Guess this is the right section.

I am building a new house and want to install an overhead shower in my shower stall in my master bath. The contractor wanted about 1400 dollars to do this, and this was just to hook up an extra showerhead. I opted out and figured I could do this - I want an overhead shower and a separate detachable showerhead, with maybe a valve that controls to which the water flows.

Something like this:



This is about 100 bucks - but how hard is that to install? Can I just unhook the existing showerhead and put this on, and, if so, can i have a detachable showerhead also?

3/20/2007 6:53:46 AM

there would be several different ways to connect what you want depending on your mixing valve and the lines leading from it. i definitely agree you should do it yourself because $1400 is outrageous.

my suggestion would be to make a schematic of what you have existing, and then take it to lowes or home depot and someone in the plumbing department should be able to show you exactly what you need (ie copper lines, compression valves, etc....)

3/20/2007 7:14:24 AM

you don't want to do that the way you're thinking. Just buy a shower unit that is designed for that.

Something along the lines of these:
http://www.dualshowerhead.com/_Shower_Head/Dual_Shower_Heads/dual_shower_heads.html

this is pretty much exactly what you're looking for I think, and in the price range you mentioned
http://www.dualshowerhead.com/_Shower_Head/Mermaid_Shower_Head/mermaid_shower_head.html

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 8:36 AM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 8:29:35 AM

^ thanks, that site rules - can I install something like that with common tools or do I need a pro to do it?

3/20/2007 8:42:27 AM

you'll probably want a pipe wrench and plumbing tape, both of which you can get from lowes or home depot. A pipe wrench for that size will probably be about $20-25. Of course you could always try to borrow one from somebody, or try to use vice grips (which are less expensive). The pipe wrench isn't absolutely necessary but it does help and you may be more likely to damage the pipe using vice grips. A regular adjustable crescent wrench may or may not work depending on the shower head.

when you go to unscrew or screw on any of this stuff put a towel over the pipe so you don't scratch the finish. (you may want the old one later).

and keep in mind that the website i posted is just one company, there are plenty out there so you may want to look for some reviews and what not (wouldn't want the thing to crap out a month after installing it)

3/20/2007 9:16:15 AM

I recently had my bathroom subfloor rebuilt and the shower framed for $1400. Thats a lot of money to do a shower head installation, maybe the guy misunderstood what you wanted.

I used to have a shower head similar to that and it royally sucked. No water pressure at all. Are you looking to have the shower head in the ceiling or just a normal shower head and a hand held on a grab bar?

We have a dual shower head that we installed a few weeks ago. Right now, we can only use one head at a time (I wanted a hand held shower to wash the dogs with). We had to drill a whole to mount the grab bar to hang the hand held on. We had a problem with clamping the pex, but it was easily resolved.

The shower heads can be quite expensive. We got both of ours off ebay for a really good price.

3/20/2007 1:27:53 PM

i want the dual shower - the detachable hand-held sprayer and the overhead rain shower. i plan to only use one at a time - i guess you can buy a switch or valve that allows that?

3/20/2007 2:33:09 PM

that $1400 is probably factoring in running lines in the wall, a diverter valve, and another head. persaonlly, that's what i would do since you're in the building stages. attaching gaudy crap off of the one arm is pretty ghetto to me, but whatever.

you can get valves/personal showers that attach onto the regular arm. it adds alot of unneccessary weight though. if it was my house, i'd suck it up and pay the money to do it the right way.

that said, adding something like that is something you should easily be able to do yourself. it just screw on and screws off the arm. you will need some teflon tape and an adjustable crescent wrench. do not overtighten it... doesn't take much to seal.

Quote :

"my suggestion would be to make a schematic of what you have existing, and then take it to lowes or home depot and someone in the plumbing department should be able to show you exactly what you need"

that is a terrible idea. the majority of people working at lowes/home depot don't know any more than the person asking the questions.

Quote :

"copper lines, compression valves"

never use compression fittings/valves on hard copper. you're just asking for failure. a good soldered connection is the only way to go.

Quote :

"i definitely agree you should do it yourself because $1400 is outrageous"

$1400 isn't outrageous at all if it's including running lines, etc.

Quote :

"you'll probably want a pipe wrench and plumbing tape, both of which you can get from lowes or home depot. A pipe wrench for that size will probably be about $20-25. Of course you could always try to borrow one from somebody, or try to use vice grips (which are less expensive)."

NO! do NOT use a pipe wrench or vice grips unless you just want to ruin the finish.

Quote :

"I used to have a shower head similar to that and it royally sucked. No water pressure at all"

it probably had a flow restrictor in it. all new fixtures do. they can be removed very easily though.

Quote :

"We had a problem with clamping the pex, but it was easily resolved."

i hope you used a proper crimping tool?

fwiw, all of this is coming from a plumbing contractor.

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 2:44 PM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 2:42:02 PM

Quote :

"NO! do NOT use a pipe wrench or vice grips unless you just want to ruin the finish."

I have done it a half dozen times or so and never once scratched the finish. interesting how you left what i said about ruining the finish and damaging the pipe out of the quote.

3/20/2007 3:46:57 PM

i didn't catch the bit you posted about the towel. that still won't always protect things though.

i'm glad you've been successfull the few times you've done it using the wrong tool, but that doesn't make it the right way.

i'm not trying to sound like an ass, but i think your half dozen times<<<my hundreds of time.

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 3:51 PM. Reason : .]

3/20/2007 3:50:56 PM

If you're going to be doing it yourself and want to run anything past a home improvement store first, opt for somewhere like Hudson's Hardware in Garner over a Lowe's or Home Depot (someone else mentioned, the folks in superstores don't know a lot typically)... your small town independent stores though usually have VERY knowledgable folks.

3/20/2007 3:53:16 PM

you're taking a risk asking anyone advice but a qualified professional.

3/20/2007 3:58:00 PM

Quote :

"the majority of people working at lowes/home depot don't know any more than the person asking the questions"

Truth. I work at home depot (not in plumbing) and the most of the people who are qualified to do this type of work are out doing it, not working retail.

3/20/2007 4:07:11 PM

http://www.dualshowerhead.com/_Shower_Head/Atlantis_Shower_Heads/atlantis_shower_heads.html

that is exactly what you described, it's $250

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 4:49 PM. Reason : ]

3/20/2007 4:47:54 PM

Quote :

"but i think your half dozen times<<<my hundreds of time."

i concur.

The only reason I mentioned the pipe wrench is that i've seen faucets and what not that a crescent wrench just wouldn't work on. Even then though i guess the right tool would be something with a strap that tightens around the pipe rather than teeth.

3/20/2007 5:24:36 PM

channel locks and compression fittings son

3/20/2007 5:32:08 PM

yeah, we had the special cool pex tool to crimp it.

blue, people still argue with me over very basic legal stuff. its entertaining sometimes.

Since you are talking from experience, sometimes when I run the bath water, the shower drips a little. any suggestions? (everything was from a delta michael graves kit, if that helps)

3/20/2007 6:35:56 PM

i always put saran wrap over the screw ridges to keep the water from leaking, but wax should work too!

I have never had a prob.

Thanks for all the advice...probably going to do some more research - house is probably three-four months out!

3/20/2007 7:39:24 PM

If it gets too complicated or what not for you let me know...J is a plumber in real life and could do it for you easy I am sure. I bet he loves me volunteering him too...LOL But he redid pretty much our entire shower/tub area when we moved into our house. Good luck with your new house

[Edited on March 20, 2007 at 10:10 PM. Reason : not to mention he prolly has any tools you might need! ]

3/20/2007 10:09:59 PM

Quote :

"i always put saran wrap over the screw ridges to keep the water from leaking"

a roll of teflon tape costs what, $0.60?

3/20/2007 10:25:30 PM

Quote :

"Since you are talking from experience, sometimes when I run the bath water, the shower drips a little."

off hand, it sounds like your diverter is letting some water by. is it on the valve area or the spout? either one is replaceable. honestly, if it doesn't bother you much i wouldn't mess with it until it really gets bad. i've seen alot of brand new delta stuff that does the same thing.

delta is okay stuff for the price, parts are readily available, and most of it is easily serviceable. basically you get what you pay for though.

Quote :

"i always put saran wrap over the screw ridges to keep the water from leaking, but wax should work too"

wtf? a roll of teflon is dirt cheap. wax is for toilets.

3/20/2007 11:25:52 PM

I have a little bit of experience in this field, and I'm throwing my support behind BigBlueRam. Dude certainly sounds like he knows what he's talking about.

3/21/2007 10:55:22 AM

i ended up buying a dual showerhead from target - 50 bucks!

hooked it up myself, and save for a little leakage (forgot the tape, but im moving in three weeks so fuck it ill buy some then) it has almost doubled the water pressure and is like a waterfall.

i take like 5 showers a day now cause it is so tits.

3/27/2007 3:52:43 PM

you should have one pointed towards your coinpurse at all times cause its great

[Edited on March 27, 2007 at 6:40 PM. Reason : .]

3/27/2007 6:20:07 PM

Big Blue, who do you work for?

I work for Ferguson.

3/27/2007 11:00:48 PM