There is a huge difference between custom-made and pre-made screens. Any reputable glazier will tell you the advantages and importance of having someone with experience come to measure up and then install your new screen. You have control in colour, including flexibility with the dimensions and especially the ability to have the glass cut to suit any imperfection in the wall or floor substrate.

There has been a flood on to the market in recent times, with cheap fully-frameless screen kits from China. These panels are perfectly square cut……something that unfortunately is never apparent in tiled walls and floors. With the trends leaning towards large format tiles that are very difficult to lay and construction standards of practice that often cause bottom row tiles to kick out slightly, large square angled panels of glass become unsightly with gapping. Another issue is South Australia’s tendency for additional floor traps outside the shower. When trying to maintain water fall direction to these outside traps, it makes it near impossible to tile the outside of the shower recess where the glass panels will sit, flat.

We have had some success with utilizing a chrome channel on the “wall to glass” attachment to give some adjustment, but this can still be problematic. Building a raised tiled hob to encapsulate the shower recess is another solution, but one that most customers do not ascetically like.

These cheap kits come with atrocious instructions and a no refund “On Glass” from the supplier. This is because of the amount of people that have “issues” with their screens and try to return them. Yes, they are half the price of an Australian made fully-frameless screen, but that is where the advantages end. Dodgy hinges, large gapping and ugly silicone joints are what to expect. Combine that with the requirement for a traditional tiled floor to be perfectly set-up…….something extremely difficult, means a lot of problems down the track.

Framed and semi-frameless screens have framework around the base which helps retain water during showering. In addition the bottom of the door when in the closed position sits inside this frame allowing water to stay within the enclosure. Because fully-frameless designs do not have this feature, customers often find water pooled outside the shower after use, particularly in three-sided shower designs.

It is for this reason that Australian Standard AS 3740 that covers waterproofing within wet areas singles out fully-frameless glass showerscreens. They state that they need to be considered as an “unenclosed shower”. This classification was made due to the continual problem of water damage related to leakage outside the screened area. Therefore unenclosed showers require a higher degree of waterproofing during construction.

Another consideration is finding someone to install it. You wont find any of the large screen glaziers willing to, so will find yourself paying anywhere between $350-$500 to the sales suggested installer. Also expect a heap of excuses on why it doesn’t fit, shut or stop water coming out effectively.

In Europe and Asia there is a preference for pre-made acrylic type shower bases and sometimes walls. These make installing a pre-made fully-frameless screen much easier. I understand that acrylic shower bases is initially what these units were designed to be installed onto. But Australian suppliers are now selling them and not exactly informing the customer of difficulties and disadvantages.

We do not work with pre-made screens because of our experience with above-mentioned points. Get it done properly, contact a reputable glazier or showerscreen company and you will enjoy the look and feel of a screen that will fit and be installed by professionals.