Bath screens – made of glass or plastic? - Our tips

There are quite a few reasons as to why it’s a good idea to equip your bathroom with a bath screen. First of all, it allows us to take a quick shower without the risk of splashing the bathroom when all we have is a bathtub. Having a bathtub with a screen, we don’t have to fill it with water every time to take a bath. The screen makes it possible to take a shower, being a big saving of water and time. Moreover, this solution will work in both small and spacious bathrooms. We don’t need to arrange additional space for a shower unit to enjoy its advantages. With the variety of bath screens, they are a good option for any interior design. They differ in many respects and, depending on our needs, can be installed on the right or left side.

When choosing a bath screen, the first things to consider are the size and shape of the bathtub and the metric area of the bathroom. Its convenience of use and appearance are also important - its style should match the design of the interior. There’s a great selection of bath screens available on market, so no-one should have trouble finding a model that meets their expectations.

All bath screens perform the same functions, but depending on the size and shape of the bathtub, as well as the investor’s budget and preferences, the ideal screen will look different. For a classic rectangular bathtub, the most commonly used screen is one that is 70-180 cm wide and 140-200 cm high. However, such a solution won’t necessarily work with a curved or asymmetrical bathtub. Then a better option is a custom-made bath screen.

Division of bath screens according to the way of opening

Bath screens can be divided depending on various criteria. Most often they are divided by type of opening and material they’re made of. Looking through the prism of the way of opening, the first type is the multi-panel folding bath screen. It’s made of door wings that, when opening, fold into something that looks like a concertina. Depending on the model, it’s made from 2 to 7 panels, and takes up little space when folded.

The second type is a hinged bath screen. It’s single panel and can open inward or outward. Such a screen, by its design doesn’t have too many gaps and nooks, so it’s easy to keep it clean.

Sliding bath screens are another option. In this case, the panel slides on a guide rail. Compared to the previous versions, they take up more space, so they suit larger bathrooms better.

A fixed screen may also prove to be an interesting option in a spacious room. This is one large sheet of glass, which is mounted on the rim of the bathtub. When choosing such a glass screen, you need to take into account, among other things, the size of the bathtub. A model of this type is stationary and can not be moved or folded. On the one hand, it must guarantee the retention of water inside, on the other hand, free entry into the bathtub.

Division of bath screens according to the material they’re made of

Another division breaks screens down into those made of glass and those made of plastic. Both types are popular, although they appeal to different groups of investors. Glass screens are made of tempered safety glass of high resistance to mechanical damage, which when broken, fall into pieces that have no sharp edges. Plastic bath screens, on the other hand, are made of polypropylene or acrylic. Panels of this type are also resistant to moisture and to some extent also to mechanical damage. Which of these should you choose for your bathroom?

Looking for premium equipment that will serve for a long time, it’s certainly worth investing in a glass bath screen. The material it’s made from is highly resistant to scratches and other damage. This, in turn, translates into high durability and beautiful presence for a long time. Glass screens are first of all a functional solution. But let’s not forget about their appearance - a bathtub with a glass screen can be a real decoration and emphasize the character of the bathroom. Depending on the design style used, the profiles can be of different shapes and colors. Also, when looking through the screens, it’s worth thinking about their cleaning. Reputable manufacturers, like SanSwiss offer screens with a durable polymer water-repellent coating, thanks to which no limescale settles and no stains form on the pane. Such a screen only needs to be wiped to be perfectly smooth and clean.

With so many qualities, does the glass bath screen have any flaws? Certainly it’s the price, which is higher than what we’d pay for screens made of plastic. However, it’s worth considering how long it will be used, when the next major renovation is planned and what budget we have.

In the store, alongside the various glass screens, we can also find those made of plastic. Among the biggest advantages of plastic screens is their low price. Moreover, they are much lighter than glass screens. Manufacturers do care about the high quality of products in this category, so many of them are durable models. However, in this respect they compare poorly with screens made of glass. When cleaning, we need to be more careful not to scratch the surface. Plastic bath screens have no coating, like AQUAPERLE. This means that stains and permanent limescale deposits can appear, so complementing the bathtub screen requires more cleaning.

As we can see from the information above, bath screens are a very practical solution. At the same time, they are a decoration that adds expression to the arrangement. A bath screen saves a lot of time and energy that would be required to replace the bathtub with a shower enclosure. Opting for a high-quality model, we can enjoy it for many years.