How to install a screen under the bath | 6 easy steps

The bathroom often turns into a storage for unnecessary things, tools and household chemicals. We habitually slip them under the bathroom, thereby spoiling the design, but there is a way out of the situation, and experts who collaborate with the Expertologia magazine know for sure. Taking advantage of their practical experience, you will understand how to install a screen under the bath with your own hands, without damaging the expensive structure.

What is the screen under the bathroom, and what types of products exist

For a modern person, a bathroom is no longer just a technical room where you can wash your hands and take a shower, but a place for relaxation. And what kind of relaxation can we talk about if the appearance of the room is disgusting. Mood deterioration can be caused by unnecessary 'junk' peeking out from under a plush acrylic bathtub. A simple device can save your nerves – a bathroom screen, which you can buy ready-made, or make it yourself. The complexity of installation depends on the chosen design and material of execution, and screens can be made of the following materials:

1. durable plastic and other polymeric materials that are highly resistant to moisture – the most common option;

2. organic glass is a real decoration of a bathroom and an ideal solution for lovers of unusual interiors;

3. finely dispersed fiber boards, or MDF;

4. chipboard covered with a layer of laminate or chipboard;

5. drywall, and it is most often used in structures made independently.

On the market of sanitary materials, bathrooms are now presented in a wide range. You can buy a chic metal structure, strong cast-iron bathtubs that keep heat well are still in high demand, and acrylic products have found their application. Manufacturers care about their image, so they do everything to make the end consumer comfortable, so most modern designs are supplied complete with screens, and they have several varieties:

1. comfortable designs with sliding doors – the option that most users prefer;

2. with separate hinged doors;

3. products with removable panels, which are suitable for those who do not plan to frequently use the space under the bathroom;

4. with blank panels and inspection hatches for the organization of inspection and repair of plumbing pipes and fittings.

Ease of installation is a characteristic feature of most prefabricated structures. Having a standard set of tools, even the one who was “on you” with plumbing can cope with the task. Some difficulties may arise when installing a screen made by yourself, but even in this case there should not be any particular difficulties, especially if you use our tips on how to install a screen under the bathroom.

Installing a ready-made screen from the store

Modern bathtubs, in contrast to the 'boring' designs of the last century, are presented in a wide variety of types, with different not only design and colors, but also sizes. A large assortment of finished products somewhat complicates the choice, but with correctly made measurements, there should not be any particular difficulties. To do this, it is enough to measure the height of the structure and the width of the bathroom, and consultants will help in the rest.

You should know it! Screens are more often delivered in standard versions with widths of 50, 55 and 60 centimeters and lengths of 1.5; 1.6 and 1.7 meters, most baths have the same dimensions. You can also agree on the supply of custom-sized products to order.

Experts will select a screen model that matches the design of the bathroom and your personal preferences. You can trust the sellers, but it won't hurt you to know that you need to choose products made of durable plastic, other waterproof materials, which, moreover, have an attractive appearance that matches the features of interior design. Only after making the right choice, you can proceed with the installation, and we will consider this using the example of a cast-iron bathroom.

1. Step # 1 – choosing the necessary tool, and to install the screen we need a tape measure, a screwdriver, a building level, a wrench, in some cases we may need a sealant.

2. Step # 2. We check the integrity of the screen structure and the delivery set, and the manufacturer must complete the product with hardware and legs for installation in the spacer – an important detail, given the different heights of the bathrooms.

3. Step # 3. Installation of legs in the holes of the plugs, final measurements and preparation of the screen for installation.

4. Step number 4 – installation itself, and for this it is enough just to install it in the opening between the side of the bathroom and the floor. It is especially important here to maintain the horizontal structure, for which the building level is used. The screen should not protrude and go inward – the ideal solution is to install it in the bathroom level.

5. Step # 5. Height adjustment with feet.

6. Step 6. Installation of doors or blind plates along the guides, which is also not difficult to do

If you have chosen the screen correctly, in accordance with the size of the bathroom, installation will not take much time, especially when it comes to installing blank panels that are not intended for opening and removal. The installation process on an acrylic bathtub is somewhat different, and do not forget that acrylic is a fragile and unpredictable material, so you need to handle it with extreme caution. This is not difficult to do, but the process of installing a sliding screen under an acrylic bathroom will be slightly different.

1. To install on an acrylic bath, you need to make holes for the studs, for which you need a drill. This must be done carefully, without damaging the stiffeners.

2. The next step will be to attach the screen frame to the bathroom structure, for which self-tapping screws are used.

3. Then everything follows the familiar scheme – the screen falls into place, and its position is fixed using the fasteners that come with the kit. If the preliminary measurements are not completely accurate, the plastic, like other material, can be cut if the size allows, it will be worse if this stock is not available. Therefore, it is better to buy a product with a small margin.

It is important! In order for the screen to fit perfectly and not be damaged by the weight of water, installation must be carried out with a bathtub filled with water

If you think you can cope with the task yourself, or want to save money on installation, you can try to make it yourself. This is somewhat more difficult than in the case of a finished product, but not as difficult as it might seem at first glance.

How to make and install yourself

It is not difficult to make and install the screen yourself, especially if you use the advice of our experts. Some difficulties may arise with sliding doors, so we will consider the option of self-production and installation of a blind screen made of waterproof drywall, which many specialists prefer to work with. We again use a whimsical acrylic bath as a subject.

To begin with, we will prepare a set of necessary tools and materials for making the screen itself and its frame. We need the drywall itself and a metal (preferably aluminum) profile with dimensions of 75×40 and 60×27 mm. You can also use a wooden frame, but in this case the wood must be treated with a waterproof impregnation. The installation sequence looks like this:

1. we mark the location of the frame racks, and they should be located under the bathroom, at a distance equal to the thickness of the drywall sheet;

2. we measure the height from the floor surface to the edge of the bath – these dimensions are needed for the manufacture of racks;

3. extreme racks are attached to the wall with self-tapping screws;

4. a guide profile is attached to the extreme racks – under the edge of the bathtub and at floor level;

5. we install two intermediate posts at the location of the inspection hatch;

6. pre-fitted sheets of drywall are installed in the finished frame, a hatch is equipped, the design of which must be thought out in advance.

In a similar way, you can make not only a blank screen, but also install sliding structures, and for this you can use not only drywall, but also durable plastic, as well as MDF and LDSP. It is somewhat more difficult to work with glass, where it is especially difficult to make correct measurements, since it is problematic to adjust the size of the glass on site.

Unusual bath screens

In addition to the fact that there are a large number of ready-made screens, there are many interesting solutions. With a little creativity, you can also surprise others by making an unusual structure under the bathroom with your own hands, for which different materials and technologies can be used. We offer several options for such solutions:

1. Brick faced with mosaics or tiles. This design can be a real decoration of the bathroom, while you can use several design options.

2. A wooden screen with a step – a structure called a 'podium. It is very comfortable and looks perfect.

3. Natural stone is a good solution for private housing construction, while in an apartment a massive stone can be replaced with a 'stone look' cladding.

4. A glass screen that can visually increase the area of ​​the bathroom is a good solution for small rooms.

5. For lovers of romance, a carved structure with illumination inside will leave an indelible impression.

6. Also noteworthy are the wood paneling, which can highlight the sophistication of any interior design.

7. Concrete structures that emphasize the sophistication of the loft design style and other contemporary trends.

We want to say that the screen under the bathroom is not a minor detail, as previously thought, but a full-fledged decorative element. Well-chosen in style, color and size, it can be the perfect complement to any design option. Accordingly, a screen that does not match the overall design can ruin the overall picture. Therefore, his choice must be approached carefully, taking into account all the pros and cons.

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