Shower Glass Coatings Keep Your Door Clean and Clear—Are They Worth It?

A shower glass coating can keep your gorgeous shower design looking like new for longer and cut down on your time spent cleaning the shower door. However, some argue that these coatings are costly—but is glass shower coating worth it? Take a look at the pros and cons so you can decide for yourself if a shower glass coating is right for you and your family.

How Does a Shower Coating Work?

Shower glass coatings are hydrophobic, meaning they repel water and protect your glass from water stains, corrosion, and mineral buildup. This invisible layer fills in the pores of the shower door glass to keep out debris and causes water to slide right off. This means homeowners don’t have to spend as much time scrubbing off dirt or mold and can spend more time enjoying the shower.

Pros and Cons of a Shower Glass Coating

Your water quality and shower usage can help you decide if the pros and cons of a shower glass coating are worth it. In the right circumstances, these protective coatings can save time and keep the shower door looking cleaner for longer.

Pros

A shower glass coating is beneficial if you live in a place with hard water, as it prevents buildup and keeps your shower door looking cleaner longer. It’s also great when you have a large household that takes a lot of showers, so no one has to scrub the shower door every day.

Cons

Shower glass coatings are relatively expensive and are best applied by the manufacturer when you order a new shower door. If you’re not ready to buy a new shower door, your options are limited. You can apply a temporary spray-on coating yourself or pay for a local shower glass installer to apply one for you. 

However, these sprays typically don’t last as long as a coating applied by the manufacturer. A manufacturer coating also usually comes with a 10-year warranty, but some have a lifetime warranty.

How Long Does a Shower Door Coating Last?

A shower door coating’s durability depends on the product. Some of the more expensive coatings can last as long as 15 years, while other less expensive options last three years. Spray-on protective products may require weekly or monthly application but can prevent tough buildup on the door and work well if you’re not looking at remodeling or installing a new glass shower door. A more expensive coating is usually easier if you’re working on a bathroom remodel or converting a tub to a walk-in shower where you’re installing a new door.

Is a Shower Glass Coating Worth the Cost?

Adding glass doors to your shower or bathtub is one bathroom upgrade that increases the resale value of your home. If you’re already remodeling and upgrading the door, adding a shower door coating shouldn’t typically cut too much into your bathroom remodel budget. A glass shower door with a coating typically costs about 30% more than a regular shower door or about $500 on average. To put that into perspective, a shower door costs between $190 and $3,300. Shower door installation costs anywhere from $160 to over $2,000 for a custom shower. 

If you’re one of those people who wipe the glass down after every shower and clean your bathroom every week or two, you probably don't need to spend the extra money. However, if you’re more the type of person who waits until the shower looks dirty to clean it, then a coating might be worth the investment.

Best Coating Options for a Shower Glass Door

While manufacturers can apply shower glass coatings during the production process, there are products that homeowners can apply themselves. While it can be much less expensive to use these DIY solutions, you will have to reapply them often. Over time, you might end up spending as much on DIY options as you would if you were to pay upfront for a coating when ordering a shower door and working with a local shower door installer. 

If you decide a shower door coating is right for you, here are some of the popular options on the market to choose from:

• ShowerGuard: This coating is fused to the shower door by the manufacturer when it’s made and has a lifetime limited warranty.

• Invisible Shield: This spray-on product lasts several months to a few years, but the application requires a specialized machine. If you have the right equipment, you can apply this coating yourself or call on a pro to get the job done.

• Diamon-Fusion: Certified dealers apply this coating, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. 

• EnduroShield: This brand has a product with a 10-year warranty that can be applied by the manufacturer when you order a new shower door, or you can have a pro apply it for you after installation. There’s also a DIY product that can cover 80 square feet of shower space. It costs $40 and lasts three years before you have to reapply it. 

• RainX: This is a brand of DIY spray-on shower door water repellent that costs $17 for a 16-ounce bottle. However, you have to reapply every few weeks.