Shower screen installation for your bathroom

How a shower screen is installed

First, we plan where the shower screen goes. It is positioned so that the water stays on the floor drain side and the door or pivoting glass panel can move without obstruction. We also check whether there are pipes or electrical cables behind the spot to be drilled.

The tiles are drilled with a tile drill bit, and the holes are sealed with a sealant suitable for wet rooms before the fixings go in. Then the wall profiles and glass panels are installed, the screen is set plumb and the doors are checked. The joint between the profile and the tiles is finished according to the manufacturer's instructions.

A fixed glass panel without a door, known as a walk-in screen, is usually braced with a support bar to the wall or ceiling. It is worth deciding in advance where the bar will be fixed, as it also needs drilling.

You can buy the shower screen yourself. Measure the installation spot carefully before ordering: the width, the height and the distance to things such as a window, radiator or toilet. During the same visit, we can also replace the shower mixer or install a towel warmer.

Drill holes and waterproofing

Under the tiles there is a waterproofing layer that stops moisture getting into the wall structure. Every hole drilled through a tile is a potential leak point, so we only drill as many holes as needed and seal every fixing.

Repairing or renewing the waterproofing is not part of shower screen installation. If the grout is cracked, tiles are loose or you suspect moisture damage, have the situation checked and repaired by a wet-room specialist before installation.

A shower screen will not correct the fall of the floor either. The bottom edge of a glass screen is not usually watertight against the floor, so the floor itself must direct the water to the drain. If the bathroom has just been renovated, ask the contractor who did the work or your housing company (taloyhtiö) whether there are places in the walls that should not be drilled.

What affects the price

Shower screen installation is priced as a quote, because models and bathrooms vary a lot. A fixed glass panel is usually the quickest to install, while a shower enclosure with doors needs more measuring and adjustment. You can claim the household tax credit (kotitalousvähennys) for the labour part, provided the work is not the housing company's responsibility – see our household tax credit guide.

If you send a photo of the shower area and the details of the model you have chosen with your quote request, the price will be more accurate. The price depends on things such as:

• the type of screen: fixed glass panel, pivoting screen or shower enclosure with doors
• the number of parts and fixing points, and how the support bar is fixed
• the size and weight of the glass panels
• the wall surface, such as ceramic tiles, natural stone or wet-room wall panels
• removing an old shower screen or shower curtain rail

After installation

Let the sealant cure according to the manufacturer's instructions before using the shower – often about 24 hours. If you squeegee the glass after showering and clean the profiles regularly, less limescale builds up on the hinges and seals.

Toughened safety glass stands up well to everyday use, but its edges are the most vulnerable point, so avoid knocking them. If the door starts to drag over time, adjusting the hinges usually fixes it. If the sealant joint along a profile comes loose or darkens, it is worth renewing before water gets behind it.