How To Add A Rain Shower Head To Existing Shower

Nosotros all know that the all-time time to add a handheld showerhead to your bathroom is during the structure or remodeling stage. However, it's quite common for homeowners to overlook this essential part of the shower feel. Upkeep restrictions, lack of foresight, or only beingness preoccupied with more important matters all contribute to this phenomenon.

Thankfully, there are viable options to exercise simply that. While there have ever been accessories to make this happen, manufacturers have recently added more elegant options to their armory. Beneath are 3 means to add a handheld shower to your existing shower.

Method #ane : Replace your existing Shower with a Shower Arm Mount

The first option is to use a Handshower mount on your existing shower arm. This handheld shower mount attaches to your existing shower arm, where your showerhead used to be mounted. Information technology comes 1 female person connexion for the shower arm and ane a male connection at the bottom to connect the handshower hose and a cradle for the handshower to sit in.

The advantage to this method is that it's directly forward. You will lose your showerhead just you replace with an item that is more than versatile. Different other options that include a showerhead, it'south non as busy looking.

Some of the drawbacks with this pick is that it's clunky looking. Your shower hose is at an elevated meridian which is not an appealing look. This falls in the category of role over fashion.

Buying A Shower Arm Mount

Shower arm mounts are about as generic as yous tin can get. Most manufacturers accept i in their catalog and they are near identical. Beneath are some brands you should expect out for.

Delta – Delta is the king of a accessories. They probably have the largest marketplace share since they acquired Alsons a few years ago. Their shower arm mount is a standard issue shower head. They are available at the big box stores as well as plumbing supply houses.

Jaclo 8015 – The Jaclo 8015 is some other basic shower arm mountain. However, it'south bachelor in a lot more finishes than the competition. So if you're replacing a showerhead with hard to find terminate, there is a chance that one of Jaclo's 24 finishes might be a friction match.

Moen Magnetix – The Moen Magnetix is the new kid on the cake . Information technology's a shower arm mount that comes equipped with a magnet. This allows for easy operation of the handheld. It's definitely our favorite of the agglomeration since we're not a fan of the clunky operation of virtually shower arm mounts.

Method #two : Attaching A Shower Arm Diverter

The 2 way diverter is a shower arm mountain that contains a connection for both handheld shower & a showerhead. It works very much similar the aforementioned shower arm mount with the added benefit of a diverter to switch between the 2 shower outlets.

There are 2 dissimilar types of 2 way diverter mounts: one with a built in mount, and one without. If you buy the one without the mount, you would have to attach your handheld shower elsewhere on the shower wall. The version with the built in mount allows you to have both showerhead types installed on the overhead shower arm. See pictures beneath.

The obvious reward of this method is that information technology allows yous to have both a fixed showerhead and a handshower. Well-nigh bathrooms have multiple users, and some people might exist loyal to a specific showerhead. In our experience, fixed showerheads tend to perform meliorate and have better overall coverage, while handhelds are versatile.

Some of the drawbacks of these accessories is that they crave a lot more parts and as a result can cause your shower area to be impuissant looking. This is especially true for the shower diverter with the built in mount. It requires a lot of parts to be installed in a prominent expanse of your shower. The mount-less version allows you to spread those parts over a larger space which makes it await a tad flake cleaner.

Ownership A Shower Arm Diverter

There is a variety of shower arm diverters available. Different shower arm mounts, manufacturers have taken the liberty to create products that are a footling more unique.

Delta – Delta is once again the one manufacturer that just focuses on the bones accessories. They probably have the all-time selling shower arm diverters with or without a mount. Other companies accept identical accessories to them but some of those companies

Kohler Awaken – Kohler focuses more on manner. The Awaken shower cradle has a make clean seamless await to it which is more than aesthetically pleasing than the others on this list. Functionally, information technology doesn't really add whatever additional features just it's definitely a looker.

Moen Magnetix – Moen again focuses on ease of functioning. The Moen Magnetix go far easy to pull the handshower out and put it back on the cradle without the need to tinker with the mount. Nosotros'd exist willing to bet that the Magnetix gets more use than the others for that reason alone.

Method #three : Using a Diverter Shower Arm instead of your existing 1.

With this option, you will not be adding a diverter to the shower arm like the method mentioned in a higher place; just instead, you would remove your existing shower arm, and supersede it with new ane that comes equipped with a congenital in diverter. These shower arms accept a diverter at their base, making them await less decorated than some of the other options.

One of the advantages of this type of installation is everything has a more seamless look about it. With the diverter at the base, it has a less clunky design. It's also more than durable than the previously mentioned option since it's not an additional part.

Some disadvantages are it does not eliminate the hose hanging down in front of the person taking a shower, and it is not suitable for higher-end bathrooms. As of the fourth dimension of this writing, only i manufacturer offers this option, making it harder to detect specific finishes to match your other plumbing faucets.

Ownership a Shower Arm with a Built-in Diverter

Equally we mentioned, Kohler is the only reputable manufacturer offering this option and it is one of their newer products. You lot could probably notice something like from some unknown online marketplace but the major players have yet to follow suit. We would not be surprised if most brands come out with something similar within the next few years. As of today Kohler has three versions of these shower arms

Kohler K-76331 – This is a standard shower arm with a 45 degree angle. This is the one that most people volition buy as it can adapt the vast majority of showerheads

Kohler Thousand-76332 & K-76333 – This is shower arm is designed for larger rainheads. It has a 90 degree bend which is ideal for people who want to have that rainshower experience in addition to their handheld.

Kohler K-76336 – This is the Goose Cervix version. Information technology operates very much like the Rainhead arm but at a raised summit, perfect for those who demand additional headspace in their shower.

Method # 4 Adding a Shower Column

A shower column is a handshower slidebar that has an additional curved rails to accommodate a shower head as well. The superlative part of the slidebar is mounted where the shower arm is supposed to be. Different a typical slidebar, water travels through this ane and is diverted to each outlet past an integrated lever handle.

The added showerhead comes with a curved piece of pipe that adds some acme to the fixture. Therefore it'due south of import to make certain that your infinite can conform that additional headspace. As of the time of this writing, Moen & Signature Hardware are the only manufacturers who offer shower columns where the showerhead is mounted at the same height of a typical shower arm.

If you accept a medium to large shower area and don't mind the added cost, this is past far the all-time option. Non only it's the best looking only information technology' likewise the virtually durable. Information technology comes as one piece so there are non too many moving parts. Another benefit of the shower column, is that they accommodate larger rain showerheads different the other options on our list. Every bit a result, information technology'southward a great style to upgrade the expect of your shower, without incurring the price of gutting the area.

Shower Cavalcade Options

There are quite a few options for shower columns these days but the three brands that stand our are Kohler, Moen & Grohe.

Grohe Retrofit Organisation – The Grohe Retrofit system is your standard issue shower column. It does the job just offers no unique features that makes it stand up out from the pack. Grohe also tends to lean on the contemporary side and so there is no version to match your traditional decor.

Kohler Hydrorail – Kohler has popularized this category a few years ago. They offer the about options:

With or without showerheads
Arch Overhead Bar or R Beam style
xc degree Shower arm or 45 degree
Traditional or Contemporary

Additional, the Kohler hydrorail has the easy to use one handed operation of their slidebar.

Moen Addendum – While non as sleek looking as the Kohler Hydrorail, Moen probably has the product that makes sense for most people. The Moen Annex has an arm that petrudes out at the same top as the flange outlet. Some bathroom don't accept that additional headroom and even if you exercise, you lot might prefer the lower profile.