The window nobody knows what to do with
In Valencian buildings from the 1960s and 70s, there is a situation we see constantly in our quotes: an interior courtyard window that lands exactly where the client wants to put the shower. Sometimes it opens onto a light well. Other times onto a shared interior patio, a metre and a half from the neighbour’s window opposite.
The problem has two sides. On one hand, the window exists, brings light and ventilation, and in many cases is the only air outlet in the bathroom. On the other hand, showering with an untreated window above or in front of you is uncomfortable, impractical, and simply impossible if it faces a shared space.
We have solved this problem dozens of times. Here is how.
Why this happens in Valencian buildings
Buildings constructed between 1950 and 1980 in Valencia, especially in neighbourhoods like Ruzafa, El Carmen, Benimaclet or the Eixample area, were designed with interior courtyards that guaranteed minimum legal ventilation. The regulations of the time required bathrooms to have an opening to the outside, and that opening was almost always a small window onto the shared courtyard.
The problem is that those courtyards have tight dimensions, sometimes two or three metres wide, and the bathroom window is in direct view of the neighbours. When those bathrooms are renovated decades later, the owner wants to make better use of the space and often the most logical layout puts the shower right in front of that window.
Result: you need to solve privacy without eliminating ventilation.
Solution 1: Translucent or frosted glass in the existing window
This is the simplest, most affordable solution and the one we recommend first when the window can be opened.
It involves replacing the original transparent glass with frosted, translucent or textured glass. Frosted glass allows light through but prevents seeing through it. There are different degrees of translucency depending on the treatment: acid etching, sandblasting or lamination with a privacy film.
What matters: not all treated glasses are equal in moisture resistance. In the shower zone it is essential to use tempered glass, which withstands impacts and temperature changes. Untreated glass in that environment is a risk.
Approximate cost: replacing the glass in a standard bathroom window (60x60 cm or similar) costs between 80 and 180 euros installed, depending on the type of glass. If the frame also needs replacing because it has deteriorated, it rises to 300-500 euros.
What it does not solve: if the window is in the shower wall and water splashes directly onto the frame, make sure the frame is aluminium or PVC and the perimeter seal is perfect. A wooden frame in that position is a mistake we have seen too many times.
Solution 2: Removable privacy vinyl
For those who do not want to touch the glass or frame, or for renters who cannot do works, privacy vinyl exists. These are adhesive films applied to the existing glass that, depending on the type, imitate frosting, create a decorative effect, or simply opaque the glass.
The advantage is price and reversibility. It can be applied and removed without damaging the glass. The disadvantage is durability: in an environment of constant steam, poor-quality vinyls start peeling at the edges within months.
Which vinyl to buy: those that hold up best in bathrooms are microperforated vinyl or those specifically for wet surfaces. Brands like 3M, Oracal or Gekkofix have bathroom ranges that perform reasonably well. Avoid generic Amazon vinyls under 10 euros per metre.
Approximate cost: between 15 and 40 euros per square metre in materials, plus application if done by a professional (another 50-80 euros). For a standard bathroom window, between 30 and 120 euros total.
Lifespan: 2-5 years depending on product quality and bathroom ventilation. With good ventilation and quality vinyl, it can last longer.
Solution 3: Electrochromic privacy glass
This solution has existed for years in office architecture and high-end hotel projects. It is now reaching the residential market, though still at prices that only make it viable for higher-budget projects.
Electrochromic glass (also called smart glass) changes from transparent to opaque when electrical current is applied. With a switch, or even with home automation, you can have the window transparent when you want light and opaque when you shower.
Approximate cost: between 400 and 900 euros per square metre installed, including electrical connection. For a 0.5 m² bathroom window, we are talking about 200-450 euros minimum, but in practice minimum installation prices usually hover around 600-1,000 euros with the electrical work included.
When it makes sense: in high-end renovations where everything is being redone from scratch and the client particularly values the experience. Also in courtyards with direct visibility where other solutions are not sufficient.
What you need to know: it requires connection to the bathroom’s electrical installation, which must be on a safe circuit per regulations. It is not a DIY installation.
Solution 4: Indoor waterproof wood or aluminium blind
A less well-known but very effective solution: installing an interior blind or louvre inside the window, made of waterproof material. Aluminium blinds with PVC slats or treated bamboo blinds hold up well in humid environments.
The advantage is that you control privacy manually — you can have the window open and the blind down (ventilation without compromised privacy) or both closed. It is more flexible than frosted glass because it lets you regulate light and air flow.
Materials that work in bathrooms: aluminium, PVC, resin-treated bamboo. Untreated natural wood is not suitable: it swells, warps and encourages mould. If anyone offers you an untreated solid wood blind for a shower area, rule it out.
Approximate cost: a made-to-measure aluminium or PVC blind for a bathroom window, installed, costs between 120 and 280 euros depending on size and system (roller, adjustable louvre slats, Venetian). Treated bamboo blinds are similar in price.
Maintenance: clean regularly with a damp cloth. Limescale buildup on the slats is the main problem in Valencia, where the water is very hard.
Solution 5: Redistribute and move the window to another wall
This is the most radical solution and, when the space allows it, the best of all: redesign the bathroom layout so the shower does not sit where the window is, or move the window itself to another section of the wall.
Moving the shower: if the bathroom has enough surface area, sometimes you can rotate the layout so the shower ends up on the opposite or lateral wall, away from the window. The window then sits above the toilet or washbasin, where privacy is less critical or easier to resolve.
Moving the window: this is more significant work. It involves opening the wall, shifting the window opening and filling in the original opening. In brick walls of 20th-century buildings it is not impossible, but it requires coordination with the technician and, in some cases, a municipal permit depending on the council. In Valencia, changes to openings in interior courtyard walls (not on the main façade) are usually accepted with a minor works licence.
Approximate cost: moving a window within the same wall section, including masonry work, finishes and minor licence management, costs between 800 and 2,000 euros depending on wall type and required finishes.
When it is worth it: when the client wants a full renovation and the current layout is not optimal in any way. If everything is being moved anyway, it is worth solving the problem at the root.
What you should NOT do: block up the window
This point is important and we have seen it proposed as a solution by some inexperienced contractors: blocking up the window, that is, filling it in with masonry and eliminating it.
Why it is a mistake: in many Valencian flats, the bathroom window is the only ventilation outlet for the room. The CTE (Spanish Technical Building Code) states that wet rooms without natural ventilation must have sufficient mechanical ventilation. If you block the window without installing an adequate mechanical ventilation system, the medium-term result is condensation, mould and possibly structural damage.
Additionally, in properties within a community of owners, modifying an interior façade opening requires the community’s agreement. Blocking a window without permission can create conflicts.
If for any reason the client wants to eliminate the window, the only correct way to do it is to simultaneously install a mechanical ventilation system with exterior extraction, with sufficient flow per regulations (minimum 15 l/s in bathrooms per CTE-HS3).
Cost summary
| Solution | Approximate cost | Works required |
|---|---|---|
| Tempered frosted glass | 80-500 € | Minimal (glass replacement) |
| Privacy vinyl | 30-120 € | None |
| Electrochromic glass | 600-1,500 € | Electrical installation |
| Indoor waterproof blind | 120-280 € | Minimal |
| Redistribution/window relocation | 800-2,000 € | Masonry works |
Which solution we choose at Reformarte depending on the case
In most renovations where this problem appears, our recommendation follows this order: first we assess whether the layout allows moving the shower without significant additional cost. If the bathroom is small and the layout is constrained, we go for tempered frosted glass as a clean, permanent solution. We reserve vinyl for rental situations or when the client has a very tight budget.
We only include electrochromic glass in high-end renovation projects where there is already home automation or where the client has expressed interest in bathroom technology.
If you are in this situation and want us to look at your specific case, in our budget calculator you can leave us the details and we will respond with a real assessment, not a generic one.
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