I had read about the Hansgrohe valve, but I didn't care much for it. Can't understand exactly how I could control temperature, volume and diverter with only 2 handles... We recently installed a new shower with a rainshower head and handheld head, run by one of the Hansgrohe controls. It's very simple to operate. The temperature is controlled by the smaller handle on the outside. I think I've touched it once; after putting it on a temperature both my wife and I apparently find desirable, we never touch it. The larger, inner handle controls volume and diverter. With the Thermobalance II, shown above, you turn the handle left of center to use one shower head, or right to use the other showerhead. Want to be able to use both at the same time (as I did)? For a few more dollars, you get the Thermobalance III valve and trim... This unit could control three different showerheads, or the plumbing can be configured to control two showerheads -- which is what we did, and what I think you're saying you want to do. Turn it left to the for one showerhead, turn all the way to the left and the second showerhead runs; in between, both showerheads run. It's easy to adjust the volume between the two, although I have to say I just go mid-way and let them both run full force. I like the simplicity of having only one control and one handle on the wall. You can certainly configure it with three different handles if you prefer; I just wanted to explain how the Hansgrohe works if you're interested. -- Eric

I have a neo angle shower, and we placed the shower heads centered on the long walls opposite the door. The valve and diverter are directly beneath the stanadrd shower head. The other shower head is a handheld on a slide bar, and we have a rainhead in the ceiling. We considered putting the valve on the short wall inside the door but ultimately decided against it, becasue we wanted to keep all the plumbing on the far walls. If we ever decide to glass in the entire shower or the next owner wants to put in a tub, it will be much easier.

One valve and a diverter means that you can only have water from one shower head. A diverter is what you have with a bath tub / shower where you choose to have the water at the tub spout or shower head. I believe this would be the lower cost option. With two valves you can have water from both shower heads simultaneously. But then, you would have to adjust the temperature of each. How do you intend to use the two shower heads?

"that there was nothing in our spec sheet specifying that we could only have one shower head and valve per shower" Sounds like there was nothing in the specifications about more than one, so that's almost certainly how it was priced. The CO should be done in advance of the change, giving you an opportunity to accept or reject the charge, not after the work is started. It will cost a lot more to retrofit, so chalk it up to small lessons learned at this point. The more complete the specifications and drawings are, in my experience, the fewer the bad surprises. Something around $1K/fixture seems pretty typical in the primary estimate, work done under COs is almost always more expensive.