Concealed Mixer Showers

A concealed mixer shower buries the valve body in the wall, leaving only the control plate and the shower head on show. It is the cleaner-looking option and the reason most contemporary bathrooms use one.

Plan it before you tile

This is the critical point. A concealed valve has to be chased into the wall and plumbed before tiling or boarding. Retrofitting one into a finished bathroom means taking the wall apart. If the bathroom is already tiled, an exposed valve is the sensible choice.

How many outlets?

Single outlet feeds one shower head. Dual outlet feeds two — typically a fixed drencher head and a handheld on a rail — with a diverter to switch between them. Decide this at the valve stage; you cannot add an outlet later.

Thermostatic control

A thermostatic valve holds the temperature steady when someone runs a tap or flushes elsewhere in the house, and shuts off if the cold supply fails. Worth specifying anywhere, and effectively essential where children, elderly or less mobile users are showering.

Check your water pressure

Some valves need a minimum pressure to perform properly. If you are on a gravity-fed system with a loft tank, check the minimum requirement before buying, and consider a pump if it falls short.