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Shower Screens Buying Guide
What to look for in a wet room shower screen, how sizing and wall fixings work, and the Scudo, Merlyn and Roman ranges we stock.
A shower screen is a key part of most wet rooms and walk-in showers, keeping water spray within the "wet" area of the room. Without one, spray can soak the whole room — wet towels, a slippery floor, and everything else nearby getting a soaking too. Screens are available to suit a range of budgets, but it's an area where you do get what you pay for: cheaper screens are often thinner glass with lower-quality fittings that won't last.
What To Look For
- Toughened glass — every screen should be manufactured in toughened safety glass to meet UK and European safety standards.
- 8mm thickness or more — recommended as standard, and especially important where the shower will be used by young children, older people, or anyone unsteady on their feet.
- An easy-clean coating — takes the effort out of cleaning and helps the glass stay looking clear for longer.
- Bracing on longer screens — for any screen 1000mm or longer, some form of bracing is strongly recommended at the end furthest from the fixing wall: a top bracing bar, a ceiling-to-screen bar, or, for maximum stability, a floor-to-ceiling post.
- 500–600mm entry access — the ideal gap to comfortably step into the shower area, though this varies by individual preference and mobility needs.
Shop By Style
Beyond brand, glass thickness and screen style are the two other things worth deciding early — thicker glass for extra rigidity and a more substantial feel, or a folding and fluted option where space or privacy is the priority.
The Brands We Stock
Every screen we sell is a minimum of 8mm toughened safety glass, manufactured to UK and European standards, finished with an easy-clean coating as standard, and suitable for fitting on a wet room floor or shower tray.
- 7 shared colour-match finishes with WetBase Standard, Linear & ONE
- 8mm toughened glass
- Series & Black ranges — Lifetime guarantee
- 8mm Wetroom Panels — regular & fluted glass options
- Toughened safety glass
- Designed & manufactured in the UK
Flipper & Return Panels
A flipper — sometimes called a return panel — is a short panel of glass fitted at the end of a shower screen to help contain the water spray further. Depending on the manufacturer, these come as fixed or hinged, typically in 200mm or 300mm lengths.
A hinged flipper is the better choice when you need a longer screen but still want to maintain a clear gap to access the shower. It hinges inward to allow access, then swings back parallel to the main screen while showering to maximise coverage.
Browse Deflector & Return Panels →Building A Shower Screen Enclosure
Using two or more screens together, along with optional fittings such as bracing bars, floor-to-ceiling posts and side panels, a wide range of bespoke enclosures can be built — a true centrepiece for a wet room or walk-in shower. Folding and wall-pivoting screens are also worth considering where floor space is at a premium, since they fold flat against the wall when not in use.
The configurations shown above are a few examples to illustrate what's possible — not a definitive or exhaustive list. Call 0800 280 8008 to talk through the right configuration for your space.
Nominal Sizes Explained
Every shower screen width quoted by a manufacturer is a "nominal" size — the actual panel will always be a little shorter than the stated width, to allow for tiling when the screen is mounted on a shower tray. This is standard practice across all shower screen manufacturers, but the exact shortfall differs from manufacturer to manufacturer — always check the specific product page for your chosen screen, or call us on 0800 280 8008 to confirm before ordering.
As a worked example: Merlyn's Series 8 and Series 10 ranges run a consistent 31mm undersize across the board, so a 1000mm nominal screen has an actual panel size of 969mm. Scudo and Roman screens use their own figures, which is why it's always worth checking the individual product page rather than assuming the same shortfall applies.
Some, but not all, of this shortfall can be taken up using the maximum adjustment of the wall profile, where one is used — see below.
Shower Screen Wall Adjustments
The wall profile is the piece that fixes the screen to the wall, and most manufacturers build a generous amount of movement into it. This "adjustment" range allows a screen to be secured properly even when a wall isn't perfectly straight, or when your choice of tile thickness affects the available fixing space — without needing a custom-sized screen.
Shower Screen FAQs
What thickness of shower screen glass should I choose? +
8mm toughened safety glass is our recommended minimum, and is especially important where the shower will be used by young children, older people, or anyone unsteady on their feet. Some ranges also offer 6mm or 10mm options depending on the design.
Why is the screen I received shorter than the size I ordered? +
All shower screen widths are quoted as "nominal" sizes by every manufacturer — the actual panel is always a little shorter, to allow room for tiling when the screen is fitted on a shower tray. The exact shortfall differs by manufacturer — Merlyn Series 8 & 10 run a consistent 31mm undersize (see the sizing table above), but Scudo and Roman use their own figures, so check the specific product page or call us to confirm before ordering.
Do I need bracing on my shower screen? +
For any screen 1000mm or longer, yes — bracing at the end furthest from the fixing wall (a top bar, ceiling-to-screen bar, or floor-to-ceiling post) is strongly recommended for stability.
Can I colour-match my shower screen to my WetBase tray? +
Yes, with the Scudo S8 Wetroom Shower Screen — its metal finish options are shared directly with the WetBase Standard Octad drain cover upgrade, so the two can be matched for a fully coordinated look.
Can a shower screen be fitted directly onto a wet room floor? +
Yes — every screen we sell is suitable for fitting either on a shower tray or directly onto a tiled wet room floor.
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