Fixed or sliding shower screen: which to choose

The choice between a fixed and a sliding screen isn't only aesthetic: it changes the maintenance the shower will need over time, and there is a safety detail that is non-negotiable in both.

Fixed screen: for open trays or wide ones

The fixed shower screen is a tempered glass panel that separates the shower area without a door, for open or wide trays. It is always made of tempered glass, never monolithic, because of its proximity to the water area and the risk of impact. Check the tray is square before ordering it: an out-of-square tray leaves a visible gap at the edge that can't be corrected once the piece is made.

Sliding screen: makes better use of space, but needs maintenance

The sliding screen slides one or more leaves on an upper and lower track, making better use of space than a hinged leaf in small bathrooms. Maintenance is the detail that gets forgotten: clean and grease the lower track periodically, it is the point that collects the most limescale and dirt and the first to start failing if not maintained, more than the glass itself or the hardware.

Porch enclosure: doesn't replace a sealed window frame

The glass enclosure for a porch or terrace is a system of sliding panels, with barely any visible framing, to close off the space while keeping the sense of openness. An important nuance: without a rigid perimeter frame, this type of enclosure doesn't insulate thermally the same as a conventional window frame with a seal. Always mention this to the client if they want to enclose the space to heat or cool it all year round, not just to cut the wind — the expectation changes a lot depending on the real use they'll give it.

Glass balustrade: never in single glass

Under safety regulations for heights, a glass balustrade is always in tempered or laminated glass, never single glass: it is one of the applications where monolithic glass is expressly ruled out because of the fall risk if it breaks.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a sliding screen fail sooner than a fixed one? Almost always because of the lower track, which collects limescale and dirt and needs periodic cleaning and greasing — it is the most sensitive point of the system, more than the glass or the hardware.

Does a glass porch enclosure allow the space to be heated or cooled all year? Not with the same performance as a conventional window frame: without a rigid perimeter frame with a seal, it insulates worse thermally.

Can I use single glass on a terrace balustrade? No, never: under safety regulations for heights, it must always be tempered or laminated.

Conclusion

Choosing between a fixed and a sliding screen depends on the available space and the maintenance the client is willing to take on for the track. Explaining the real thermal limitations of a porch enclosure before installing it avoids expectations that later aren't met in day-to-day use of the space.