All About Glass Bath Curtains

Practicality and beauty in a bathroom must be intertwined. This is a place with a special microclimate, in which all family members spend a lot of time every day. This is especially true for the shower area. Many people today are ditching vinyl curtains in favor of stylish glass screens. Let's figure out what such designs are good for and how to choose the right option.

The glass curtain for the bathroom is an innovation in interior design that is becoming more and more popular every day. A glass screen is installed not only as a shower enclosure from the rest of the room. It is also used instead of a curtain for a regular bath.

The advantages of a glass partition are obvious.

• Durability... The constructions are made of special super-strong types of glass. They can withstand loads, small shocks. In addition, the material is resistant to moisture and temperature extremes. Under normal operating conditions, the product can last 10-15 years.
• Security. Unlike regular glass, bathroom screens are not fragile. Thanks to a special film coating, they do not crumble into small fragments and do not fly apart even in the event of serious damage to the product.
• Practicality. If the screen covers the entire space from the floor or edge of the bathtub to the ceiling, the rest of the room is protected from splashes.
• Hygiene. Glass is not conducive to the development of mold and mildew. This is an important point, because the bathroom is a place with constantly high humidity.
• Ease of care... You only need to wipe the structure after taking water procedures with a dry cloth. This will help prevent limescale and surface stains. You can periodically clean the glass with a window cleaner. Some people use an anti-rain compound made for cars.
• The beauty. Due to the transparency of the structure, the situation seems to be lighter and more airy. This is especially valuable in small spaces. In addition, such a curtain can harmoniously fit into any interior - from classics to hi-tech.
• Variety of options... You can purchase a screen made of transparent, matte, tinted or colored material. It is also possible to manufacture partitions with a pattern or volumetric texture. This way you will find the option that is ideal for your bathroom.
• Individual approach... Even if among the variety of shapes and sizes you will not find a product of the dimensions you need, you can contact a company that will make a design according to your order. There are many such companies today.

As for the disadvantages, only two points can be noted.

1. Glass partitions are more expensive than vinyl curtains. However, if you calculate how many conventional curtains will need to be replaced in a few years, the cost of a durable screen does not seem so high.
2. Glass installation requires some professional skills. But this nuance can be considered insignificant, because the installation is done every few years.

One of the additional advantages of glass curtains is the variety of their types.

Transparent screens with one or two doors are considered traditional. Such models are simple and reliable. Usually the doors open outward. This is a safer and more convenient option.

The advantages of this solution:

• ease of cleaning due to the absence of additional parts typical for complex opening mechanisms;
• lower price compared to other types of designs.

Such models open like a wardrobe. The canvases move in one plane along special guides. Sliding structures are slightly more expensive than swing ones, but the ergonomics and ease of use are much higher here. Such models are suitable for rooms of any size.

The systems that take up all the space to the ceiling ensure tightness and reliable protection of the interior from splashes. Thus, you can get an analogue of a hydrobox that allows you to take any water procedures, including a rain shower. The main thing is to use anti-fungal agents for sealing and, if necessary, renew the sealant layer.

On sale you can find products with bottom and top sliding. In the first case, the canvases move along special grooves. In the second - along the rollers installed in the upper part of the curtain.

The roller system is considered more convenient, practical and reliable. Bottom slide models are more difficult to install. In addition, such products often "stick" when moving, which requires some effort to open them. Finally, it is worth noting that pollution on such systems accumulates faster and in greater quantities.

"Accordion" is not a very popular solution today, but such options are still present on the market. This is the name of a system consisting of several narrow parts.Opening occurs when the canvas is folded like a screen.

The advantage of such models is only one - they move in an arc... Due to this, the design allows you to close the bathtub of both conventional and radius shapes. However, it should be noted that modern sliding models are also capable of doing this.

The disadvantages of this outdated version are many:

• the frame turns out to be quite cumbersome and heavy;
• opening the system requires some effort;
• due to the peculiarities of the mechanism, systems often break down.

Stationary structures do not completely cover the shower area. They do not move, so it is necessary to leave space for free access to the shower.

The advantages of this solution:

• the product can be installed without special skills;
• simplicity of design leads to a low price;
• due to the lack of fittings and connecting strips, the curtain is almost invisible;
• product care is as simple as possible.

However, there is also a very important drawback - spray can fly out of the zone of water procedures. The exceptions are situations when an overall fixed glass wall is installed in a very spacious bathroom. In such cases, in order to get into the shower, you need to bypass the "wet" area from the side. In small bathrooms with a narrow transparent partition, the ingress of water on the floor is inevitable.

As already mentioned, glass bath curtains are made of unusual glass.

Most often, this material is used in the production of shower partitions. This glass has a special coating that increases its strength and prevents streaks. Such material is not easy to break. Wherein even if severely damaged, it does not shatter into fragments, which reduces the risk of injury.

It is a synthetic polymer. Clear plastic looks like glass but costs less. It is also highly impact, moisture and temperature resistant. In addition, it can be colored, tinted. By heat treatment, the material can be shaped into different shapes. Plexiglas weighs much less than its usual counterpart.

This is the name of a material that has a multilayer structure. Two or more organic or silicate glass sheets are glued together to form an impact-resistant coating.

The thickness of double or triple material ranges from 6 mm. Products thicker than 13 mm are considered bulletproof. For the bathroom, glass is usually not very thick. Nevertheless, it will withstand any mechanical stress. In the event of a very strong impact, the material will only crack with a small "cobweb".

Transparent glass without decor is a win-win versatile option. A laconic partition will seem to dissolve in space, allowing other elements of the interior to draw attention to itself. If the room is decorated with patterned tiles, furnished with colored furniture and numerous small items, this solution will be optimal.

If there are several people in the family, you can preserve the privacy of the water treatment area. This will help frosted glass... This will allow one person to shower while the other, for example, will wash and brush their teeth. You can make not the whole area of ​​the screen matte, but only a part. In this case, it will be possible to create a practical and strict, but at the same time original design.

If you plan to purchase a partition with fittings, you should definitely take into account the style of the interior. A design with a vintage handle (or two handles) fits perfectly into a classic bathroom. The metal can imitate gold or bronze. In a modern bathroom, chrome fittings of a simple form will look harmonious.

Colored tinted glass (green, blue, purple and others) are rarely used today. This is a rather bold decision that is difficult to harmoniously fit into the interior. But if the bathroom is decorated in neutral colors, such a curtain can become a highlight of the room.

Glass fences with a pronounced texture look interesting. An even more original option is a curtain with a pattern. This can be sandblasting, in which matte patterns stand out on transparent glass (or vice versa), or applying a color image to the product.

The sizes of the structures are varied. The width of the finished products varies from 50 to 180 cm. There are screens with a width of 60, 70, 100, 120, 150, 170 cm and so on. The minimum height is 140 cm, the maximum is 160 cm if the structure is installed on a bathtub.

For fences of a shower area without a pallet, the parameters are different. Such structures can have a height similar to the height of the room from floor to ceiling. The width of the products is different.

As stated earlier, if among the ready-made designs there is no one suitable for your bathroom, you can order it individually... In this case, the partition will have the dimensions you need. And also you can choose its shape and design.

When choosing a glass bathroom curtain, there are a few key points to consider.

Models are presented in stores today with metal and plastic frame... The first option is considered more durable and reliable. However, such structures are often quite heavy and cumbersome. Products with a plastic base are lighter and cheaper.

Both options require careful maintenance., as dirt accumulates between the glass and the supporting elements over time, which must be removed. It is also important to ensure that mold does not appear in the places where the system is attached to the wall.

You can choose a model without a frame. Products made using this technology look lighter and more airy. For minimalistic interiors, such designs are best suited. But for decorating bathrooms in a retro style, frame options are more often used.

If the curtain will be installed on a rectangular acrylic bathtub in a niche, you can close it with the usual direct screen. The tightness will be ensured. If the bath is against a long wall cover it with glass on all sides, organizing a semblance of a large hydrobox. But it is possible to mount glass screens on both sides. If you prefer an open design, limit yourself to a small partition that covers the part of the bathtub from which the shower is located.

If the plumbing is rounded or wavy, you can also choose any of the options (completely cover the shower area or install a partial glass cover). The only difference lies in the shape of the glass, which in this case will be radius.

When choosing between sliding and swing systems, it is important to take into account the dimensions of the room, the location of the shower area and some other nuances. As already mentioned, the swing mechanism requires a certain amount of space. The door should open freely without touching furniture or any interior items. Failure to do so could damage glass, fittings or furnishings.

If the bathroom is united, and there are several people in the family, opening the door can become dangerous for people, because when you leave the shower, you can touch someone with glass.It may seem that the door opening inward will solve the problem. However, this decision is not recommended. This, in turn, can be dangerous for someone who gets out of the bath, because unnecessary movement on a slippery surface can lead to a fall.

The sliding mechanism is a safer and more convenient option in all respects. If you think that such a design would be inappropriate in a classic style, you are wrong. You can successfully create the illusion of swing doors on such a system. It is enough to install spectacular vintage handles on the glass.

The design must harmoniously fit into the concept of the bathroom interior. Golden curly handles will be out of place in a modern setting, and laconic minimalistic fittings will look strange in a luxurious baroque bathroom. The colors of metal parts have already been mentioned earlier (gold and bronze are retro, chrome are modern trends). We should also talk about plastic.

The white plastic frame looks rustic in any case. It is worth keeping this in mind... In a modern interior, you can use this option, but it is better to choose models with fewer sections and plastic parts. And it is also desirable that the whiteness of the frame is in harmony not only with the plumbing, but also with the finish (for example, with white grout of ceramic tiles). In retro design, the use of plastic is unacceptable.

Upon receipt of the product, carefully inspect not only the glass itself, but also the components. The functioning of the system, its durability and the safety of users depend on the condition of the parts. Check the quality of fasteners, rollers, guides (if the model is sliding).

remember, that the kit must contain gaskets made of polymer or rubber. These parts prevent stress between the glass and the rail. If they are not there, the structure may crack.

Judging by the reviews that periodically appear on the Internet, most buyers rate the glass replacement for a conventional curtain positively. Users like both the aesthetics and the ease of use of the products while taking water treatments.

The only nuance that makes some people abandon the innovation and return to the usual vinyl curtains is the need for periodic cleaning of the structure. There are no problems with the glasses themselves, especially if a model is purchased with a special treatment that prevents the appearance of streaks. But it can be difficult to clean the guides from dirt. Problems also arise if moisture is not wiped off the parts in a timely manner.

A few beautiful examples will clearly demonstrate the convenience and beauty of a glass curtain in a bathroom.

The concept minimalism perfectly reflects the laconic glass screen without decor. The sliding model is the most popular option.

Classics with a modern twist - a style that many people like. The austere but sophisticated interior is harmoniously complemented by a stationary partition with patterns. The perfect match between the tone of the vintage mixer and the frame of the glass structure speaks of the designer's impeccable taste.

Unusual pattern on glass transforms the already original two-tone interior. The bathroom immediately acquires a bright personality and character.

Round fixed screen - perfect solution. Despite the absence of drawings, the area for accepting water procedures becomes original and stylish.

And here is an example of how you can insulate a bathtub standing against a long wall.... Glass covers it on all sides, which allows you to splash heartily, without fear of soaking the floor in the room.

For an overview of the glass curtain for the bathroom, see the following video.