Do-it-yourself installation of a screen under the bathtub

Today we will talk about one of the "components" of a modern bathroom. Probably all of you have seen an object like a curtain covering the front of the bath. This design is called a screen. How to put such a screen yourself?

What is the screen for under the bath for?

First of all, it is necessary. to improve the aesthetic appearance of the room. With it, you can hide the gaps between the bowl and the floor. In addition, an educated niche with doors can serve as a small pantry. It can store household goods and cosmetics. And the screen protects the pipes from moisture.

Interesting! Before entering the market for modern products, the gaps under the bathroom were often filled with brick, tiled with ceramic tiles.

A standard plastic screen consists of a frame and “fillers” (doors). In general, the design is lightweight and easy to install.

Screens on the market

There are many ready-made factory screens. They vary not only in size and color, but also in design features. The material distinguishes products from metal, MDF, plexiglass and PVC.

They also come sliding and stationary. It is preferable to choose sliding devices: they facilitate access to the niche under the bath if necessary, for example, to adjust the legs or replace drain valves. Fixed panels tightly cover the "basement" area. Moreover, they can be equipped with a so-called viewing window.

The choice of product must be approached with particular care. Him color should be in harmony with the shades of the bathtub itself and wall cladding.

For the price and ease of operation for cast iron and steel baths are best suited pvc screens. Acrylic - the material is initially fragile to handle, therefore bathtubs from this material are supplied complete with pre-made screens. If installed separately, the process can damage the entire structure.

Of course, it’s best to choose a screen exactly to the size of the bath. However, this is not always possible. In this case, you should choose a larger product: the excess can be cut with the help of a “grinder” or a hacksaw.

Mounting a commercially available sliding bath screen

You can install the factory sliding screen yourself. It does not take much time. Let's look at the stages of its installation in more detail.

Choosing materials and tools

Each model, depending on the material, has its own characteristics and disadvantages. For example, PVC products are easy to assemble, however they can deform quickly due to their fragility. However, over time, the panels can move poorly in the grooves. In addition to these shortcomings, there are also advantages: moisture resistance and corrosion resistance. Also, the advantage is a rich selection of colors.

Acrylic panels are designed exclusively for bathtubs of the same material. As we wrote above, it is very difficult to choose the right product for existing plumbing. therefore Acrylic bathtubs are best bought with native screens.

Screens made from MDF panels look beautiful and rich. However, due to the nature of production, they are moisture resistant, since MDF is a compressed wood sawdust.

Plexiglass devices are chosen in order to visually enlarge the room. They look very impressive. Among the minuses can be noted fragility and the need to often wipe the surface: There are more visible marks on the glass than on other surfaces.

Now let's move on to the list of tools. Of these, we definitely need or may need:

• measuring instruments (tape measure and building level for marking);
• cutting tools (grinder or hacksaw to remove excess parts of the screen);
• drill (for drilling holes);
• tools for twisting parts (screwdriver and wrench).

We prepare and process the place

It is better to install the screen after the repair of the room. Before fixing it, you need to tidy up the space under the bathroom: clean the surface of debris and, if necessary, replace the drain system. It is also recommended to wipe the seams between the tiles. In order for the bath to take its working position, it is advised to fill it with water before starting work.

Mark up

We mark the places of attachment of the screen frame using the building level and tape measure. Markings are made at several points. This is done in order to ensure maximum reliability of the structure and avoid skewing.

Install the frame

A standard sliding type screen is supplied as follows:

• frame of guides and racks;
• panel fillers;
• regulators in the form of legs;
• self-tapping screws for fastening;
• additional details (caps, panel handles).

To assemble the product, you can follow manufacturer's instructions. The installation process takes place in the following sequence:

1. In the supine position, we set the guides parallel to each other. Their grooves should be facing inward. They represent the skids on which the panels slide.
2. We insert the posts vertically across so that the mounting holes are aligned.
3. We connect the parts together using self-tapping screws. They do not need to be twisted all the way: it is only important to ensure a minimum bond.
4. We attach panels to the skids. After adjusting the height of the whole structure. Next, we twist the screws fully and cover the sides of the guides with caps.

Note! There are product models that come with the end part. They are used when there is a significant gap between your small bathtub and wall. The main stages of the assembly of such a model are no different from the previous version. The only difference is that the angular profile connects the front and end guides. This is achieved using simple screws.

Unlike plumbing devices made of other materials, an acrylic bath can independently serve as the basis for fixing the screen. When installing such a bath, you need to be careful with the adjustment of the legs: due to the relatively light weight, the product can rise very much relative to the floor, which will eventually lead to deformation of the product.

Final work

After assembling the frame, we proceed to install the handles to the panels and legs to the racks. Finally, our design is ready. Now we pass its top under the side of the bathtub and align it in a vertical line. For reliable fixation, twist the legs all the way.

Important! To avoid moisture, fill the gaps with special sealants.

How to avoid mistakes when working?

So, assembling a screen for a bath is quite easy. Its assembly and installation will not require you unnecessary efforts or special knowledge. However, this business also has its own nuances. When choosing a device, I advise you to pay attention to the following recommendations:

1. Before buying, you must first measure the room and the bath itself.
2. Pay attention to the screen material. It must be moisture resistant and not corrode.
3. The design must be adjusted without apparent effort. Therefore, carefully check that the legs are in good condition.
4. The acquired model, first of all, must be suitable for the conditions of a particular room.

What to look for when choosing a screen?

Much depends on the purpose of the screen installation. If you just want to close the ugly appearance of pipes from prying eyes, stop at simple and affordable PVC products. If you made a major overhaul, bought a new bathtub and want to give it a more refined look, you can install a screen made of MDF or plexiglass. In the case of choosing a model from MDF, it is necessary to ensure good ventilation of the room to prevent damage to the material from moisture.

The screens in question are equipped with sliding or swing doors. The former are suitable for standard size rooms, and the latter for spacious bathrooms.

When buying a screen, first of all, you need to be guided by your financial capabilities and the size of the bathroom. The modern market produces a lot of similar products, you will certainly find a suitable option for yourself.

In addition to the factory, there are home-made designs. They are mostly made waterproof plasterboard mounted on an aluminum profile. The plasterboard sheets themselves are faced with ceramic tiles. Such a stationary screen is equipped with a door through which you gain access to the space under the bathroom. The design is durable, but requires significant financial and time costs. Therefore, if you do not have special skills and you have a limited budget, make a choice in favor of factory screens. They are easy to use and great for self-assembly.