Shower - surface mount or recessed?

[JanK]

Had the plumbers round today to sort out my shower leak following combi-boiler installation.

It turned out the pipes were leaking into the wall.

I currently have a recessed shower unit. The plumber has disconnected the shower to stop the leak in the short term. I am hoping this has stopped it... will find out in a few days lol.

The question he put to me is, if I want the shower unit, I have 2 options:

1) buy the body part of the aqualisa shower and replace
2) buy a new surface mounted shower

I have been reassured that either options should involve no leak.

On Friday I paid for a new cartridge to be installed.

My question is, apart from the appearance, which is better... recessed or surface mounted?

 

[TCCHeating]

You kind of answered your own question!

If a surface mounted shower leakes it will leak into the shower tray.

If the concealed shower leaks youll prob need a plasterer as well as a plumber.

Fitting a new concealed shower will be more costly as tiles will prob need removing and replacing unless there is access behind. But they look neater

 

[JanK]

You kind of answered your own question!

If a surface mounted shower leakes it will leak into the shower tray.

If the concealed shower leaks youll prob need a plasterer as well as a plumber.

Fitting a new concealed shower will be more costly as tiles will prob need removing and replacing. But they look neater

its not a shower as such, just the shower head thing over a bath jobbie...

the unit i have is recessed at the moment and the leak has caused it to saturate the wall.

the plumber said to get the surface mounted will involve removing 2 tiles and replacing.

 

[Charnwood]

So it's the pipe from the mixer to a wall outlet.
If you keep the current mixer you will still have pipe and connections in the wall.

A new cartridge for a shower you may be replacing?

 

[JanK]

So it's the pipe from the mixer to a wall outlet.
If you keep the current mixer you will still have pipe and connections in the wall.

A new cartridge for a shower you may be replacing?

The plumber replaced the cartridge last Friday as there was a leak from the front of the control unit.

 

[JohnD]

I wouldn't have a recessed shower.

With the new modern fixing plates, you can whisk off and replace a faulty surface mixer in minutes.

with a recessed you probably have to smash out tiles and dig out the wall.

If you happen to have a false wall with an access panel behind (not wallpapered) I might consider it.

yes, showers always go wrong, eventually, and have to be taken out.

 

[JanK]

I wouldn't have a recessed shower.

With the new modern fixing plates, you can whisk off and replace a faulty surface mixer in minutes.

with a recessed you probably have to smash out tiles and dig out the wall.

If you happen to have a false wall with an access panel behind (not wallpapered) I might consider it.

yes, showers always go wrong, eventually, and have to be taken out.

That was why I am considering it. I don't really want to end up having true wall dug out in the future... Any recommendations on a shower surface mounted lol. I know absolutely nothing about what I should be looking for!

 

[JohnD]

I like Aqualisa. but they are not exactly cheap.

Bar mixers are usually cheaper than round ones, in both senses.