Hinge Panel or Wall-Hung Door? Choosing a Two-Panel Frameless Layout

If you want a door on your frameless screen and your shower runs wall to wall, you'll usually choose between two layouts. They look similar from across the room. They behave quite differently.

Option 1: Fixed panel + wall-hung door

The door hinges directly off the wall. A fixed glass panel fills the rest of the opening.

Good for:

• Walls with solid fixing where the hinges go: brick, block, or a timber stud right where you need it.
• A cleaner look on the hinge side, with less glass.

Watch for:

• The wall carries the door. A 700mm-wide 10mm door weighs about 35kg, and that load hangs off the hinge screws every time it swings. Weak fixing is what makes doors drop over time.
• The wall must be plumb on the hinge side, or the door won't hang square. See my walls aren't square.

See live prices in the configurator.

Option 2: Hinge panel + door

The door hinges off a fixed glass panel (the "hinge panel") instead of the wall. The hinge panel is fixed to the wall with brackets.

Good for:

• Walls where you can't get a solid fixing at hinge height, like plasterboard or a stud in the wrong spot.
• Placing the door exactly where you want it in the opening.

Watch for:

• Glass-to-glass hinges. They need to be the right type and tightened correctly. Over-tightening can damage the glass.
• One more panel to lift and align.

See live prices in the configurator.

What about three panels?

For wider openings, a 3 Panel Inline (hinge panel, door, fixed panel) is our best seller. It centres the door and splits the glass into lighter pieces. For corners, the 3 Panel Front + Return adds a panel at 90 degrees.

Doors that drop: how to avoid it

"The hinges drop, you get what you pay for," wrote one forum member. Sagging doors are a common complaint with frameless screens, and it usually comes down to three things:

1. Fixing. Hinges on a wall-hung door must go into something solid.
2. Adjustment. Most frameless hinges have a little adjustment. Check the door after the first few weeks and snug up anything that's moved.
3. Use. Doors aren't handrails. Teach kids not to swing on them.

Door clearance

Whichever layout you choose, check where the door will swing. Make sure it clears the vanity, toilet and towel rails, and that it can't hit anything hard. Toughened glass is strong across its face but vulnerable at its edges. See can a shower screen explode?

Water and seals

Both layouts use seals down the hinge side and along the bottom of the door, with a water bar on the floor. Our doors are 1985mm high, 15mm shorter than the panels, to leave room for the seal and water bar. See do frameless screens leak?

Still deciding?

Send a photo of your shower and tell us what's behind the tiles through the Five-Minute Fit Check. We'll help you pick.