Shower Remodel 101: Shower Head Fixtures & Other Parts You'll Need For Your Renovation

1. Shower Valve and Trim
2. Shower Arm and Flange
3. Dual Shower Head with Adjustable Shower Arm

Shower Fixtures Part 1: Valve & Trim

The good news is if you choose the right bathroom contractor for your shower remodel, share your dream shower vision with them and provide them with the necessary fixtures, you can make pretty much anything happen. 

Now, let's dive in! One of the most common questions I get about shower remodel projects is, “What are the different types of shower valves?”

There are a few different shower valves that you may consider. There's your main shower valve which is mandatory and then there's a transfer or diverter valve which is optional.

The one caveat here is if you are renovating your shower but you are keeping your existing valve installed in the wall to save some money. In this case, you don't need valve but you only want to update the trim.

Unless, you have a pretty new shower, I'd definitely recommend changing out the valve now while you have your wall opened up, since it will save you a bunch of money in the long run. And if you’re working with a plumber on your shower remodel, it will also save you from having to learn how to replace a shower valve later. 

The shower trim includes all of the pieces that cover your valving, such as your handle, shower plate, tub spout, etc.

Like everything in life, building a solid foundation is the key to success. So let's start here, build that base and then move on to the fun stuff.

A. Shower Valve (Required)

Your shower valve is the heart of the shower that will control the flow, temperature and pressure balancing - it’s one of the most important bathroom shower fixtures. In certain cases, your plumber may have picked out the valve for you. Sometimes they do and just ask you for the shower trim, which we'll discuss next.

If your plumber already has a valve chosen or you're reusing your old valve, make sure you clarify the name of the manufacturer name and model of the valve. That's because you need that information to select the compatible shower trim. The shower trim is just as specific to the make and model of the valve, just like with car parts. 

If you have carte blanche on the valve that you can use, I'd highly recommend the HammerHead Showers shower valve with trim:

While there are many valves out there on the market, this model is my preference in particular, as it offers volume control. More and more valves today only offer standard temperature control, which means that you either have the valve fully on or off. With the HammerHead Showers valve, you can adjust the volume to your liking, so if you have really high pressure in your household you're not blazing through water. And, more importantly, you can close the valve on your favorite temperature setting so all you have to do next time is lift the handle to get your perfect temp. If you’re upgrading your shower head, fixtures like this valve take it to the next level.

B. Shower Trim (Required) 

Now that you have the valve all set, you need to choose a trim. The trim includes the escutcheon plate, handle and possibly the tub spout if you have a tub and shower. 

I can't drive this home enough, you CANNOT use any shower trim with any shower valve. They just aren't compatible. You need to match the trim exactly with the make and model of your shower valve.  

If you're not sure what models are compatible with your valve, consult your manufacturer's website or reach out to them directly. For the HammerHead Showers valve that we recommended previously, it already includes the matching trim, so that's one less thing to worry about! 

It's all-metal construction and has a style that goes well with many different types of decor. 

Transfer Valve (Optional) 

Great, now you have your base! If you want more than one shower head - such as a rain shower head and handheld shower head - and are doing new plumbing, I'd highly recommend a transfer valve. If you're good with only one shower head, this does not apply to you. 

Also known as an internal diverter, the transfer valve allows you to divert water to more than one shower head. This gives you a cleaner design and more flexibility where you install your shower heads, as opposed to an external shower valve.  

In this case, we're going with the Moen theme – as there currently isn't a HammerHead Showers transfer valve available at the moment. And I always opt for a 3-way diverter over a 2-way diverter. 3-Way diverters allow you to run two shower heads independently or both shower heads simultaneously. Whereas with a 2-way diverter you only have the option to run the two shower heads independently. If you’re taking the time and money to upgrade your shower head fixtures, you’re going to want to have the most flexibility possible.

Pro Tip: To cut costs on your project, consider opting for an external shower diverter. This diverter attaches to your shower arm and functions similarly, allowing water diversion to up to two separate shower heads.

Moen 3-Way Transfer Valve 

Transfer Valve Trim (Optional) 

The same rules apply as the main shower valve and trim. You need the matching trim for this make and model transfer valve. 

Here's the trim for this transfer valve that matches the Moen Brantford shower trim kit. 

Moen Brantford Transfer Valve Trim

Looking for a different design? Browse all of Moen's matching Moentrol shower trims at Moen.com 

Tub Spout (Optional)

 Do you have a tub and shower set up? Then you'll need to grab a tub spout for your shower remodel. If not, keep moving along to the next section to explore more shower head fixtures. 

Sometimes they are included with the shower trim, sometimes not. That's not a big deal, as you don't have the compatibility issues with tub spouts that you do with shower trims. That said, there are two different installation types with tub spouts so you'll want to confirm with your plumber what works with your installation. 

There is the threaded IPS connection and the slip fit connection. The threaded connection literally threads onto the pipe extending from the wall so it requires a threaded male fitting extending from the wall, which usually has a thread size of 1/2" IPS. The slip fit connection slides over a smooth piece of 1/2" copper and then holds into place with a set screw. 

All that said, it wouldn't be that difficult for your plumber to go from a 1/2" slip fit connection to a 1/2" threaded connection if you bought the wrong tub spout.  

Part 2: Shower Head Fixtures and Accessories

We've made it through some of the more boring parts of shower upgrades. Onto the sexy part - shower head fixtures and accessories!

While you have plenty of options for the shower head(s) you use in your remodel, I'll be covering the most popular options.  

What makes this part fairly easy is that shower heads and their accessories have standard size connections. That means you can pretty much use any shower head or accessory for your shower remodel. And it presents absolutely no compatibility issues with your shower valve or trim.

Option 1: Rain Shower Head Fixtures 

The rain shower head is the top choice when it comes to luxurious showering. It offers very wide coverage to keep you immersed in warm, relaxing water. If you’re still exploring ideas for bathroom shower remodel features, then add a rain shower to your list! 

Most rainfall showers range from 8-12 inches in diameter. They are usually fairly simple in design and focus in on that amazing rainfall spray pattern. While you can find rain shower heads with multi functions, I'm big on keeping it all about the shower heads that create large, rain droplets. 

This rainfall shower head by HammerHead Showers is constructed with all metal and delivers a true, rainfall shower flow. Once you step under it, you'll find it very hard to want to get out of the shower. 

A. Standard Shower Arm 

If you want to keep it simple, or have a very small space to work with, you could use a standard shower arm to mount your rain shower head. A standard arm is about 6"-8" long and has that traditional j-bend.

The drawback of using a standard arm is the flow can come out a little limp, as rain shower heads usually have less spray force due to their large spray faces. Also, depending on the height of your water inlet, you might not be able to stand directly underneath the rainfall.

To clarify the terminology, the pipe is called the shower arm and the decorative plate behind it is called the flange. Make sure you get both when ordering, as some shower arms don't always come with the flange and you wouldn't want the big nasty hole in your wall exposed as a result of forgetting this part.  

 
7" Shower Arm and Flange with Set Screw

B. Overhead Shower Arm

To go all out and make a true rainfall, you'll want an overhead or ceiling mount shower arm on your list of shower head fixtures. 

An overhead shower arm comes directly out of your wall like a standard shower arm, but they are much longer and have a more extreme bend in the angle of the shower arm. That makes it ideal if you want to keep your plumbing simple while still getting the water flow directly overhead. It’s also a great solution if you’re figuring out how to replace a shower head arm yourself because it doesn’t require any new plumbing.

C. Ceiling Mount Straight Shower Arm

A ceiling mount shower arm, on the other hand, comes straight down from your ceiling. This is the most jet-set way to install a rain shower head and gives you the most spa-like shower effect. 

While it's not that difficult for your plumber to install, you definitely need to consult with your bathroom contractor before going with this shower head fixture. That's because this option will require your plumber to run the water line up the wall and into the ceiling of your shower. Depending on the size of your shower and how far along the plumber is in the rough plumbing installation, you may or may not be able to do this as part of your shower remodel. 

Ceiling mount shower arms come in differing lengths and designs. The most common options are 6 and 12 inches. The length will depend on how high your ceiling is. Obviously, the higher your ceiling the longer the shower arm you'll want so you get the rainfall shower head within a couple of feet from your head.

Option 2: Hand Held Shower Head

Don't worry, you don't have to choose between the rain and handheld shower head fixtures. Remember, you can always use the transfer valve for two shower shower heads if you so desire.

Aside from the shower hose, you may want to consider if you'd prefer a single function or a multi function handshower with different spray modes like a massage or mist.

1-Spray Function Hand Held by HammerHead Showers	3-Spray Function Hand Held by HammerHead Showers

 Both shower head options above are truly unique, as they are all metal hand held shower heads. That means all of the components are extremely durable and can withstand the wear and tear that a typical hand shower takes. They both include 72 inch long hoses. The only difference between the two is that the second option offers 3 spray settings, including wide, mist and massage.

A. Shower Arm

7" Shower Arm and Flange with Set Screw

B. Slide Bar 

Option 3: Dual Shower Head Combo 

For this shower system, you don't even need the extra transfer valve. Actually, we made this to be a great value by giving you the shower valve, trim, shower arm and flange and dual shower head – featuring a 3-spray handheld and rain shower head on an overhead adjustable shower arm.

Your Shower Remodel Is A Wrap!

And don’t forget - if you’re exploring where to buy shower fixtures, then look no further than The Shower Head Store. We offer a wide variety of all-metal shower heads, fixtures and other accessories that will help take your shower remodel to the next level.