Concealed vs exposed shower fittings: a simple guide

Exposed fittings

With exposed fittings, the mixer and pipes are mounted on the surface of the wall.

• Easy to install in an existing bathroom without breaking tiles.
• Simple to service or replace later.
• Usually more budget-friendly.

Concealed fittings

With concealed fittings, the valve body sits inside the wall and only a neat trim plate and handle are visible.

• Clean, modern look and more space in the shower.
• The concealed body must be fixed before plastering and tiling.
• The concealed body and the outer trim usually need to come from the same brand and series, so choose your trim before the body goes into the wall.

Diverters: how many outlets do you need?

A diverter switches water between outlets, such as a rain shower, a hand shower, a spout or body jets.

• 2-way diverter: for example, overhead shower and hand shower.
• 3-way or more: add a spout for filling a bucket, or body jets.
• Decide the number of outlets before buying, because the concealed body depends on it.

Water pressure and rain showers

Large rain showers need good water pressure to feel strong. Homes fed by an overhead tank, especially on upper floors close to the tank, can have low pressure.

• Check the pressure in your existing shower before choosing a very large rain shower.
• With low pressure, a smaller shower head or a pressure pump can make a big difference.
• Thermostatic mixers keep the temperature steady when someone else opens a tap, which is useful in larger families.

Planning checklist

• Fix the shower layout and number of outlets.
• Choose the brand, series and finish of the trim.
• Install the concealed body and pipes, then pressure-test before tiling.
• Fit the trims and shower heads after tiling.

Common questions