Glass
Glass selection affects three things at once: appearance, maintenance, and cost. The right choice usually depends on the bathroom's natural light, the homeowner's tolerance for visible water spotting, and the design language of the surrounding hardware and tile. This page is a guide to the eight glass options we install — written from the install side, not the marketing side.
Choosing
Standard clear glass has a slight green tint at the edges, most visible on thicker panels and on long edges seen against a strong light source. In a north-facing bathroom with weaker natural light, low-iron glass reads noticeably brighter; the absence of edge tint matters more when there's less light to wash it out. In a sunny south-facing bathroom, standard clear is usually fine and the upgrade to low-iron buys less visible difference.
Greater Seattle's water is hard enough that uncoated clear glass will show mineral spotting if it isn't squeegeed daily. Textured options like P516, Rain, and Satin Etched hide spotting better than perfectly polished clear because the surface pattern breaks up the visible film — the trade-off is that soap residue can settle into the texture and needs a periodic wipe rather than a quick squeegee. The right pick depends on how much daily maintenance the homeowner wants to do.
Tinted and textured glasses are usually chosen for one of three reasons: a small bathroom adjacent to a window where partial obscuring helps, a master suite where shared sightlines call for privacy, or a design call where the texture is itself part of the aesthetic. Textured glass reads warmer and more architectural; tinted glass reads cooler and more contemporary.
Catalog
Clear
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Polished tempered glass — the most common shower-door choice.
Standard tempered glass with highly polished edges. Has a subtle green tint at the edges that’s most visible on thicker panels and on edges seen against a strong light source — most homeowners only notice it once it’s pointed out. The most affordable option and the most common choice in remodels where neutral hardware finishes carry the design. Easy to source, fast turnaround.
Best paired with Polished Chrome · Brushed Nickel · Polished Nickel
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Glass with reduced iron content — eliminates the green edge tint of standard clear glass.
Glass formulated with reduced iron oxide content. Eliminates the green tint of standard clear glass, especially noticeable on edges and on thicker panels. The closest glass gets to looking like nothing is there. Specified almost exclusively in higher-end installations where the glass is a design feature, not just a function. Costs more than standard clear; turnaround is comparable.
Best paired with Matte Black · Polished Nickel · Unlacquered Brass
Tinted
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Warm bronze cast — softens the appearance of fixtures and tile behind it.
Clear glass with a warm bronze tone integrated into the glass body during manufacturing. Reads warmer in artificial light, softens the appearance of fixtures and tile color behind it. Pairs well with warm-toned interiors — natural wood, warm whites, traditional or transitional design languages. The tint is integrated into the glass, not a surface treatment, so it does not fade.
Best paired with Oil Rubbed Bronze · Brushed Bronze · Satin Brass
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Cool, neutral gray — modern and quiet.
Clear glass with a neutral gray tone. Reduces the brightness transmitted through the panel and reads more contemporary than bronze tint. Common in modern bathrooms with cool-toned tile, large-format porcelain, and dark hardware. Like bronze tint, the color is integrated into the glass during manufacturing — it does not change with time or sunlight.
Best paired with Matte Black · Gunmetal · Brushed Stainless Steel
Textured
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Organic, irregular textured pattern — partial privacy with rich character.
A textured glass with an organic, irregular pattern that obscures detail behind it while still transmitting light. Used where partial privacy is wanted without blocking light. Distinctive look — leans traditional but works in transitional spaces. Formerly known as Baroque; the spelling Barock is industry-standard now.
Best paired with Polished Chrome · Brushed Nickel · Polished Brass
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Vertical reeded texture — clean linear privacy.
A textured glass with vertical line patterns resembling rain on a window. Stronger privacy than Barock; reads more contemporary. Commonly chosen for ensuites and adjacent-window bathrooms where partial obscuring matters. The vertical orientation reads cleanly with most modern hardware.
Best paired with Brushed Nickel · Matte Black · Brushed Bronze
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Subtle obscuring pattern — high privacy with strong light diffusion.
A tempered patterned glass with a soft, mist-like surface texture that obscures view while transmitting light. The pattern reads quiet and contemporary up close — never busy — and the obscuration level is among the strongest in our catalog without going fully opaque. Recommended where privacy matters but the bathroom still needs to read bright: ensuites with shared sightlines, walk-ins adjacent to a window or hallway, and shower panels visible from the bedroom. The diffusion softens hard light into an even glow, which works particularly well in north-facing bathrooms.
Best paired with Polished Chrome · Brushed Nickel · Matte Black · Satin Brass
Specialty
Available in 3/8" and 1/2"
Acid-etched matte surface — strong privacy, soft minimalist appearance.
Glass with a uniformly frosted surface, achieved through acid etching. The strongest privacy of the textured options. Soft, matte appearance that reads minimalist. Common in primary bath enclosures and steam doors where complete privacy is a design choice rather than a code requirement.
Best paired with Matte Black · Brushed Nickel · Polished Chrome
Thickness
Tempered shower glass comes primarily in two thicknesses: 3/8" and 1/2". Each has a place; neither is universally better.
3/8" is standard for most residential frameless shower enclosures. It's lighter, easier to handle on install, and substantially less expensive than 1/2". For typical openings — under 36" wide and under 78" tall — it reads as substantial without being overbuilt.
1/2" is required (or strongly recommended) for taller panels, oversized openings, and certain railing configurations where the structural rating of the panel is part of the design. It feels noticeably more planted and projects a higher tier visually. The cost premium is real; the visual upgrade on the right project is real too.
We confirm thickness at the in-home measure based on the panel dimensions, the substrate, and any code requirements. There is no universal answer — the right thickness depends on the specific opening.
FAQ
Plan your project
Tima brings glass samples to every in-home consultation. Compare in your bathroom, in your light, against your tile.