standalone shower. Many homeowners adore them because of their exceptional ease and functionality. However, if you’re serious about your recent bathroom makeover project, you’ll need to know much more about hinged doors.

The two sturdy hinges are located near the top and bottom of the vertical length of the door. Because these typical door designs fully project into a room, the planned space must be large enough for the door to open entirely. When looking at shower doors for sale, this is crucial. For precision, you can bring the space measurements with you.

What Are The Advantages Of Hinged Shower Doors?

1) Extensive Enclosure Space

Hinge doors often open at least 90 degrees, enclosing different areas. To accommodate persons with mobility issues, the hinges have been made broader.

2) Easy To Maintain

Because hinge shower doors do not have bottom tracks, they are simple to clean and maintain.

3) Frameless Appearance

Frameless hinged doors, in particular, are striking. This is because it uses the fewest possible brackets, tracks, and hinges—all of the space required to accommodate the door’s outward swing. The hinged shower door has several advantages over its sliding shower door counterparts, including not requiring any tracks to open or close.

You won’t have to worry about muck build-up in addition to being rust-proof. This one-of-a-kind feature has made cleaning up a breeze. This is the bathroom for you if you’re seeking a minimalistic look. It is aesthetically lovely to have a large glass panel that swings open and closes.

Disadvantages Of Hinged Shower Doors

It does, however, have significant drawbacks. Because replacing once installed is costly and time-consuming, it’s also necessary to be aware of the disadvantages.

Disadvantages Of Hinged Shower Doors
  • For homeowners with limited space, the swing aspect of such doors may be problematic. Is there enough room in your home to accommodate a swing feature that opens and closes? It occupies a significant amount of space!
  • You’ll have to deal with water leakage unless you have side-mount-hinged doors. The swing creates a small gap between the door and the wall, allowing water to leak. It is not a problem if the showerhead is not pointed toward the door.

Pivot Shower Doors: An Overview

These are conventional swinging-hinged shower doors. To make a rotating door, the pivot hinge is linked to one side of the center of the door. With a pivot at the top and bottom where the glass sits, they protrude into the room.

The pivots allow the doors to swing open, allowing for a large entryway. Because the doors open from one side, they are suitable for freestanding showers. This shower door is most commonly found in ultra-modern curved glass showerheads.

What Are The Advantages Of Pivot Shower Doors?

Install Effortlessly

These doors don’t require much hardware when installed in a frameless shower. On the other hand, a semi-frameless shower door will necessitate further testing to ensure that the pivot doors function correctly.

Moisture-Free Frame

There’s no moisture to collect because pivot shower doors don’t have a metal or plastic foundation. You won’t have to be concerned about mold or mildew.

Durable Structure

The pivots are generally joined at the door’s corners, creating a lovely frameless look. Because the hinges are positioned to carry weight at the bottom of the door, they are very well supported by a solid floor.

Disadvantages Of Pivot Shower Doors

Disadvantages Of Pivot Shower Doors
  • Water leakage is a severe problem. It’s a lot worse than the hinged door. Because of the pivot door function, you can seal the hinged door but not the pivot door.
  • You’ll need a top bar to put the top portion of it together. However, it still requires less hardware for installation than hinged doors. As a result, there will be fewer cleaning requirements.
  • Authentic, it takes up less space than hinged doors, but it takes more than sliding doors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it good to install shower door pivot hinges?

The pivot hinge is fastened top to bottom, distinguishing this door from a typical side hinge door and enabling the door to spin while staying in place.

Are pivot doors more expensive?

Glass shower doors with pivot hinges are not usually less expensive than other styles. Because of this, a pivot door might have to be specially cut to fit the area. Also, you can frame or go frameless, which will alter the price.

Is it worth it to install a pivot door?

Pivot Doors are beautiful and modern-looking, but they are not ideal if your facade is in a public area. A pivot door’s most notable advantage is, without a doubt, the way it appears. A pivot door accentuates your home’s sleek, contemporary design.

Final Verdict

Discussed points and information are enough to choose the pivot or hinged door for your shower area. However, you must still choose the door according to your area’s specifications ad requirements. For this, you can consult with the nearest experts. They’ll gladly answer your shower door queries and recommend the best door for your needs.

Avatar photo
Author: Amanda Arnold

Amanda has been working with ConstructionHow since 2021. Her experience spans over 5 years in the creative niche such as home decor and trends, landscaping, renovations, and custom architectural values. As a home designer expert, she has a keen eye for the latest home improvement trends with accurate facts that readers find impossible to ignore. Being invested in home-building trends is how she has gained her lucrative expertise exploring more to bring a positive ambiance for all homeowners (and even tenants!). Currently, she lives in a beautiful beach home, a source of fascination for her.

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE