The shower screen is one of those elements that seems secondary until you get it wrong. An unsuitable screen splashes water outside the shower, gets constantly dirty, accumulates limescale and mould, or squeaks when opening and closing. A good, well-installed screen, on the other hand, transforms the daily shower experience and gives the bathroom a clean, modern look that lasts for years.
In Cádiz we have an additional factor that directly affects shower screens: water hardness. The province's water has medium-to-high hardness (between 25 and 40 °fH depending on the area), which causes visible limescale deposits on the glass if not treated or cleaned regularly. This makes the choice of glass type and anti-limescale treatment especially important in our area.
Types of shower screen
Shower screens are classified by their opening system. Each type has advantages and limitations, and the choice depends on the size of your bathroom, the type of shower tray and your budget.
- Fixed screen (fixed glass panel): the most minimalist and affordable option. A single tempered glass panel with no door, with a side opening for access. Ideal for showers wider than 80 cm. Easy to clean as it has no rails or seals.
- Sliding screen: has one or two panels that slide on tracks. The best option when the bathroom is narrow and there isn't room for an outward-opening door. The best quality models use silent bearings and anodised aluminium tracks.
- Hinged screen (with door): the door swings outward (or inward in folding models). Offers the widest, most comfortable opening, but requires clear space in front of the shower. It is the most popular choice in larger bathrooms.
- Folding screen: a variant of the hinged type with hinges that allow the door to fold flat against the wall. Combines a wide opening with the advantage of taking up no space when not in use. Ideal for medium-sized bathrooms.
Shower screen prices in Cádiz (2026)
| Screen type | Price installed | Typical material |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed (glass panel) | €200–450 | 8 mm tempered glass + aluminium profile |
| Sliding (2 panels) | €350–700 | 6–8 mm tempered glass + aluminium tracks |
| Hinged (door) | €450–900 | 8–10 mm tempered glass + stainless steel hinges |
| Folding | €500–1,000 | 6–8 mm tempered glass + folding hinges |
| Made to measure (any type) | +30–50% over standard | Made to order |
Prices include the glass, framing, hardware and professional installation. Anti-limescale treatment adds between €30 and €80 to the price but is a highly recommended investment in Cádiz given the water hardness: it halves the cleaning frequency and keeps the glass clear for years.
Glass thickness and treatment: comparison
| Glass thickness | Recommended use | Extra cost vs 6 mm | Weight per m2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 mm tempered | Standard sliding and folding screens | Reference | 15 kg/m2 |
| 8 mm tempered | Fixed panels, standard hinged. The most balanced thickness | +€20–40 | 20 kg/m2 |
| 10 mm tempered | Premium frameless screens (exposed hardware fixing). Maximum solidity and aesthetics | +€50–80 | 25 kg/m2 |
| 6 mm laminated (3+3) | Extra safety in homes with children or elderly residents. If broken, does not fall in shards | +€40–60 | 15 kg/m2 |
8 mm tempered glass is the standard we recommend for most installations in Cádiz. It is strong enough for daily use, has good weight to give a sense of solidity and is reasonably priced. 10 mm glass is reserved for premium frameless screens, where the glass panel is held only by exposed stainless steel hardware and needs greater rigidity.
Need a shower screen for your bathroom in Cádiz? Request a no-obligation quote with survey included.
Clear or patterned glass?
Clear glass creates a sense of space and light that visually transforms small bathrooms. It is the most elegant option and the one we recommend for most renovations. Its only drawback is that limescale and water marks are more visible, but with anti-limescale treatment and a squeegee after each shower it stays spotless.
Patterned glass (with printed designs or acid-etched bands) offers more privacy and hides dirt, but can look dated if not chosen carefully. Modern versions with horizontal stripes or partial frosted finishes are the most aesthetically successful.
Solutions for small bathrooms in the old town of Cádiz
Flats in the old town of Cádiz, especially in neighbourhoods like El Populo, La Vina and Santa Maria, typically have bathrooms of between 3 and 4.5 m2 with awkward layouts: doors that open against the basin, low ceilings, soil stacks that encroach on the space and tiny windows. In these bathrooms, the choice of shower screen is critical for the space to work.
- 70–80 cm fixed panel: the number one option for very small bathrooms. It has no moving parts, needs no opening space and creates less of a visual barrier than a fully enclosed screen.
- Folding screen: if you need to fully enclose the shower but don't have room for a hinged door, the folding type folds flat against the wall in minimal space.
- Curved sliding screen: for bathrooms with angular or corner shower trays, the curved sliding screen maximises the interior shower space without encroaching on the rest of the bathroom.
- Always choose clear glass: in small bathrooms, patterned glass visually shrinks the space. Clear glass with anti-limescale treatment is the combination that works best.
Shower screen maintenance in the Cádiz coastal climate
The combination of hard water, high Atlantic humidity and sometimes insufficient ventilation in interior bathrooms means that shower screen maintenance in Cádiz is more demanding than in other parts of Spain. Mould appears more quickly on silicone seals and limescale builds up more frequently. With these routine care steps, your screen will stay in perfect condition:
- Run a squeegee over the glass after every shower. It is the most effective habit for preventing limescale marks: it takes 30 seconds and reduces the need for deep cleaning by 80%.
- Clean the silicone seals every 2 weeks with an anti-fungal product or a vinegar and bicarbonate mix. In Cádiz, mould on silicone appears within 3–4 weeks if the bathroom has no direct ventilation.
- Check sliding screen bearings once a year. Salt air entering through windows can build up in the tracks and cause bearings to seize.
- If the silicone turns black and cannot be cleaned, replace it. A new silicone seal costs €5–10 in material and 30 minutes of work; a screen with blackened silicone ruins the look of any bathroom.
- Ventilate the bathroom after every shower: open the window or run the extractor for at least 15 minutes. In flats in La Vina or El Populo with interior bathrooms and no window, a timed extractor is essential.
Shower screen installation process
Shower screen installation is a clean job that does not require any brickwork. The full process from survey to completion is as follows:
- Professional survey (20–30 minutes): we check the wall levels, the plumb of the shower tray and the exact opening dimensions. In old Cádiz flats, walls are rarely perfectly plumb, and an accurate survey is key to avoiding problems.
- Manufacture or preparation (3–7 working days for standard, 10–15 days for made-to-measure): bespoke screens are manufactured to the exact dimensions of your bathroom.
- Installation (1–2 hours per screen): profiles are fixed to the wall, glass panels are positioned, hardware and bearings are adjusted, and joints are sealed with anti-fungal silicone.
- The silicone needs 24 hours to cure before the shower can be used. We will let you know so you can plan your day without inconvenience.
Common mistakes when choosing a shower screen
- Choosing a hinged screen in a bathroom where the bathroom door collides with the screen when opening. Measure the actual free space before deciding on the opening type.
- Skimping on anti-limescale treatment. In Cádiz, the €30–80 difference pays for itself in months: without treatment, you will spend much more time cleaning and the glass will become cloudy sooner.
- Using normal silicone instead of anti-fungal. The humidity in Cádiz causes mould within weeks with conventional silicone. Always insist on bathroom-specific anti-fungal silicone.
- Not checking that walls are plumb before ordering the screen. In flats in El Populo or Santa Maria, a 1–2 cm deviation is common and a standard screen will not compensate for it.
- Choosing dark patterned glass in a small bathroom without a window. The bathroom will feel even more enclosed. Clear glass opens the space visually.
Tip: if you are renovating the entire bathroom, choose the screen at the same time as the shower tray and taps. That way we ensure everything fits perfectly and avoid sizing or style mismatches.