Showers and brassware
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Discussion

Sport_Turismo_GTS

Original Poster:

4,515 posts

59 months

Sunday 4th October
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We are creating an en-suite bathroom in our Farmhouse and are trying to finalise the shower, taps etc.
Having originally looked at ‘Burlington’ products, we were advised (two separate tradesmen that had nothing to gain) that it was worth spending extra and we eventually settled on Booth & Co.

However, we’ve just been advised that the shower is out of stock until the middle of November, so we are back to looking at different options. We looked at Lefroy Brooks and Swadling, but it’s significantly more expensive and not sure we want to spend that on this bathroom.

Crosswater ‘Belgravia’ is now on the list…Does anyone have experience of any of the above, good or bad, and can offer any advice?! Thanks

LooneyTunes

9,462 posts

188 months

Monday 5th October
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We have a couple of new bathrooms going in: the one designed by MrsLT is getting Swadling, mine is getting Lefroy. They're both good looking products but whether they're worth the uplift is subjective.

My main concern with showers/brassware is always getting spares. In particular, if it's a thermostatic shower, check that the cartridge is common across the range. They can and do sometimes fail.

ATG

23,816 posts

302 months

Monday 5th October
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There are a bazillion "Victorian" style showers across a significant price range and they are damn nearly identical visually. I'd go to a showroom and have a feel of them. I want something that has a bit of heft and no play, and has a thermostatic cartridge that can be replaced pretty easily without demolishing half the bathroom.

Watcher of the skies

1,356 posts

67 months

Monday 5th October
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We had Marflow st James taps in a previous house, I was very pleased with them.

v8notbrave

869 posts

43 months

Monday 5th October
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Think anything branded will be ok, made the mistake of Victorian plumbing own brand taps in a small wc, total rubbish

Our plumbers swear by Mira, good range, quality and lots of spares etc, however, they acknowledged aqualisa probably a cut above. Have lovely thermostatic mixer from them. Think it's more about the design you want imo

Sport_Turismo_GTS

Original Poster:

4,515 posts

59 months

Monday 5th October
quotequote all
LooneyTunes said:
We have a couple of new bathrooms going in: the one designed by MrsLT is getting Swadling, mine is getting Lefroy. They're both good looking products but whether they're worth the uplift is subjective.

My main concern with showers/brassware is always getting spares. In particular, if it's a thermostatic shower, check that the cartridge is common across the range. They can and do sometimes fail.
This was the reason we were persuaded against Burlington - spares likely to come from China rather than from the UK for the other brands mentioned.

mcelliott

10,536 posts

211 months

Monday 5th October
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We went with Aqualla for all our bathroom fittings, brushed bronze was the finish we went for, very happy, utopia for the basins and units.

Lotobear

9,156 posts

158 months

Monday 5th October
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If your after a period look try Lefroy Brookes

Sport_Turismo_GTS

Original Poster:

4,515 posts

59 months

Monday 5th October
quotequote all
As above we have Lefroy Brooks in one of the other bathrooms we’ve recently finished, but this would be significantly more expensive than the Brooks & Co items we have chosen, so not sure if the cost is justified.

Black_S3

2,839 posts

218 months

Monday 5th October
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I fitted a crosswater Belgravia for a customer a few months back and while crosswater is generally a good brand the whole old fashioned styling felt completely artificial if that makes sense.... Not sure the best way to describe it apart from it was blindingly obvious that it was a brand new shower rather than an original 100 year old shower.

blueg33

46,697 posts

254 months

Monday 5th October
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We have crosswater centro (push button) on two of our bathrooms. 1 x standard thermostatic shower valve, 2 x thermostatic valve with two outlets. Very good 4 years in.

Sport_Turismo_GTS

Original Poster:

4,515 posts

59 months

Tuesday 6th October
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Thanks all. We have decided to stick with Booth & Co and will just be patient until the final items can be delivered.

fourstardan

6,584 posts

174 months

Tuesday 6th October
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Just Put an Crosswater box in and MPRO valve and it's absolutely fantastic.