Guides
A fixed bath screen stays put; a hinged one swings out of the way. Here are the four bath layouts we make, how each is held to the wall, and what to check before you choose.
By the SW Glass workshop team· Published · 4 min read
A fixed bath screen is one panel, fixed in place, with nothing that opens. A hinged bath screen swings out of the way when you need the bath. We make four bath layouts: a fixed screen, a fixed panel with a hinged panel beside it, a single hinged panel, and a folding two-panel screen. Every one is toughened 8 or 10 mm glass with polished edges, and every one is priced online in our configurator.
A bath screen stands on the rim of the bath. These are the four layouts in our configurator, with the way each one is held:
| Layout | What it is | Panels that move | 700 mm wall-bracket rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed bath screen | One panel, fixed in place, with nothing that opens | None | Applies |
| Fixed panel and hinged panel | A fixed panel at the tap end with a second panel on hinges beside it | One | Applies to the fixed panel |
| Single panel (hinged) | A single panel on hinges, with nothing fixed beside it | One | Does not apply |
| Folding (two panels) | A panel hinged to the wall with a second panel hinged to it, folding back together | Both | Does not apply |
The glass is the same for all four: clear, grey tint or bronze tint in 8 or 10 mm, or satin and fluted in 10 mm only. Toughening and polished edges are fixed, not options. Our help page on bath screens covers the glass and measuring in more detail.
A fixed screen suits a bath where you are happy for the glass to stay where it is. There is no hinge and no swing to plan for. Before you choose one, think about how you will reach the taps and clean the bath with a panel that does not move, and how much of the bath you want covered.
How a fixed screen is held depends on its width, under our 700 mm rule:
On 8 mm glass the channel is SWCH15X15X15, and on 10 mm it is SWCH20X15X20.
A hinged screen swings out of the way when you need the bath, so the glass is not fixed across the bath all the time. You have two hinged layouts, plus the folding screen below:
A hinged panel is a door as far as the glass is concerned, and a hinged door must be 8 or 10 mm because the hinge has to grip the glass. Check where the panel will swing before you choose, so it clears the basin, toilet and towel rail. The three seals we fit as standard to hinged shower enclosure doors are not part of our bath screens.
The folding screen has a panel hinged to the wall and a second panel hinged to it, so the two fold back together. Both panels open, so both are treated as doors and both are 8 or 10 mm. The 700 mm rule does not apply to it. Check the space the two panels need as they fold, against your own bathroom.
Yes, on the fixed bath screen and on the fixed panel of the fixed and hinged screen. A corner cut is a notch taken off a corner of the glass. The hand of the screen decides which edge can take them:
| Hand | Corner cuts allowed |
|---|---|
| Left hand | Top left, bottom left, or both |
| Right hand | Top right, bottom right, or both |
A cut on the other edge is refused, and the configurator tells you why. If the hand is not set, the first corner cut sets the edge. Read door hand to work out which hand you have.
Choose your bath layout and enter your sizes in the configurator to see the drawing and the live price.
Every bath screen we make is 8 or 10 mm toughened glass. Satin and fluted glass come in 10 mm only.
Our configurator does not offer curved or P-shaped bath screens. Ask us with your bath's details and a photograph.
We make bath screens to your measurements, so the height is yours to choose. Our size guide lists common sizes, and how to measure a shower screen explains the method.
The configurator shows the live price for your exact size and options, including VAT. Our article on made-to-measure bath screen cost explains what drives the price.
Ready for the next step?
Find measuring instructions and order support in Help and advice, or ask the team about your project.
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