Shower with diverter

Any

Hi,
This question might be seen as little weird, but I don't know what is right anymore!

Few years back when we had shower corner fitted, I wanted rain shower and handheld. Because sometimes you just don't want to get hair wet or dance around trying to avoid water coming onto your head. Also it is easier for cleaning the shower (you can spray water around). Do I make sense? Some people looked at me like I grew pair of horns or like I want diamond dust.

We could only have exposed valves (no space to build them in a wall).

The shower we got only can have the rain shower on, or BOTH of them on. That obviously completely defies the objective. You always have water coming from above. I even returned it and got a new one, did the same again. Plumber pulled it apart and said it was never designed to be one OR the other head on. Just the big one or both. Not just the handheld on it's own.

I find that serriously weird. But everyone acts like I am asking for impossible!! But I have seen showers that have 1 or the other on, with exposed valves!!

Now we are having new corner fitted and I am affraid to buy anything like that again. My OH says that they will all do that!
Will they?
What about this one?
https://beggsandpartners.com/bathrooms/product/126/instinct-deluge-shower/

Is the only option to go for hidden valves? We can actually do it this time as we have more space. But I prefer exposed valves.

Doozergirl

They don't all do that at all. In fact, I've never come across one like you describe.

I'd go for this one.
https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/crosswater-design-multifunction-thermostatic-shower-valve-rm530wc?campaign=googlebase&gclid=CODWte_D09ECFU48GwodYF0B6w

Might be available a little cheaper elsewhere but it's a good brand.

Any

Doozergirl wrote: »

They don't all do that at all. In fact, I've never come across one like you describe.

I'd go for this one.
https://www.victorianplumbing.co.uk/crosswater-design-multifunction-thermostatic-shower-valve-rm530wc?campaign=googlebase&gclid=CODWte_D09ECFU48GwodYF0B6w

Might be available a little cheaper elsewhere but it's a good brand.

Thanks Doozegirl, I was hoping you will reply as you seem to really know your way around plumbing especially.
I've never seen one that never runs the small one on it's own, but the previous plumber seemed to have no idea what am I talking about.
That brand I provided link for is what our current builder uses as a prefered supplier (not that seller, but they have the same brand of showers).
OH does not understand how you switch it over from one to another on this one, as there is no button or lever to switch over...

Do you know this one?

Any

This is the one we have now.
There is a knob you pull out to put the small shower head on.
http://www.betterbathrooms.com/showers/mixer-showers/rigid-riser-mixer-showers/premier-thermostatic-diverter-shower-kit

Doozergirl

The two ends turn. One sends the temperature up and down, the other will be one direction for the overhead, the other for handheld. Central is neutral and therefore off.

Doozergirl

I wouldn't be keen on buying anything where it only has one retailer. Personally, I'd want a recognised brand with a decent customer service department.

Any

Doozergirl wrote: »

I wouldn't be keen on buying anything where it only has one retailer. Personally, I'd want a recognised brand with a decent customer service department.

He uses James Hargreaves plumbing depot.
They have other brands, but in the brochure I have is that Instinct and a specific shower we like the look of.

http://www.jhplumb.com/products/showers/

Our current shower also has 2 ends. One is temperature and one is on/off & pressure of stream if you know what I mean, so we assumed all ends are for those 2 purposes I suppose!