You’re about to buy a new shower door and you want to make sure it keeps that “brand-new” look for as long as possible. What can you do to make sure you’re happy with your new investment for a long time? You may have heard about various applications that prevent hard water spots, but do they really work and are they worth the extra cost?
We are going to answer these questions in this brief article to give you as much important information as possible so you can make the best decision for you and your new shower door.
Hard Water
In most areas, we have to deal with hard water- tap water that contains chemicals and minerals. Unless (and even when) you have a water filtration system installed in your home, hard water can affect how your new shower door looks after just a few showers.
Those white spots that show up on your sink faucets, your shower head and valve, even the tile and glass are mostly caused by the calcium found in the water. This buildup can happen quickly and make the glass appear hazy or milky.
Glass is very porous at a microscopic level, so if hard water is left to dry on glass it can become very difficult to remove those water spots entirely.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Your new shower door’s best friend when it comes to preventing hard water spots is the squeegee. Not allowing the water to dry on the glass is the first step in keeping the glass looking spotless. Some people choose to towel dry the glass- whatever works for you.
Next is to have a regular cleaning schedule for the shower door. Mild soap and water, ammonia-free glass cleaner, or a 50/50 solution of water and vinegar is necessary to keep your new door sparkling clean. A weekly cleaning is recommended, but even if you only get around to cleaning every other week, as long as you regularly clean the glass you will prevent buildup of soap scum, shampoo residue, dirt, and yes even hard water spots.
What is EnduroShield?
According to their website, “EnduroShield is an invisible, non-stick coating that reduces cleaning time by up to 90%. Application is a simple process of spraying the liquid coating onto a clean surface to provide a permanent* protective bond. With EnduroShield, the use of harsh chemicals is eliminated.”
You might be more familiar with a similar product called Rain-X. This water repellant works in very much the same way in that the water “beads up” and runs down the glass, rather than “sticking” to the glass surface. The difference is that EnduroShield is designed specifically for shower glass that needs protection from hard tap water.
EnduroShield can be factory-applied at the tempering plant if you select this option on your shower door order. You can also purchase a do-it-yourself kit online or in a home improvement store; depending on how much glass you need to cover, most kits will cost somewhere around $20-$50.
EnduroShield has been tested to last for a pretty long time- a 10-year warranty is provided for a factory-applied coating, and a 3-year warranty is provided when you apply it yourself.
Is EnduroShield Worth It?
EnduroShield is intended to work in tandem with a regular glass cleaning schedule. The website claims that it reduces cleaning time, meaning you still need to clean the glass. This product is not meant to be a miracle potion that magically keeps all dirt and hard water off your shower door.
How much this will cost for your shower door depends on how much glass you have and if you choose the factory-applied option (more expensive) or DIY (less expensive).
If you’re a squeegee-wielding (ammonia-free)-Windex warrior and you’re just looking for a little extra help in keeping your new shower door looking spotless, then EnduroShield could be a good investment for you.
To find out how much EnduroShield would cost for your new shower door, call us today for a free quote.
Author Profile:
I pride myself on my meticulous attention to detail, a quality that has been sharpened through measuring and designing over 9,000 shower doors since 2017. My background in drafting has equipped me with the principles I apply to every field drawing, ensuring each measurement is both precise and accurate.