Open showers are the most popular shower screen that we do. To do a deep dive into them just Click Here but today we will compare them to the full shower screen which we call Wall to Wall.

As it sounds the wall to wall is a shower screen that indeed goes from one wall to the other creating a fully enclosed space. As we often say all bathrooms are unique so there are different variations and sizes for a wall to wall shower you can have a space like below.

Often in smaller en-suites and main bathrooms in Perth, you will get an alcove shower like below that limit the style of shower screen you can have. The key to this is the positioning of the showerhead as if it’s on the entry wall opposed to the back wall of the shower water will most definitely splatter into the bathroom without some sort of protection. In cases like this style of alcove, I would go with the wall to wall screen as I like the overall design and feel.

The three big things that separate these styles of screens are COST, FUNCTION and FEEL. Now keep in mind this is based on our bathroom renovations we complete in Perth, Western Australia so if it’s slightly different from where you are please keep that in mind.
 

Show Me The Money

Wall To Wall shower screens are not always custom made but in all honesty, the premade wall to wall screen is not great. They need to be adjusted so much that they often leak or have issues down the track so avoid when you can. A custom-made wall to wall screen in semi frame-less finish will often cost about 3 to 4 times more than a fixed premade panel screen. This is not to say you are being ripped off but to say there is a high degree of labour and material to build such a screen.

A wall to wall in a completely frameless custom made screen can be 6 to 8 times more in comparison to premade frameless fixed panels.

Open Fixed Panel Shower Screens depending on the size you wish to accomplish can be cost anywhere between $200 to $400 to buy as they are premade. It’s important to note that installation is a key part of this as yes its great to buy a cheaper product but if the installation side is poor it will cost you in the long run.

Will Water Come Out?

Depending on the size of your fixed panel you will have different degrees of water retention. The key to an open shower is the expert tiling that comes with years of experience with this style of shower enclosure. The other is understanding water travels in the air off your body so you will have some water come from the shower space. If this will really bother you maybe fixed panel shower screens are not for you.

WALL TO WALL showers are designed to retain water so much better than fixed panels. Effectively they are a complete wall really designed for water retention and keeping more warmth in the shower area.

Do I Look Big In This?

WALL TO WALL shower screens feel like a wall as described above. When your eyes look at it the space feels like another room within a room. It’s not often a client first choice when wanting style of substance.

OPEN SHOWERS are what the name says the feeling of one big space. The screen does not impact the room or make it feel smaller. It feels like large room even if the space is not in a way that the wall to wall screen can not archive that.

In 2018 we rarely do the wall to wall shower screens, mostly due to the cost and feel of it. People want to maximise the space in their bathrooms and the open shower does that. Even if you have a small shower space you can make the shower feel expansive by not having a door, combined with the cost factor and the instant finish of the room opposed to the two weeks wait for a custom-made screen the pro’s definitely outweighed the cons. If water retention is big for you then the wall to wall screen will give you that piece of mind that an open shower can’t. As I always say choose what works for you not what others tell you that you need to have as it’s your hard-earned money paying for and your time using it so have what you want.

 
It’s important to note that all our advice is general in nature and all bathrooms are unique so always speak to your local qualified tradesman for the best advice. At on the ball bathrooms we love feedback so let us know what you think with a comment below or if you are looking for a bathroom renovation quote and live in Perth, Western Australia contact us on 0419964678 or email us at info@ontheballbathrooms.com.au

 
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