Choosing a bathroom shower screen, everything you need to know

07/06/2022

It's time to update your bathroom and give it a more modern, personal feel. Here are some tips from Krion to think about when you're choosing a shower screen for your new bathroom design.

The advantages of installing a shower screen

There are a number of advantages to installing a shower screen in your bathroom, for example: 

• Improved hygiene. Unlike unhygienic shower curtains which get mouldy over time, a shower screen can be cleaned easily - and your bathroom floor is more likely to stay dry too. 

• Quick and easy cleaning. Because glass is a smooth surface, it's generally easy to clean. But limescale and soap residue can make cleaning more difficult if they aren't removed quickly. System-Glass is an easy-cleaning treatment applied to PORCELANOSA Group firm Krion's shower screens which reduces the amount of time water remains on the surface of the glass, thereby preventing the build-up of limescale or dirt.

• Gain space. Installing a shower screen will make your shower enclosure feel much larger. Not only that, your bathroom will feel bigger overall, as there won't be any visual interruption, making it feel brighter and more spacious. 

• Improved resistance and comfort. Screens are a comfortable and resistant option, thanks to the use of tempered glass and the range of shower enclosures on offer.  Go for tempered glass rather than Perspex as the latter will scratch easily and - because it's plastic - tends to yellow over time. Perspex also attracts more dust because it accumulates static, whereas thicker tempered glass is a more stable material. Krion's tempered glass screens are subjected to a thermal process to increase their resistance and make them safer in the event of a glass breakage. As such, they're more stable if there are sudden changes in temperature, and if the glass is broken accidentally it'll break into thousands of small fragments, minimising any potential damage.

• Shower in comfort. There is no doubt that a relaxing shower is one of the best ways to end a hard day's work. The shower enclosure makes this moment of privacy even more comfortable, keeping the warmth of the water inside the shower.

What are the parts of the enclosure?

When choosing an enclosure, it is important for you to know what the different parts are and what they are for.

Fixed panels and doors. The doors and fixed panels are the most important part of the enclosure, preventing water from splashing outside the shower tray. They can be fixed or moveable, as you will see later.

Enclosures with sliding doors have runners that allow the door to be opened and closed. Metal channels attach the enclosure to the walls, and the fixed panels have a metal trim. If the enclosure has a door of any type, it will have handles. These have a dual purpose: they enable users to open and close the door but they also fulfil an aesthetic function.

Tips for choosing the best shower screen 

Getting the right shower screen for your bathroom comes down to what you need and the space you have. Let's look at the various options:

Fixed screens 

Fixed screens are the ideal choice for a rectangular shower. With a fixed screen, getting in and out of the shower is as easy as can be, with no need to open or close anything. 

With hinged doors

Hinged doors offer a practical solution to closing your shower enclosure. If space is limited in your bathroom but there's plenty of space inside the shower enclosure, you could opt for doors that open inwards. 

With sliding doors

If you have a smaller shower, and don't have enough space for opening and closing the doors, a shower screen with sliding doors would make a great choice. This option makes it easy to close your shower, and takes up very little space. 

Bespoke screens for your bathroom 

With Krion, you have the option to order a screen perfectly tailored to your bathroom's dimension. This is the perfect choice if your bathroom falls outside of the norm: for example spaces with corners or partitions, or attics.

Ceiling height screens

This type of screen goes from floor to ceiling, and is incredibly robust and versatile. You can frame your space with any of the types of doors we've looked at. This is one of the most popular options in luxury hotels, where combining sophistication with maximum user comfort is key.  

Different ways of entering the shower, according to the layout of the bathroom

The bathroom layout can be decisive when choosing the type of shower enclosure that suits you best. It may be better to enter the shower from one side, from the centre or from the corner. The options available include the following:

1. Toilet and washbasin along one wall. If the bathroom is rectangular and the washbasin and the toilet are against the same wall, the best option is to install a fixed screen and enter the shower through the open space. In this case, you can choose to leave the entrance open or fit a folding or sliding door.
2. L-shaped layout. In small bathrooms it is common to arrange the fittings in the shape of an L. If this is the case, the best way to enter the shower is through one of the sides. You can choose a hinged door if space allows, or a sliding door.
3. Small, narrow bathroom with a shower in the corner. If your bathroom is very small and there is hardly any space between the fittings, avoid doors that open outwards and enter the shower from the corner. In this case, sliding doors are very practical, or you can opt for hinged doors that open inwards.
4. Parallel layout. When the bathroom has units along both sides and the shower is at the far end, the most convenient way to enter it is through the centre. If you have enough space, a hinged door in the centre of the shower with fixed partitions on both sides is a very interesting option.

One point that should be borne in mind when deciding how you enter the shower is whether the household includes people with reduced mobility, elderly users or children. In this case, a good option for convenient access is a hinged door opening outwards, because this does not reduce the width of the entrance and does not bother you inside the shower.

How high should a shower enclosure be?

When designing or remodelling your bathroom, you might wonder how high your shower enclosure should be. If it is not high enough, water may come over the top when you're showering.

There is no standard height for all enclosures, so it will depend to a large extent on your tastes and needs. However, generally speaking, we can say that the minimum height for a shower enclosure is 1.90 m.

Glass screens that camouflage into your space 

Shower screen design now goes way beyond transparent glass. At Krion, you can choose from up to five different colour options for the glass: transparent, black mirror, bronze, grey and matt. As well as choosing the type of glass, you can complement your bathroom design with a choice of profile colours (gloss or matt black), and you even have the option to screen print the glass with a design of your choosing.

For example, black profiles go perfectly with a transparent glass screen - if you also opt for taps or a shower in this same shade, resulting in a minimalist and elegant design for your bathroom. 

How to clean your shower screen 

In the bathroom, hygiene is key. So how do you clean a shower screen? 

1.     Natural cleaning tricks

The simplest and most natural homemade remedy for cleaning and removing limescale from glass surfaces: water and vinegar. Moisten a sponge in a warm water and vinegar solution, rub it on the glass, wait a few minutes and then rinse to remove stubborn dirt. 

2.     Use a clean squeegee after each use 

Using a clean squeegee on the screen after each use is an easy way of keeping it cleaner for longer. With this handy tool, cleaning will only take 30 seconds after your shower and it'll keep your screen free of marks. 

3.     Go for a screen with an easy-cleaning system

The best way to keep your shower screen clean is to opt for one with the Krion System-Glass treatment. Krion shower screens are treated with the System-Glass finish, a transparent and harmless treatment that makes water slide easily and quickly off the surface, preventing any build-up of soap or limescale and keeping the glass shiny and crystal clear. 

As a result, you'll get less soap residue on the screen and no build-up of limescale, effortlessly keeping your screen flawlessly clean.