Shower vs Bathtub in Flats: Glass Partition Guide

Q: How to stop glass wobble?

Wall Uchannel 1 inch deep + ceiling brace bar for panels over 30 inch. Suctiononly clamps loosen in 6 months.

Shower vs bathtub for small flats compared on space, water use, cost and cleaning, plus glass partition sizes that fit 4x7 baths.

In a Zouaghi 5x7 ft test bath, the owner wanted a tub for kids. We measured: tub would leave 14 inch walkway — unusable. Walk-in shower with fixed glass won. This post decides shower vs tub for flats, not vanity sizing (see bathroom vanity sizes).

Space verdict: shower wins under 40 sq ft

Standard tub: 60x30 inch = 12.5 sq ft footprint + 24-inch entry clearance. In 4x7 (28 sq ft), tub eats 45% of floor. Walk-in shower 30x48 inch = 10 sq ft + no swing clearance with fixed panel.

Rule: under 40 sq ft, no tub. 40-55 sq ft, only 48-inch Japanese-style deep tub if plumbing allows. Above 55 sq ft, freestanding tub possible with wall-hung WC to compensate.

Kids bathing workaround: 36-inch foldable tub (MAD 340) stored vertical behind door, used inside shower zone. Drains to shower drain, no extra plumbing.

Water, heating and floor load

Tub fill: 150-200 liters. Shower 8 min at 8 L/min: 64 liters. In Meknes with solar water heater 150L, one tub empties the tank — second person gets cold water. Shower serves 2 back-to-back.

Floor load: tub + water + person = 300-350 kg on 12 sq ft. Older slabs with hollow tiles crack. Shower spreads 80 kg dynamic. If building is pre-1990, get plumber to confirm slab before tub — MAD 200 inspection saves MAD 15k repair.

Water heater: tub needs 50-gallon geyser or 200L solar; shower works on 15L instant. Gas cost difference MAD 120/month for daily tub vs shower.

Glass partition sizes that actually fit

For 4x7 baths, use fixed panel, not hinged door:

Panel: 8mm toughened, 28-30 inch wide x 78 inch high, wall profile + U-channel
Entry gap: 14-16 inch between panel end and opposite wall
Top gap: 6-8 inch below ceiling for steam escape
Threshold: 1-inch marble saddle + silicone, not 4-inch curb that trips

Cost Morocco 2026: fixed panel MAD 1,360-2,040 installed, hinged door enclosure MAD 2,700-4,250. Fixed lasts longer — half the hardware to rust.

Avoid black grid frames in hard-water areas — limescale shows in 2 weeks. Use clear glass with nano-coating (MAD 170 extra) + weekly squeegee.

Cleaning and hard-water reality

Tub cleaning: 15 min/week scrub + grout around rim molds. Shower glass: 2 min squeegee daily + citric acid spray weekly. In hard-water Meknes (TDS 400+), tub ring needs acid cleaner that dulls acrylic — enamel tub resists but costs 2x.

If you keep tub: wall-mounted mixer + hand shower on rail (not deck-mounted — deck holes leak into body). Apron access panel 12x12 inch mandatory for future trap repair. Sealed aprons mean breaking tile for a MAD 50 washer.

Cost comparison Morocco 2026

Walk-in shower + fixed glass + mixer: MAD 4,250-6,800
Acrylic tub + mixer + tiling + extra heater upgrade: MAD 9,350-14,450
Annual water + gas extra for daily tub: MAD 1,400-2,000
Repair risk: tub trap leak = break 4-6 tiles; shower drain accessible from trap cover

US range: shower $900-1,500, tub $2,200-3,800 installed.

Decision checklist

Choose shower if: bath under 40 sq ft, solar under 200L, elderly parents (tub step 22 inch high = fall risk), rental flat. Choose tub only if: bath 50+ sq ft, kids under 5 daily, slab confirmed, heater 200L+.

Hybrid for resale: show shower now, keep 60-inch drain + water points capped under tile for future tub — costs MAD 300 extra during work, saves MAD 4k later.

FAQ

Does glass make small baths look bigger? Yes, clear fixed panel vs curtain adds perceived 30% depth. Frosted only bottom 24 inch for privacy, clear above for light.

How to stop glass wobble? Wall U-channel 1 inch deep + ceiling brace bar for panels over 30 inch. Suction-only clamps loosen in 6 months.

Safety kit for kids and elders in shower baths

Tubs feel safer for kids but showers win with add-ons. In the Zouaghi flat with a 4-year-old and grandmother, we added: foldable 36-inch tub (MAD 340) for kids inside shower, anti-slip matte tiles R10, grab bar 24 inch at 36-inch height beside shower entry (MAD 220, 2x M8 into brick), and hand shower on 48-72 inch slider so kids and elders bathe seated on a wall-fold stool (MAD 480, 150 kg rated).

Water safety: thermostatic cap at 38C or geyser at 50C + manual mixer — prevents scalds when pressure dips. Floor outside shower gets 1-inch marble saddle so wheelchair or stool legs do not trip. Night light 3000K 3W motion sensor (MAD 120) avoids full-tube glare for midnight WC use.

This kit costs MAD 1,160 total versus MAD 9k+ tub + heater upgrade, and paramedics prefer walk-in with bars over high tub step for fall risk.