I just wanted to share a little research that I’ve done on the last few days regarding handheld shower heads because this may be an option for you. People add handheld shower heads to existing showers all the time. Assuming that your rain shower head’s connection comes out of the wall vs. out of the ceiling (my understanding is that they are typically placed on the ceiling only when it’s a secondary shower head - but I may be wrong), there are a few different ways to do this.
1. The least expensive option: It is accomplished by simply adding an external diverter on the existing shower head.
The external diverter is very inexpensive (many options - I‘m posting a photo of one by Delta because it’s recommended by plumbers - it’s around $18) - and simply is added to the fitting for the rain shower head. You can then mount the handheld up by the existing shower head or place it lower on the wall like below:
2. Kohler hydrorail:
This is around $350 (I think they have different styles - they also just sell the rail so you can add whichever brand/style of fixed shower head + handheld shower head). It is used to retrofit a regular shower head system. The water flows out of the connection up at the top. The diverter is on the bottom of the bar. The water is turned on/off through a separate valve - you would just use your current valve trim to do this.
3. Most expensive option (this one is manufactured by Grohe - but there are other brands).
This will require the valve inside your wall to be switched - unless you find one that is compatible with the brand of valve/trim kit that is currently installed. Delta/Brizo use universal rough-in valves - they make it easy to switch out the external trim valves so you can update the “pretty” parts of your shower without changing anything behind the wall - so long as the new trim is made by Delta/Brizo. I think other brands like Koehler/Moen/Grohe have certain rough-in valves that work with specific trim valves - you’d have to ask a plumber. I‘m using Brizo for my master bathroom and Delta in another bathroom that I’m currently renovating for this reason + their valves are HIGHLY recommended by plumbers for reliability. If your current rough-in valve manufacturer doesn’t offer something like the photo below, you can still have this installed but it will cost a bit more (nowhere near $10,000!) I assume that there is access from behind your shower wall in another room through an actual access panel OR drywall in order for a new valve to be installed. If there isn’t, this can be a problem in the future if/when you have any plumbing issues. If you choose this option, you can add a permanent access panel behind it (I have a permanent access panel for the shower in my master bathroom located on wall in the master bedroom closet)- or if it’s in a visible area, the drywall can just be patched (ex - shower valve in hall bathroom that’s being renovated has access through daughter’s bedroom - but it’s on her wall where a permanent panel wouldn‘t look good):
The water flows through the lower part of the bar where the water is turned on and off unlike in the Koehler system in the above photo.
There are ways to add the systems shown in options 2 and 3 without compromising your waterproofing system (I’ve verified this with plumber, tile setter, and GC).
I don’t know what your contract provides - but if the handheld shower head is part of the scope of work to be completed, adding one is the GC’s issue/expense. You could still offer either option 2 or 3 above - and upgrade your current shower fixtures as an added perk - as a way to settle this at a much reduced cost vs. ripping things out!
Q