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AKW Shower Screens Buying Guide: Shower Tray & Silverdale Ranges Compared
AKW shower screens are built for one job above all others: making showering safer, easier and more dignified - whether for an elderly user, someone with reduced mobility, or a carer assisting at shower time. At Essential Bathrooms we stock the AKW screen range in full, across every option, size and handing. This guide explains how the range is structured, the difference between the two main families, and how to pick the right screen for your shower tray.
The two AKW shower screen families
AKW divides its tray-suitable screens into two ranges that share the same accessible design philosophy but differ in materials and finish:
- Standard (PET) screens - lightweight, shatterproof PET glazing in a white/silver frame. Practical, hard-wearing and the most cost-effective choice for assisted and carer-led bathrooms.
- Silverdale screens - the premium line, using toughened frosted safety glass with a smart grey frame for a more contemporary, high-end look, without losing any accessibility.
Both ranges are designed to sit alongside a standard shower tray, and both come in half-height "carer" formats as well as taller, more enclosed versions.
Standard vs Silverdale: which should you choose?
| Standard (PET) | Silverdale | |
|---|---|---|
| Glazing | Shatterproof PET | Toughened frosted safety glass |
| Frame | White / silver | Grey |
| Look | Clean and functional | Premium and contemporary |
| Weight | Very light - easy to handle | Heavier glass panel |
| Price | Most affordable | Higher - a step up in finish |
| Best for | Care settings, budgets, frequent assisted use | Homeowners wanting accessibility with a high-end feel |
How to choose the right screen
1. Half height or full height?
Half-height "carer" screens stop at roughly 750mm or 900mm, leaving the top open so a carer can assist the person showering while staying dry. Full-height options - such as the 1880mm Option HF - give a more enclosed, conventional shower while keeping the accessible, easy-access entry.
2. Handing
Many options are available non-handed (universal) or in dedicated left-hand and right-hand versions. Handing simply describes which side the fixed panel and wall fixing sit, so the screen suits your bathroom layout.
3. Size
Match the screen to your tray. Every AKW screen on our site is listed as an "All Sizes" product, so you can select your exact width and configuration from one page, with the AKW product code and barcode shown for each.
4. Tray or wet floor?
This guide covers screens for shower trays. Building a level-access wet room instead? You will want an AKW wet floor screen paired with the AKW Tuff Form wet floor former.
The perfect partner: the AKW Braddan shower tray
An AKW tray screen needs a tray to match. The AKW Braddan shower tray (all sizes) is our recommended pairing - a low-profile, slip-resistant tray designed for easy, low-threshold access, available in the full size range to suit whichever screen option you choose.
Explore the two ranges in detail
- AKW Shower Screens for Shower Trays - the complete standard PET range, option by option.
- AKW Silverdale Shower Screens - the premium frosted-glass range explained.
Still not sure which screen is right for your project? Our team specialises in accessible and disabled bathing - get in touch and we will help you match the right screen, size and tray.