If you’re considering or in the early stages of updating your shower, there’s one secret to increasing the lifespan of a remodeled shower. While old glass showers might have been covered in soap scum or build-up, modern technology has found a way for you to enjoy a glass shower for longer. The secret is in the coating.
Frameless or glass shower doors are naturally easier to maintain than a curtained shower, but without a protective coating, you might still find yourself spending hours scrubbing grime and build-up off. Besides being time-consuming, you will probably end up using cleaners with more potent chemicals that scratch the glass over time.
Free up your time and stick to simple cleaners with a one-time investment in a shower coating.
How Does a Shower Coating Work?
Glass is actually a very porous material. That porous nature means that heat and humidity actually roughen the surface of the glass. With the microscopic texture of a fine sponge, it’s all too easy for soap and grime to latch on during and after a hot shower, and build up over the months and years. A shower coating is a very fine, invisible layer that is fused to the surface of the glass to fill the pores of the glass, protecting the surface. Coatings are applied in the last stage of the manufacturing process, and permanently bond to the glass itself.
With a shower coating, everyday maintenance is key. While the coating itself repels water, soap and oils, water droplets at the end of your shower can settle over time. The best way to keep your coated shower looking beautiful with minimal upkeep is to use a squeegee or a towel to wipe down the droplets after each use.
The coating itself is completely clear, and will not detract from the beauty of the shower glass you’ve selected to best show off your updated bathroom.
Which Coating Option Should I Choose?
There are two coating options to choose from, depending on your price point, glass preference, and the lifetime of the product. Talk to your glass installer or contractor to learn about your options.
Cardinal’s C10 Coating
Cardinal’s protective coating is notably resistant to temperature shock, mineral etching, and UV degradation. The name comes from the 10-year warranty on the coating, to ensure that it is easy to clean for a decade, provided the homeowner follows basic maintenance instructions.
ShowerGuard
Backed with a Lifetime Warranty, ShowerGuard uses a patented ion-beam process to bake on the protective coating. Available in both clear and low-iron glass, consult the experts at Acme Glass to learn about the different glass thickness options.
The Battle with Hard Water
Choosing a shower coating means that mineral and soap residue are depostied on the surface of the coating, instead of the glass itself. This leads to a much easier periodic removal of hard water marks and soap residue on a coated shower.
A coated shower does not need abrasive cleaners to remove hard water marks. Instead, the manufacturers recommended using only white vinegar and a soft sponge to clean coated glass. You can dilute the vinegar, but undiluted vinegar is best to remove hard water marks on a coated shower, when they occur.
Care for Your Coating
Remember that wiping excess water off the glass after using the shower is the first step to keeping your glass shower beautiful. If you aren’t sure if your current shower project includes a shower coating, ask your contractor or reach out to a shower consultant here at Acme Glass to learn what your options are.