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Showering in a Bathtub

Would you like to have a nice shower in a bathtub without splashing around? Suitable even into an already finished bathroom.

You don’t have to restrict yourself!

It is a common belief that when building a new bathroom, the only options to choose between are a shower or bath. Most people forget that there really is a third alternative - showering in the bathtub.

Thanks to the bathtub screens and bathtub doors you can be comfortable even while showering in the bathtub. No more squatting in the bathtub trying not to flood the whole bathroom.

Mounting of the bathtub screens and bathtub doors is very simple - with the help of three screws. Most of them are suitable for all classic bathtubs, so they can be installed even into already finished bathrooms!

If you haven't got a bathtub screen or shower door in your bathroom yet, you are missing a lot.

Showering in the Bathtub

Bathtub screen - a matter of course?

Showering in a bathtub is common in many Czech homes. A bathtub has a wider range of use than a shower enclosure, and today it is easy to choose one that is designed for both safe showering and comfortable bathing. A bathtub in which you want to shower should have a wide flat bottom, vertical walls, and it should certainly have a bathtub screen. However, even such a commonplace thing that is offered by every manufacturer of shower enclosures has its rules and pitfalls. A good choice means keeping the bathroom dry as well as clean and easy to maintain.

Bathtub screens can be installed on almost every bathtub, whether it is an asymmetric bathtub, a corner bathtub, or a classic shape bathtub. Manufacturers sell specially designed screens for asymmetric and corner bathtubs. For other bathtubs you can choose from a wide range of universal screens. If you focus on assortment by the best manufacturers of bathtubs, you cannot go wrong with the quality screen choice. Universal screens can be mounted on almost any bathtub regardless of its material, however, you should pay attention to the straightness of the rim - older tin bathtubs tend to have a differently shaped rim, and the screen may not fit perfectly. Anyone can install a bathtub screen, as long as the wall is straight without popular niches, alcoves, or embossed tiles (the so-called bombato tiles).

vana Vanda II + vanová zástěna VS2
To fold or not to fold?
Almost all manufacturers sell folding and fixed bathtub screens. Each of these types has its advantages. The folding screens are placed in a frame and fitted with one or more vertical profiles (depending on whether it is a two-part, three-part, or even five-part screen). The advantage of folding screens is that they are space-saving, because this "accordion" can be easily folded all the way to the wall and it does not hinder the entry into the bathtub or maintenance of the bathtub rim. However, you should keep in mind the following! "Few people take the location of a water tap or shape of the bathtub into account. An ergonomic embossment for the head, headrest, or water tap, can successfully prevent the screen from folding, and you will lose a considerable advantage of this solution. A properly combined bathtub with a bathtub screen has a waste trap in the place where the bathtub has a wider flat bottom and vertical sides, and this place is equipped with a screen. However, if you want an accordion type bathtub screen, then no shelves or water taps can be on the front wall next to the shower space, because then the screen could not be folded to the wall" says Denisa Čarná, head of product management of the RAVAK brand.

A significant advantage is the fact that the folding screen always covers a larger area around the bathtub, so showering will be more comfortable. However, you will probably pay for greater convenience with cleaning difficulty, because unlike simple fixed screens, you will have to clean the frame and a number of profiles around which dirt likes to accumulate.

vanová zástěna BVS2Without a frame, yet with elegance
Frameless screens have the advantage of easy maintenance. Manufacturers of shower enclosures and bathtubs make them of 6mm safety glass. "Frameless screens are currently popular due to their timeless elegance and purity of style" says Kryštof Nosál, a designer who focuses on bathroom equipment, among other things.

sklo očetřené AntiCalcWhen buying a glass screen, check whether the glass has a protective layer. The largest Czech manufacturer of bathroom equipment sells glass screens already treated with the patented technology AntiCalc, which protects the glass against limescale; it may be regularly maintained with specially designed AntiCalc Conditioner.

Frameless screens may be attached to the wall permanently with metal holders, or with a vertical profile. Some manufacturers also offer a rotary post with a range of up to 180°. When buying a rotary post, make sure you don't lose more than you gain. Consider whether the conditions around your bathtub are such that you can really use the rotary post. Czech bathrooms often struggle with a lack of space, so it often happens that the washbasin is placed right next to the bathtub, and the screen may also bump into a water tap, a shelf, or other equipment on the other side from the bathtub. In such cases its functionality cannot be used, and all that is left is the drawback of imperfect impermeability and subsequent leakage of water out of the bathtub, accumulation of dirt, and the practical intention becomes the weakness of the entire bathroom.

nevhodné / rizikové umístění

Bathroom mathematics. Equipping your bathroom is not rocket science; you just need to be aware of a few facts. The length of the average bathtubs begins at 150 cm, and it most often ranges between 160 and 170 cm. A comfortable entrance space into the bathtub that is left next to the screen should be at least 70 cm wide. "So if you are getting a smaller bathtub (150 cm in length) it is not very practical to combine it with a fixed screen. In order for the screen to fulfil its function and prevent water from spraying out, it should have a minimum width of 80 cm; anything shorter than that is purely decorative" adds Denisa Čarná from RAVAK.

vanová zástěnaWhen choosing a screen, you will encounter various heights, which can range between 133 cm, 140 cm, and luxury designs tend to have a height of 150 cm. The average bathtub is between 40 and 45 cm deep; a combination of these data can help you determine the final height of the bathtub equipped with your new screen and whether it will be suitable for your stature. The ideal height is 190 cm, a standard height of a shower enclosure.

How to choose in the shop
Of course, you should give preference to bathroom shops, where you will always get better advice then in DIY shops. However, if you do choose to buy a screen in a DIY shop, consider the following: panel material, frames, and sturdiness of the structure.

The panels come either in plastic or glass. Plastic panels are lighter, they may feature various types of finishes, and they are most commonly used for the folding accordion-type screens. Because they are lighter and are often used for multi-part screens, the entire product made of plastic is also more "fragile". If you see a screen in the shop that is already collapsing downward and seems to be breaking in the joints towards the ground, choose another product. Glass screens, which are heavier and sturdier, tend to be stronger. Glass can also be easier maintained, whether due to the AntiCalc surface treatment or a smaller amount of vertical profiles, which naturally facilitates cleaning.

Frames come mainly in two surface finishes. The most popular, but also most prone to damage, are the classic white bathtub screens. White suits the bathtub and it brings coloured tiles out, but you have to mind mechanical damage (rings, etc.), or cleaning products that contain abrasives. The paint gets easily scratched and the scratches are consequently highlighted by dirt. "Our customers are increasingly opting for the most resistant finish called satin. This is a metallic matte finish used by RAVAK and it goes well with furnishings in almost any bathroom. Its advantage is that is really does not get scratched" says Markéta Dvořáčková, sales and marketing director of the MK RAKO store network.

With a properly selected type and reliable brand, bathtub screens will become an invaluable part of the bathroom, whether used for single living in a smaller apartment, or a family bathroom that must withstand children's games.

vana Praktik + vanová zástěna

Therefore, choose bathtub screens from stable brands on the market, which will give you the option of consultancy and reclamation. The largest Czech manufacturer of bathroom equipment RAVAK manufactures bathtub screens as part of its comprehensive solutions for entire bathrooms, especially bathrooms in which it is necessary to save space and think about every detail.