Most doors hang from hinges mounted to the door frame, which means the frame itself must be strong enough to support the weight of the door. If the door is exceptionally heavy, other methods of mounting can be used to increase strength and stability. A frameless pivot door does not require a frame, and the weight of the door is supported by pivots mounted at the top and bottom of the door. This is a great design for exceptionally heavy doors, as well as doors made from fragile materials such as glass. A frameless pivot door can also increase the aesthetic value of a room.
Far less hardware and structural design is necessary to hang a frameless pivot door, though care does need to be taken during installation to prevent damage to the walls, floor, and the door itself. The door needs no frame, which means the floor often does not need to be altered for proper installation. Pivots are installed in the floor and at the top of a wall — sometimes even into the ceiling — allowing the door to pivot rather than swing. This makes opening and closing a frameless pivot door much easier, especially if that door is quite heavy. The door may pivot in such a way that it requires less clearance in a room for opening as well.
The aesthetics of a room can be enhanced by using a frameless pivot door as well. In many cases, the door can be installed in such a way that it is flush with the walls, and it can even be hidden or disguised as part of the wall. In other situations, the door may be noticeable, but the lines will be cleaner and less obtrusive; shower doors, for example, can be made from glass that is mounted to the pivots with small metal brackets. The aesthetic is pleasing, allowing the glass to be shown off without a frame detracting from the visual appeal.
Frameless pivot door models designed for use in the bathroom can also be safer than other types of doors. Sliding doors usually rely on tracks that must be mounted in the path where a bather will enter the shower, creating a potential tripping hazard. A frameless door requires no such track, and keeping the perimeter of the door water tight is much easier; the door can be kept cleaner as well, since there are few intersections with other materials such as brackets, tracks, and so on.