Shower door hardware differs in material, style, and design. Depending on the style of shower door, it may also be aesthetically pleasing and practical. Shower door hardware emcompasses everything from the type of pull to the track or hinges and supports, and different types of shower doors require different types of hardware.
All shower door hardware is made of metal alloy. Usually, all the shower door hardware is made from the same material. For example, if the frame is brass, the pull and supports will be brass. Stainless steel and nickel are also popular metal alloys for shower door hardware, but there are some luxury grade hardware pieces that are made from gold plated steel or copper.
Hardware made for shower doors is generally designed with some type of decor style in mind. It may be traditional, contemporary, minimalist, or extravagant. Most of the hardware serves a very practical purpose and aside from differences in color and material, most pieces of shower hardware look the same. The pull is the one piece that may differ from set to set.
Pulls come in a variety of styles, and of all shower hardware, it pull can be the most decorative. It can be plain or ornate, but it typically matches the other decor in the bathroom. It is often the same style and material as the other bathroom fixtures, like the sink, shower faucets, and light fixtures.
The pull is typically a handle or a knob, and its style is determined in part by the style of the shower door itself. A sliding door requires a fairly substantial pull to overcome the friction of the track, but a regular door may simply have a small handle. Some pulls, designed as long bars that are attached to the outside of the shower door, double as a washcloth rack.
A frame is a common piece of shower door hardware, although it may or may not be necessary. Both regular style doors and track shower doors typically have a frame. A sliding track door actually sits on a track instead of being suspensed by a hinge and requires a frame to rest on. Many luxury style bathrooms, however, are designed with frameless doors, requiring only two or three supports and a hinge. On a regular shower door, the hinge allows the door to swing open and shut.
In most cases, track style doors must also have rollers. This hardware is not exclusive to shower doors, since many types of track doors require rollers. Rollers are typically made of plastic or metal, but there are various designs depending on the brand and model of the track door.