Glass & Shower Door Terms, Explained
Frameless
A shower enclosure with no surrounding metal frame; thick tempered glass supported by hinges and clips.
Tempered glass
Heat-treated safety glass ~4× stronger than annealed that crumbles into pebbles if broken. Required by code for showers.
Low-iron glass
Ultra-clear glass (Starphire-style) with the green tint removed — transmits ~91% of light vs ~83% for standard.
Annealed glass
Standard, untreated glass. Not permitted for shower enclosures.
Neo-angle
A 5-sided corner shower with an angled front, common in smaller bathrooms.
Header / support bar
A bar that stabilizes a tall door or panel against flex.
Return panel
A fixed glass panel set at 90° to the door to enclose the opening.
Hinge
Hardware that swings a frameless door; wall-mount or glass-to-glass.
U-channel
A metal channel that holds a fixed glass panel edge.
Clip / clamp
Small hardware that fixes a panel to wall or floor in lieu of a channel.
Sweep
A clear seal along the door bottom that directs water in.
Notch
A cut-out in glass to fit around plumbing or a bench.
Steam enclosure
A sealed ceiling-height glass enclosure with a transom vent for steam showers.
Diamon-Fusion / coating
A protective coating that seals glass pores so hard water rinses off instead of etching.
Hard water
Water high in minerals; Jacksonville's JEA water averages ~15.3 grains/gallon ('very hard').
Etching
Permanent surface damage from minerals or harsh cleaners — not removable, only preventable.
Standoff
A stainless post that mounts glass railing away from the surface.
Shoe / base channel
A continuous channel that anchors the bottom of a glass railing.
Pivot door
A frameless door that swings on top/bottom pivots rather than side hinges.
Bypass / barn slider
Frameless doors that slide on a track instead of swinging.
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