Well I don't know how much bearing this has on your specific setup, but we went for the u-channel method instead of frameless because of the price difference. I was afraid it might not be clean or contemporary enough (I had bad memories of my parents' ribbed aluminum framed shower with frosted flowers on the glass - "ick" to my modern vision). But I am incredibly pleased with the u-channel. It is crisp, clean, simple, secure, and sealed.

I would get some more estimates that sounds awfully high

Thanks. Cloudbase, what is a U channel? Your picture looks like framed but a slimmer frame than the usual framed set up?? Thanks again.

U channel is exactly what it sounds like. Note that there are no moving parts on my enclosure so what your project requires may vary.

We went frameless and it is beautiful. We're glad we did.

I second getting several more estimates. I had 4, two were around 3800...the other two were around 1800.

Our GC got 8 estimates, they ranged from almost 4k to around $1500, all for the same thickness glass, same hardware, etc.

From $1500 to $4000 all for the same frameless enclosures? My GC just got a lower estimate from the same company for something called butt glazed which has a frame on the ceiling and the bottom but not at the corners. This price is now $2,078....so somewhat frameless. It now sounds like a good idea to get more estimates. I shouldn't be afraid to bother my GC, right?

Have money to burn, try one of these:

http://kinetikhardware.com/en/?page=82

Not cheap, but sooo elegant:

Hope this helps!

Once you go frameless, you never look back..

Ours is completely frameless, I am not sure why it would cost you more to get one with a frame.

Call your GC, if he does a lot of bathroom remodels he should be able to refer you to a glass place that will do good work at a reasonable cost

We did frameless in a remodel last year and I think it was definitely worth the extra cost. We're doing another one in our new build. But, $4K seems really high. I'd get more estimates.

Check with a local regular ol' glass place, if you haven't done so. In my area the most popular (very good price and very good work) company for frameless enclosures advertises as an auto glass shop. Their prices are far lower than anyplace with a fancy showroom that claims to specialize in remodeling.