I’m assuming the picture is your current setup, which is what you wanted in the new build? Yes I would not be happy either, as that is nothing like what you wanted. It’s ultimately up to you, I’m sure they’ll either try to compensate you somehow or agree to rip it out and start over. This is a master shower I presume? Hansgrohe > Koehler. The thing is you won’t know if you’ll like the pressure or setup until you get in the house, and what if you hate it? Tough one, this sucks.

Tear it all out more than likely. You cannot remove tile to fix plumbing rough-in without ruining the waterproofing. And you really cannot do just one wall as they are all ties in together. Wrong is wrong but I would expect major push back on gutting 80% of your shower from the builder. Up to you and what you can negotiate in either a do over or a credit.

Thanks @millworkman, that is, unfortunately, what I thought.

Wow, I think the hydrorail looks great, but it's not what you asked for.

I'm actually trying to do something exactly like what your picture is, but I'm now rethinking that.

I was planning to use delta's Trinsic faucets, but the trinsic hand held shower only has a handle:

https://www.deltafaucet.com/parts-product-detail?modelNumber=57085

I really want the shower head and the hand held separate, and I think the rail is great because you can pick the handheld height. I'm tall, girlfriend is short.

And those heads look like Kohlers 'purist' line which I like. I think I just found my shower fixture.

So, hey sorry about your shower, but thanks for sharing your issue. Maybe sleep on it some more, things being done different than expected is always frustrating, but sometimes it's for the better.

What's on the other side of the wall? Sometimes they can access the plumbing from the non-tiled side.

Also, did you approve the plumbing order? Wouldn't you have noticed the mistake at that point?

@Matt M I am glad to have helped you find something you like. For FYI pretty much every line has a slide bar on which a handheld can be mounted. I personally like on trim piece that controls the volume and the diverter. It's silly but then you pretty much never have to touch the temperature gauge. Just turn the diverter from 'off' to either handheld or shower head. I also prefer the handheld to be mounted to the side, that way the hose isn't as 'in my face'. These are all personal preferences. I hope you build your dream shower.

@Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc. Yes I approved the plumbing order. It was right. When I got the picture from my DH, who was at the build site to drop something off, I nearly had a heart attack. I made him take a picture of every fixture in the house. I assumed the plumber picked up someone else's entire order and everything in the house was going to be incorrect. Thankfully that was not the case, it's just the shower. The 'how' this happened is something I am not trying to focus on at this point. There is a linen cabinet on the other side of the plumbing. If they can go in that way, and change the valve, that is not so terrible. But if removing the tiles to fix the holes in the wrong place damages the waterproofing I think I am out of luck.

You can remove a couple of wall tiles without damaging most water-proofing systems, so they shouldn't have to gut the entire shower to do this.

I have done all my shower remodels like your first photo, except I also add a Jaclo grab/shower bar to hold the handheld. I would not be happy with what you got and would want it redone.

Main reason why we will be renting nearby when we build ... I will be there every evening with plans, design layouts and tape measure in hand!

IF you can live with it, you may be better off . . . and remind him he owes you big time.

nosoccermom, I have used the Jaclo shower/grab bars for years in
several showers, and their handheld attachments, and they are of much
better quality and design than 98% of what else is out there, but they
cost quite a bit more than what you can pick up at your local big box
store. No unwanted sliding or rotating. Also buy the metal hose for the handheld, never plastic!

Shower arm and head, no problem. Easy swap out.

Handheld, the same.

For those two, simply unthread what is there and thread the new on.

The supply valve, compare the hole in the wall to what the hansgrohe requires. It's safer to replace from the back side of the wall, leaving the tile as is. If the escutcheon plate for the Hansgrohe can cover the existing hole in your tile, is can be made to work.

Is it really true that a few tiles can be removed without compromising the waterproofing? I’m not a pro, but it seems like I’m always reading on here that you can’t mess with the tile without compromising the waterproofing. And would removing just a few of the tiles give you the access you need in order to install the rough-in valves and fixtures that you originally contracted for?

You saw the order, and it had the right fixtures on it, and then you ended up with the wrong fixtures somehow. This is a hard one. Someway or another the contractor or plumbing supplier screwed up. Looking at it objectively, the contractor is responsible for delivering you the shower, including the fixtures you wanted, that you contracted for. If it can’t be changed without ruining the waterproofing, then it’s a demo and re-build. He can work out the back-of-the-house financials if it was the plumbing supply warehouse that screwed up, and that negotiation does not involve you.

@Mongoct I get that the shower arm is easy, and I understand about the supply valve. But I don’t understand about the handheld. Would I have to put my desired handheld in the spot where they but the bottom part of the rail? Or does that tile need to be replaced because when they remove the rail it will have holes? And, will that damage the Kerdi?

Also can the hole for the plumbing to the handheld be drilled through the tile and leave waterproofing intact?

Does anyone know if the hose will ever hang straight? It is Kohler Awaken Hydrorail S.

During house construction we had an allowance for plumbing fixtures, but after we picked out fixtures it was then a very specific list and every price was listed. There was no option to substitute fixtures unless there was a change order.

We also purchased the Hydrorail for a renovation, but they are not installed yet. I think they hang with that loop because the piece at the bottom juts out at an angle, and pivots to allow more movement of the hose. However, there may be an option to use straight down connector at the bottom.

Bruce

Ah, my apologies. Honestly, I was lazy in not comparing the configuration of the two setups.

For the handheld, yes it can be moved. A new hole can be drilled through the tile, the Kerdi, and the backer board, then the new union installed, and everything sealed with Kerdi Fix.

The old location of the handheld outlet, the tile can be scored into small pieces with a diamond blade on an angle grinder. Cutting through the thickness of the tile, but leaving the thinset and Kerdi untouched. Then the individual pieces of the tile can be chipped away. The thinset can be gently abraded off the Kerdi. It can be cleaned up and a new tile set in its place. Kerdi has a fleece surface attached to a thin sheet of plastic. They just can't cut the plastic.

Matching the new grout to the old will be tricky, even it it's from the same bag.

It takes a careful and competent mechanic to make these repairs. Seriously.

Again, my apologies for a poorly considered first reply.

MongoCT, no apologies needed through the years you have consistently demonstrated your craftmanship and your consideration. I am greatly appreciative of your reply. I have come to an agreement with the builder. I will leave it as is for some considerations. I am not thrilled, but I can let it go. I also wouldnt be thrilled with the additional disruption and the result of any repairs.

MongoCT : Any chance you are in the White Plains, NY area? If you don't work in this area would you be able to recommend anyone who can help with a curbless shower for 2 handicapped people, one in a wheelchair and one in a walker? Thank you! Not sure if houzz allows pm or not, btw, pretty new here.

Greenway, unfortunately, no.

You can try Bill Vincent, he has family ties to the New Haven-ish area and the Laticrete company. While to the best of my knowledge he doesn't work your area either, he might have a reference.

Because Bill may or may not visit this forum regularly...I've dropped off my visits as well...I'd recommend you visit the John Bridge forum. There used to be, and they probably still have, a referral service over there. True tile pros reside there that do amazing work. And "someone will probably know someone."

Welcome to the forum!

MongoCT Thank you ! I am going to follow your advice and check out the John Bridge Forum, and will see if I can find Bill. The issue I was having is finding a builder/architect etc. who knows how to use Schluter, laticrete, Arcfirst, reditile, etc. instead of carving 3 inches into the beams below. I never knew tile masters could do this.

I would think you could remove a few tiles without causing any big problems. Showers were built for 100 years with no special waterproofing and very few problems. Porcelain tile is pretty waterproof in itself. Waterproofing is certainly a good thing, but the extreme paranoia about it on this forum seems quite unwarranted.