Replacing a shower door in Hillsboro or Washington County typically involves choosing between three styles: frameless, semi-frameless, and sliding framed doors. Each style suits a different combination of bathroom layout, budget, and finish preference. We measure every opening on-site and fabricate the glass in-house, so the door we install fits the space you actually have, not a stock size.
Your Three Shower Door Options
Frameless Shower Doors
A frameless shower door uses thick tempered glass (the industry-standard term for heat-treated glass engineered to break safely) with minimal hardware at the hinges and handle. There is no metal channel running along the top, bottom, or sides of the glass panel. The result is a clean, open look that works well in both modern and traditional bathrooms.
Because there is no frame to collect soap residue, frameless doors are generally easier to keep clean over time. The glass itself is the structural element, so getting the thickness and hardware spec right matters. We order tempered glass to its final dimensions before fabrication begins, because tempered glass cannot be cut after heat treatment. That means precise measurement upfront is not optional, it is the job.
Frameless shower doors are the most popular upgrade we install across Hillsboro, Beaverton, Cornelius, and the surrounding communities in Washington County.
Semi-Frameless Shower Doors
A semi-frameless door uses a frame on the fixed panel or the edges of the opening, but leaves the swinging door panel itself unframed. You get some of the open look of a fully frameless door at a lower material cost, and the frame provides structural support that can simplify installation in bathrooms with walls that are not perfectly plumb.
If your bathroom has older tile or walls that have shifted over the years, a semi-frameless configuration often gives you more flexibility without compromising the finished appearance.
Sliding Framed Shower Doors
Sliding doors run on a top track and sit inside a framed channel at the bottom. They are the right answer when swing clearance is limited, a small bathroom where a door swinging outward would hit the toilet or vanity, for example. They typically cost less in materials than frameless options and are a practical fit for standard tub-shower enclosures.
The tradeoff is that the frame channels and the track require regular cleaning to prevent buildup. In a bathroom that gets heavy use, that maintenance consideration is worth factoring in before you decide.
How to Choose the Right Style for Your Bathroom
The right shower door depends on three practical questions.
First, how much swing clearance do you have? If the door can open freely without hitting a fixture, frameless and semi-frameless options are both worth considering. If clearance is tight, a sliding door solves that problem without compromise.
Second, how level and plumb are your walls? Frameless installation relies on walls and floors that are reasonably square. We assess this during measurement. In older Washington County homes where walls have settled, semi-frameless configurations can compensate more cleanly.
Third, what finish are you matching? Hardware for shower doors comes in a range of finishes. We will walk you through the options that coordinate with your existing fixtures before anything is ordered.
If you are not sure which direction makes sense, we will tell you plainly after we see the space.
What the Installation Process Looks Like
Here is the general sequence for a shower door installation.
We start with an on-site measurement. We record the dimensions of the opening, assess the wall condition, and identify any issues that could affect fit or seal. This step is not a formality, a door that is measured accurately installs cleanly.
From there, we fabricate the glass. Tempered panels are ordered to their final dimensions. Once the glass is ready, we schedule the installation visit. Our crew squares the opening, installs the hardware, and hangs the door. We check the swing and the seal before we leave.
The process generally runs from measurement to completed installation in multiple visits, with fabrication time in between. We give you a realistic timeline at the quote stage so you know what to expect before any work begins. We do not rush fabrication to hit an arbitrary deadline, because a frameless shower door installed without proper fit is not a finished job.
We leave the site clean. That is a baseline, not a selling point.
What Affects the Cost of a Shower Door in Washington County
Shower door pricing varies based on several factors. No two openings are identical, and the variables compound quickly.
Glass style and configuration. Frameless doors use more glass and more precision hardware than framed or semi-frameless options. That difference shows up in the price.
Opening size. A wider or taller opening requires more glass and, in some cases, additional support hardware. We measure the actual opening rather than assuming a standard size.
Hardware finish and grade. Hinges, handles, and towel bars come in multiple finishes and weight ratings. Higher-grade hardware adds to the cost but holds up better over years of daily use.
Wall condition and prep. If walls need blocking or leveling before the door can be hung plumb, that work is part of the scope. We identify it during measurement so there are no surprises in the final number.
We give you a straight quote before any work starts. If something changes once we are on-site, we tell you before we proceed.
Contact Martin Glass to get a quote for your shower door project in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, or anywhere else in Washington County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the difference between a frameless and a semi-frameless shower door?
A frameless shower door has no metal channel around the glass panel, the tempered glass itself is the structural element, supported only at the hinges and handle. A semi-frameless door uses a frame on the fixed panel or the wall edges while leaving the swinging panel unframed. Semi-frameless options typically cost less and can be easier to fit in bathrooms where walls are not perfectly plumb.
Q: Can you install a frameless shower door in an older home?
Yes, in most cases. Older homes in Washington County sometimes have walls that have shifted or settled over time, which affects how a frameless door can be hung. We assess wall plumb and levelness during the measurement visit. Depending on what we find, we may recommend a semi-frameless configuration or wall prep before the door is installed.
Q: How long does shower door installation take?
The timeline depends on the style, the glass thickness, and whether any prep work is needed. Tempered glass panels are ordered to their final dimensions and cannot be cut to size after fabrication, so lead time on the glass itself is part of the schedule. We give you a realistic timeframe at the quote stage so you know what to expect.
Q: Do you fabricate shower door glass in-house?
We measure every opening on-site and fabricate to those dimensions. Tempered glass is ordered to its final size based on our measurements. Annealed glass is cut to size in our shop. Either way, the glass is made for your specific opening, not pulled from stock.
Q: Do you install shower doors throughout Washington County?
Yes. We serve Hillsboro, Beaverton, Cornelius, Forest Grove, North Plains, Aloha, Banks, and the Portland metro. Contact Martin Glass to talk through your project and get a quote.