Another "worth the extra" question re showers

[wigwam12]

after a concealed valve shower setup for parents new bathroom.
Again tour of local stores yield 2 nice looking setups.
One guy has a range he's selling rebranded with his shop name with brass thermostatic valves etc for £200
Another selling a Tre Mercati setup but it's over twice as much at £450.

I accept the buy cheap buy twice adage but again I'm leery that there is a pretty big difference and £450 isn't cheap.
Advice appreciated.

 

[Dan Robinson]

£450 isn't expensive either.

 

[Salmonfisher]

before you buy check avalibility of spares

 

[wigwam12]

£450 isn't expensive either.

Okay I accept that but I've used tge online Victoria Plum etc as my yardstick and that was the £300ish range
Is it a brand worth the outlay though?

before you buy check avalibility of spares

Now that I did check and both said spares not a problem.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Victoria Plum

Oh god.

Is it a brand worth the outlay though?

To be fair, I have not heard of the £450 option. A quick Google did not show anything too enthralling.

I did check and both said spares not a problem.

At the moment.

 

[wigwam12]

Oh god.



To be fair, I have not heard of the £450 option. A quick Google did not show anything too enthralling.



At the moment.

Yes fair point (re spares). My sort of counter was at that price (£200) replacing an entire bit (fixed head, flexible head on riser or even the filler tap) would make it cost effective.

Re Victoria Plum, Bathstore 123 etc: I thought I was being good!!

 

[wigwam12]

Might I ask what would be recommend at this sort of price point?
For triple tap, outlets as above?

 

[Dan Robinson]

Re Victoria Plum, Bathstore 123 etc: I thought I was being good!!

They're amongst the worst there is. Especially the former.

 

[Dan Robinson]

My go to for this kind of thing is Crosswater.

 

[dilalio]

Crosswater all day long, if I get to have an input on valve choice.
However, if customer has an open mind, I think surface mounted is so much better for future proofing and who really gives a Shoite if you can see it but it can be easily made to keep working without disturbing the (much more fussed-over) tiling design!?

 

[wigwam12]

Thanks Gents. I've had a google and don't see a fixed head, flexible head and tap system on cross water

 

[wigwam12]

They're amongst the worst there is. Especially the former.

That's why I've tried to be good and source locally

 

[Dan Robinson]

Thanks Gents. I've had a google and don't see a fixed head, flexible head and tap system on cross water

You have to be creative. The shower valve is just one part of the shower system. All the rest can be made up easily with what you want.

I have a Mira Digital Mixer, Aqualisa shower head and a Bristan wall elbow.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Mira Mixer because it was the best all rounder.

Aqualisa Shower head because it had the best flow rate compared to the others I had in stock.

Bristan Wall Elbow because it was the most solid I could get my hands on before purchase. All the others were just schitty polastic affairs.

 

[dilalio]

If it's buried behind 2k's Worth of tiling the make sure the valve is a good'un... you can come off of that with whatever surface-mounted head-gear you want!