A shower screen (almost) without drilling
13.3.2019
Translation: machine translated
There are glass shower screens that you don't have to drill into the wall, but can stick on instead. A great idea on paper, especially for rented flats. But does it pass the practical test?
I shower in the bathtub. Not really a problem if it wasn't for the shower curtain. As soon as I move around too much or a breeze blows through the bathroom, it sticks to my bum. Not only does it look stupid, but it also feels like it. As if that wasn't enough, the plasticised curtain looks pretty grubby after a few showers. What's more, the damp ends are a perfect breeding ground for mould. That's why I have three different models in rotation. None of them are really nice.
What always works, however, is glass. Unfortunately, this is rather difficult to implement in most rented flats. Unless, of course, your landlord thinks it's a great idea or you don't have any problems with renovation work. Because folding bath screens like this involve drilling. At least that's what I thought. I recently came across some in the shop that promise easy installation without drilling. A pretty good idea, even if not in my home. Thanks to a stroke of genius by the architect, the bathroom is only tiled up to chest height. Above that is a kind of woodchip wallpaper. Even gluing doesn't help. But just because I'm tied to a shower curtain forever doesn't mean you have to be. I'm testing externally.
Attention, heavy goods transport!
After browsing the range a bit, I decided on the one-piece folding bath screen from Schulte. First things first: have it delivered to your home or pick it up in a large car. Don't transport the glass wall home by public transport and then back to your parents' house in a Fiat 500. That's quite a hassle with a weight of 16 kilograms and pane dimensions of 140 by 80 centimetres.
On arrival at the final destination, I carefully unpack the disc from the cardboard packaging. It makes a high-quality impression. Given the weight, I expected nothing less. The package also contains a towel rail, the mounting device for the wall, accessories such as screws and adhesive and the installation instructions. According to the manufacturer, these should be easy to understand thanks to the illustrations and detailed instructions. I hope so, as I'm really not a fan of instruction manuals.
Glue and glue again
The first little picture is still easy to understand. I have to clean the surface where the shower wall will be with a dry cloth. I deliberately choose the wall on the wrong side of the bath. The washbasin is in the way on the side with the shower, which would make installation much more difficult and block the glass wall later. And the shower hose is enough to be able to move freely in the bath. As soon as the tiles are sparkling clean, I stick on the two adapters with double-sided adhesive tape. To do this, I mark the screw holes for the moulding that will be screwed to it later. This should hover 20 millimetres above the edge of the bathtub.
In addition to the moulding mentioned above, another one is also screwed on. The latter holds the glass wall at the end. The next step is the first time I get confused. Apart from the adhesive adapters, everything has to come off again. Huh? Yes, because the adhesive adapter still has to be glued on properly. That certainly makes sense, as I wouldn't trust the double-sided adhesive tape alone. But Schulte could certainly have solved the sequence of steps a little better. Now the glue has to dry for 12 hours.
Prefer together instead of alone
Once the mouldings are back on the wall, it's time to put the glass wall back in place. Now I know why Schulte recommends working in pairs. No matter how many times I try, I can't get the pane into the moulding. At some point I give up, exhausted and a little annoyed. I decide to wait for support.
With this, it works pretty quickly, but the disc is not really tight. It has to be drilled. How now? That shouldn't be necessary. I'm confused for the second time. You don't have to drill into the wall, but into the bracket. But I still need a drill. At least the drill bit is included so that the screws supplied fit perfectly. The towel rail is then very easy to install by hand and looks great.
This was the last step for me. The shower screen looks really good. But to really be able to use it, you need to seal the joints with silicone. Otherwise it will get damp outside the bathtub too.
Conclusion
The shower screen is high quality and looks much better than the old shower curtain. And it holds really securely. Installation itself is not rocket science either. But make sure you have someone to help you. At least when it comes to fitting the glass panel. To my regret, the instructions are not as simple as the manufacturer claims. In some cases, several steps are covered in one picture. It is also not clear which screws you need to use for what, as nothing is labelled. The surprise with the drill also made me swallow empty for a moment. When I'm told that something can be fitted without drilling, I really expect not to need a drill. Even if the drilling is relatively easy and the wall is not damaged in the process.
I still recommend the product. I think the idea of gluing is great. You can spruce up your bathroom without leaving any permanent damage. What's more, it should fit in any bathroom as long as it's flattened to at least 1.4 metres above the bath. However, if someone often bursts into your bathroom, you shouldn't have any problems with your own nudity. Glass is rarely opaque. On the other hand, the glass definitely sticks to your bottom less often than the shower curtain.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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