With all sorts of websites now offering shower doors, like Home Depot, Wayfair, Amazon, etc., it’s important to know the pros and cons of purchasing a shower door online. Obviously, a big pro is that you’re likely getting a great deal on the product itself, with many sites even offering free shipping. However, what if the measurements you took of the opening weren’t quite right, or didn’t take into account that the walls or base were not completely plumb and level? To ensure that the shower door you are purchasing will in fact be operable in your bathroom, it’s critical that the opening be measured correctly. At Century, we prefer to use center-line dimensions for all measurements, and offer measuring guides to help with this process. We also recommend that customers have a shower door installer take the measurements and perform the actual install of the unit. We have a team of installers that serve the northern New Jersey, New York City, and southern New York state areas and also have numerous partners throughout the Mid-Atlantic and New England areas that are very familiar with Century doors and that we would be happy to recommend. Having a professional installer will ensure that the correct measurements are used to order the door and that the install is done properly. Plus, if there are any issues with the install, these professionals stand behind their work.

You’ve probably seen more and more products with matte black finishes over the last couple of years, whether it be cars or cell phones, luxury credit cards or kitchen appliances. Many interior design sites also indicate that matte black has become popular for fixtures and hardware around the home, whether it be kitchen cabinets, window frames, or faucets. And, based on what we’ve seen, it seems that this trend has also reached shower door finishes, particularly framed units with Gridworks (pictures below). Here at Century, we have a fully equipped paint room to ensure that all painted parts and pieces for a particular shower door match. We are able to do this because we bring in the majority of aluminum extrusions in finish that is prepped for painting. Though there are a few models which we are not currently able to paint, the vast majority of models and configurations can be painted matte black, or a whole host of other colors. We even offer custom color matching.

Shower Doors are an essential part of many bathrooms. No longer are your glass options clear or clear; now you can choose from a variety of glass types. If you are planning to purchase a frameless shower door for your home, it’s a good idea to understand the types of glass that are available to you. Clear glass is by far the most widely used glass choice. By selecting just the right materials for your glass installation, you can ensure that your doors provide you with both beauty and functionality.

Clear Glass doors are made of glass that is much like the glass used for windows except that it is thicker (3/8” or ½”). Depending on the manufacturing process, clear glass will have a greenish tint which is standard to the industry and is largely due to the iron content in the glass. This normal green tint can change how your shower tile looks and is most noticeable when looking at the glass piece from the edge; the thicker the glass gets, the darker the hue grows.

Save time and money by applying a protective glass coating to your shower door.

Its always a challenge to clean shower doors, but that doesn’t mean you have to use powerful cleansers made with ammonia, bleach and other harsh chemicals. Without much trouble you can effectively clean shower doors in ways that are much safer for your family.

Choosing the right shower door for your home can seem a bit overwhelming when you have so many options to choose from. There are two primary types of shower doors, framed vs. frameless. You may be most familiar with framed shower doors. Framed doors offer functionality, but frameless doors have more of a contemporary appeal. There have been new improvements in the look and finishes of the framed enclosures. Much has changed since the old metal trim that was offered in only silver and gold.  Framed doors are designed to seal shut with a magnetic strip and additional rubber seals and sweeps. Water splashing on to the bathroom floor is less of an issue. Water and steam are sealed effectively as well. Framed units are also a more affordable option.

Keep your bathroom organized, Century offers a wide range of medicine cabinet sizes and styles.

If you are like most people your bathroom is one of the smallest rooms in your house. Its design is functional by nature. However, the contemporary bathroom is often greater than the sum of its uses. Todays bath is the center of your morning routine, or a refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The bathroom is where you begin and end your day.

Clutter is your bathrooms worst enemy. We all have that one drawer or closet that makes us cringe every time we look at it. How do you double a room’s apparent space without making it any bigger?

Whatever your personal style or taste, color is the key to unlocking the mood and feel of your home. Color is a strong motivator in our daily lives. It alters our moods and adds warmth and styling to any décor. Most designers agree that homeowners remodeling their bathrooms want to see some splashes of color. Color schemes vary with the style of the house, furnishings of rooms and the personal taste of the homeowner.

Today’s bathroom trends are not just about style and design choices. They are about functionality, durability and the quality of the products you use.

What used to be the smallest room in the house and undoubtedly the dullest has emerged as the biggest news on today’s homefront. There is a whole new renaissance in the bathroom. The master bath has become larger, changing from simply functional rooms into places for exercise and relaxation. There are steam generators, whirlpool tubs, dressing areas as well as many other amenities. Lighting can be extraordinary and exciting and with the addition of a tub, shower stall and medicine cabinet the bathroom today has truly become a multi-purpose room.

The advantages and disadvantages of shower curtains or shower doors go beyond their outward appearance. While they contribute greatly to the overall look of your bathroom, they will also have an effect on the function. Some of the factors to take into consideration are your personal maintenance preferences, budget, and long term plans.

If you want your bathroom to look neater when house guests visit, the shower curtain can be closed to hide the bath tub or left open to show off the brilliantly gleaming porcelain. Unfortunately, shower curtains need to be thoroughly maintained in order to prevent mold and mildew from breeding on their surface.

Glass manufacturers are producing attractive and alluring glass options to suite any kind of bathroom decor and atmosphere. Century offers design possibilities limited only by your imagination, so choose the type of glass that goes with the look and feel that you desire. Offerings span from familiar textures to the highly unusual used for light control and privacy in bath enclosures as well as numerous decorative applications. Here is a look at some of the current glass trends…