Which bath screen is better to choose?

What types of structures are there?

Asking the question "Which screen for a bath is better to choose?", Decide on the style of the bathroom interior and the goals of its installation. Bath screens differ in design and materials from which they are made.

Sliding bath screens

Convenience of use and pleasant appearance combine sliding screens. They consist of a box and 2-3 compartment doors that move along guides. With a slight movement of your hand, you can get to the plumbing equipment, if necessary, or hide the detergents.

The main advantage of sliding bath screens is considered compactness: no additional space is required to open them. Therefore, this design is suitable even for small bathrooms.

The disadvantages include jammed doors and the complexity of cleaning - dust quickly clogs into the grooves necessary for a sliding structure.

Screens with hinged doors

The drawback in the form of dirty grooves is leveled by simple hinged doors. However, to open these, you will have to leave enough space - which means they are suitable only for spacious bathrooms.

There are several alternatives to classic swinging facades:

• Folding doors. Both the door itself and the whole drawer can open downward. The latter solution is more ergonomic - you do not have to bend over to take things from the shelf or put them back in place.
• Drawers. In order not to have to look for items under the bathroom, install roll-out structures - it is more comfortable to use them.

Hide baskets with handles behind regular doors that you can slide out after opening. This will allow you to use the space under the bathroom as a full-fledged wardrobe.

In the photo, hinged doors made of MDF

Solid screens

If there is enough storage space in the bathroom and you just need to beautifully close the end of the bowl, take a closer look at the blind structures.

Their advantages include:

• Aesthetic appearance. The bathtub looks one piece, which gives the impression of an expensive interior.
• Long service life. Solid acrylic, tile or mosaic options are almost impossible to damage.
• Easy maintenance. You don't have to scrub hard-to-reach corners or joints. Wipe it down with a rag while wet cleaning and you're done.

But solid facades also have a couple of disadvantages:

• Problematic access to communications. To be able to fix any malfunction under the bathroom, you should leave the window. But in the event of a serious accident, it may not be enough and the structure will have to be dismantled.
• The impossibility of replacing the bowl. You will have to change the plumbing with a decorative facade - and if it is made of tiles, then you will have to repair it.

What are the best materials to use?

Manufacturers offer a wide range of decorative bath screens to suit every taste and budget. You just have to choose - buy an inexpensive plastic or unique stone. The second idea is to make it yourself from tiles, mosaics, brick or wood.

Tile

Ceramic screens are of only one type: deaf.A frame is created under the bathroom, which is subsequently tiled, mosaic or porcelain stoneware.

The tiles are placed on drywall or polystyrene boards, which in turn are attached to the metal "skeleton" of the future screen. Brickwork is also popular - it is practical and inexpensive.

When installing the structure yourself, do not forget about the window, which will provide access to the pipes. To do this, use purchased hatches or resort to tricks, fixing one section with magnets, instead of glue.

The benefits of tiles include:

• Hygiene.
• Practicality.
• Durability.
• The ability to bend round, oval, corner baths (for this use mosaic or small tiles).
• Appearance. The end of the bowl decorated with the same tiles as the floor or walls creates the feeling of a visually integral space.
• Convenience of care. The finished screen can be washed in any way - it is not afraid of water or aggressive cleaning agents.

Of the shortcomings, we will single out the cost - a high-quality tile cannot be cheap. As well as the wages of the workers who will pay it.

In the photo, bathtub lining in the color of the walls

MDF

Before using in damp rooms, wood-fiber boards are treated with a protective solution and they are not afraid of contact with water. Therefore, feel free to use moisture-resistant MDF screens in the bathrooms.

Among the advantages:

• Appearance. Order facades to match the furniture to get a single set.
• A wide range of. The coating of the slabs differs not only in color, but also in texture.
• Varieties of forms. On the market there are not only frontal, but also end screens made of MDF - this is convenient if 2 sides of the bowl are visible.
• Affordable price. The cost starts from 2,500 rubles, this is a favorable price-quality ratio.
• Easy maintenance. There will be no problems with cleaning - wipe with a damp cloth.

See also the list of cons:

• Short service life. Despite the protection, exposure to moisture will degrade the material over time. The average lifespan of a screen is 3 years.
• Deformable canvas. A monolithic wide slab can be "led" - which will lead to its twisting or bending.
• Standard size. Unlike plastic, the size of MDF is not regulated. Therefore, you should either choose the ideal dimensions, or adjust them to the desired parameters, or make to order.

Plastic screens

The plastic screen has gained popularity due to its many advantages:

• Affordable price. The cost in stores starts at 700 rubles.
• Variety of shades and designs. Whether white, solid or patterned, you can find anything you want.
• Large selection of designs. Most often, there are sliding or solid panels.
• Moisture resistance. Plastic is not afraid of steam, moisture and even water - it does not deform or swell.
• Ease of maintenance. Seals can be damaged by harsh chemicals, but water or soap is usually enough to clean the plastic.
• Durability. With proper care, the material will not lose its appearance even after 5-10 years.

In addition, the plastic screen is easy to install by yourself. It is often possible to adjust the height using the legs on the frame. But even if there are no legs, a clerical knife is enough to trim thin plastic.

Of the shortcomings, we note the fragility: even a slight blow can lead to a dent. The second point in the design itself is that the doors on the cheapest sliding screens for the bathtub stick and sometimes fall out of the grooves. And the grooves themselves are clogged with dust and are difficult to clean.

In the photo, a sliding screen made of plastic with a print

Plexiglass or mirror

The bath screen is made of special glass: it is especially durable and safe. Even if you break such (which is almost impossible), the edges of the fragments will not be sharp.

Other advantages of organic glass:

• Hygiene. Its surface prevents the appearance of mold and mildew.
• Sun protection. If there is a window opposite the bath, do not be afraid of burnout and yellowing.
• Large selection of colors and textures.Plexiglas can be glossy and matte, transparent and cloudy. When ordering the production of an individual screen, you can choose any shade.
• Durability. The glass panel will not change shape even after prolonged use.
• Environmental friendliness. The material does not emit hazardous substances even when burning.

There are not so many negative sides, among them:

• High price. The screen will cost more than 50% or more compared to MDF.
• The complexity of leaving. Smudges and stains are visible on the glass, but you cannot wash the coating with alcohol solutions - therefore, you will have to look for other high-quality products.
• Risk of mechanical damage. It is almost impossible to repair a scratch from a sharp object.

The mirror surface will be an excellent choice for the interior of a small bathroom. The reflectivity enhances the room, and when illuminated, you get the effect of a floating floor. Installing a mirror screen is not easy and you will most likely need professional help.

In the photo there is a mirror finish under the bathroom

Aluminum screens

Structures that are made of light metal - aluminum are gaining popularity due to:

• Favorable price. They are cheaper than glass ones, and are not inferior to wooden ones in terms of the quality level.
• Increased strength. It is impossible to break it under normal operating conditions.
• Large selection of colors. Any image can be applied to the aluminum screen. This metal does not rust, mold and bacteria do not form on its surface.
• Ease of cleaning. Just like plastic or MDF, aluminum can be simply wiped off with a damp cloth.

There are practically no disadvantages to this solution, except for the complexity of the purchase. They are not found in all specialized stores, and the right size may have to be ordered and waited.

Acrylic screens

These panels are made of plastic and covered with acrylic - they are lightweight and durable. Sold complete with bowls. You can choose a screen for your acrylic bath after purchase, but for this you need to know the name of the model and its parameters.

Pros of acrylic designs:

• Integrity. The screen is ideally matched in color and size, forming a single composition with the bathroom.
• Easy to install. The clamps are sold in a set, it is not difficult to install them, as well as to remove them, if necessary, to access the pipes.
• Lack of cracks. It is in them that unnecessary dirt usually accumulates.
• Ease of care. Wipe with a damp cloth or wash with cleaning agents like the bowl itself.

Among the disadvantages of acrylic panels are uniformity and impracticality. Most often, the design is deaf, which excludes the possibility of storage under the bathroom.

Pictured is an acrylic design for a square bowl

What to consider when choosing a screen size?

How to choose the size of the screen for the bathtub? Measure the parameters of the bowl itself:

• the height from the floor to the side is usually 500-600 mm;
• bowl length - the most popular parameters are 1500-1800 mm;
• width - if you plan to purchase the end wall separately.

The most difficult thing is to purchase solid structures or with hinged doors - their dimensions cannot be changed. Accordingly, the length and height of the screen under the bath must match your numbers up to a millimeter.

It is easier to choose a sliding compartment - the length mismatch is leveled by the layering of facades, and the height - by adjustable legs.

The empty space under the bathroom can ruin even an expensive renovation; cover it with a beautiful and functional screen.