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Showering in a bathtub

Would you like to have a nice shower in a bathtub without splashing around? Suitable even for existing bathrooms.

You don't have to limit your options!

It is a common belief that when fitting a new bathroom, the only options to choose from are a shower or a 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!

Bathtub screens and doors can be fitted very simply – with the help of three screws. Most of them are suitable for all classic bathtubs, so they can even be installed in existing bathrooms.

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

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 both for safe showering and comfortable bathing. A bathtub you want to shower in should have a wide, flat bottom, vertical walls, and it should definitely have a bathtub screen. However, even a commonplace product such as this, offered by all shower enclosure manufacturers, 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 bathtub. Manufacturers design and sell special screens for asymmetric and corner bathtubs. For other bathtubs, you can choose from a wide range of universal screens. If you focus on product ranges designed by the best bathtub manufacturers, you cannot go wrong with the quality of screens available. 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 the well-loved recesses, alcoves, or embossed tiles ("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 they can be easily folded concertina-style all the way to the wall and do not hinder entry into the bathtub or maintenance of the bathtub rim. However, you should bear the following in mind: "Few people take the location of a water tap or the shape of the bathtub into account. Ergonomic shaping for the head, a headrest, or water tap can completely prevent the screen from folding, rendering this solution redundant. A properly combined bathtub and bathtub screen has a waste trap where the bottom of the bathtub is wider and has vertical sides, which is at the same end of the bathtub as where the screen should be installed. However, if you want an concertina-style bathtub screen, there must not be any shelves or water taps on the end wall next to the shower space, because then the screen cannot be folded to the wall," says Denisa Čarná, Head of Product Management at RAVAK.

A significant advantage is the fact that a folding screen will always cover a larger area around the bathtub, so showering will be more comfortable. However, greater convenience comes at the cost of greater cleaning difficulty, because unlike simple fixed screens, you will have to clean the frame and a number of profiles in which dirt tends to accumulate.

vanová zástěna BVS2Frameless elegance
Frameless screens have the advantage of easy maintenance. Manufacturers of shower enclosures and bathtubs make them from 6 mm thick safety glass. "Frameless screens are currently popular due to their timeless elegance and pure 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 that have been pre-treated with patented AntiCalc technology, which protects the glass from limescale; it can be maintained regularly using the specially designed AntiCalc Conditioner.

Frameless screens may be attached to the wall permanently with metal brackets, 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 lack space, so the washbasin is frequently placed right next to the bathtub and the screen may bump into a water tap, shelf, or other equipment on the other side of the bathtub. In such cases, the rotating function is redundant and all that is left is the drawback of imperfect impermeability and subsequent leakage of water from the bathtub, and the accumulation of dirt as the practical intention becomes the weakness of the entire bathroom.

nevhodné / rizikové umístění

Bathroom geometry. Equipping your bathroom is not rocket science; you just need to be aware of a few facts. The length of the average bathtub begins at 150 cm, and frequently ranges between 160 and 170 cm. There should be a comfortable entrance space into the bathtub of at least 70 cm left next to the screen. "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 and 140 cm, with luxury designs tending to have a height of 150 cm. The average bathtub is between 40 and 45 cm deep; a combination of these dimensions 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, the standard height for 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 than in DIY shops. However, if you do choose to buy a screen from a DIY shop, consider the following: Panel material, frames, and sturdiness of the structure.

The panels are made either from plastic or glass. Plastic panels are lighter, they may feature various types of finishes, and they are most commonly used for the folding concertina-style screens. Because they are lighter and often used for multi-part screens, the entire plastic product 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 a different product. Glass screens, which are heavier and sturdier, tend to be stronger. Glass is also easier to maintain, thanks to the AntiCalc surface treatment and a smaller number 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 out any coloured tiles, but you have to be careful of damaging it (rings, etc.) and avoid using abrasive cleaning products. The paint is easily scratched and the scratches are subsequently highlighted by dirt. "Our customers are increasingly opting for the most resistant finish, called 'satin'. This is a metallic matte finish used by RAVAK that goes well with furnishings in almost any bathroom. The advantage is that it really does not get scratched," says Markéta Dvořáčková, Sales and Marketing Director of the MK RAKO store network.

A properly selected bathtub screen model from a reliable brand becomes an invaluable part of the bathroom, whether used for single living in a smaller home, or a family bathroom that must withstand children's games.

vana Praktik + vanová zástěna

Therefore, choose bathtub screens from reliable brands on the market, which will give you advice and return options. 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.