I put a hand shower (in addition to a fixed shower head) in our main / guest bathroom. We have yet to have any guests stay, so we really haven't had anyone shower in there. So far I use it to clean the shower and tub and I have liked it for that purpose. I don't have a cleaning service, so making showers easy to clean is important to me. If I ever want to wash just my hair, I would probably also use it.

I could not live without it. I use it to spray down my shower with every use so all stays nice and clean. It is great for hair washing, and also for washing off feet when they get dirty from whatever and I don't want to drag my dirty feet around the house. It is also great for a shower massage since my primary head (the rainhead) is a different experience. I think going without it would be a big mistake.

One more thing--does your $1,000 include plumbing? IF so, I can understand that number but if not, something is very wrong. I went very high end on all of my faucets, etc. and the valve, handshower set and wall outlet was no where near that. BOught everyhing on line from plumb tile for about 30 to 35% off list.

Many people I know do not have handshowers. They are all clean and happy.

I love mine... One thing I love is that it can be positioned very low and give a lower back massage and used more like body spray. It may not be worth the $$ to you - but there might be a time on down the road that you'd wished you'd done it.

Delta In2ition combo shower head is the best $100 we've ever spent. Wonderful design.

The 1000 does not include plumbing. It is Grohe in the polished nickel finish so not cheap. 555.99 for the Relaxa shower unit, Movario union is 120.52 and 3 port diverter valve is 227.33 not including tax. These are Ferguson prices so not the best around but this is a complicated order (also have a tub faucet) and I wasn't comfortable getting what I needed online. Plus I did that for a few things and cut the plumber out of them so I felt like I would leave this big one in. . .

If it wasn't so much money it would be a no brainer . . .

Also, if it matters, this is not a big shower and we are in and out of the shower people - shower is 3 x 5 feet (we are going to try to squeeze a few more inches out on the width by shrinking the tub alcove which we have room to do, but we will get 4 or 5 inches at the most).

Something seriously wrong with those prices. The hand shower should be more in the $100-$150 range. I'm also wondering about your finish-as far as I can tell Grohe Relexa doesn't come in polished nickel. Every showroom and internet site I've been to says chrome or brushed nickel, but not polished. I was going to get the Relexa, but I wanted polished nickel so I went with the Hansgrohe Clubmaster instead. In polished nickel it was $159, from a showroom. The wall outlet in polished nickel was $44, and the slidebar and hose was $122. So the total for everything was $325. You're going to need a valve whether or not you do the hand shower. The question is just how many diverters you need in the valve. My Hansgrohe ibox valve (universal, so will divert 1,2,or 3 ways) was $98. These are all showroom prices, since I believe in supporting the local businesses. I think the internet prices are about the same.

It is the Rustica - not the Relaxa. Fergusons is a rip off - I know it. The price on Faucet direct for the 5 spray relaxa is 365 I think. So 190.00 more. Faucet Direct is 40 percent off Grohe. Retail seems to be 609. Same thing with the roman tub faucet - it is around 200 or 250 more if you get it from Fergusons. I need to total it all up but about 800.00 more all together. It really makes me mad! The plumber marks up 10 percent off his cost and I don't know whether this includes that or not (I think it does). I would happily pay him his 10 percent and my builder his 10 percent seperately if I could save 800 dollars.

I actually would love to buy them locally, but these prices aren't even local - they are from the Atlanta Fergusons where the plumber likes to get his stuff. I do agree easier to deal with the showrooms particularly if there is a problem.

In addition to cleaning the shower, washing one's feet, and massaging one's back, don't forget about bathing the dog.

I told a plumber one time I refused to do business with Ferguson, so he used a different plumbing warehouse. I'm sure you can make a deal with your plumber so it is a win-win situation. You will end up paying something in-between the low price and the high price, and he will still make a little bit more than he would have.

I'll try that. And we are putting a hot, cold outside hose bib for bathing our dog . . . I have visions of a 60 pound labradoodle shaking to dry off in my bathroom and water everywhere so I don't think she will ever have the privilege of the hand shower :)

Yes. Ooh, yes...yes, yes, right there, YES!!!
Aahhhhh...

I like mine a lot.

I love them. Very useful and the adjustable height is great.

We have the Hansgrohe Aktiva, and one issue we had in the beginning was the water restrictor on the hose. It was TOO effective; a hose would last for about six months and then would simply rip itself off the wall from the water pressure.

After three hose replacements at $38 apiece, I finally pried out the water restrictor and THEN connected the new hose. The hose works fine and it's been about six years since we replaced one. We're very conscientious about saving water, but this design just didn't work. Hope your Grohe works better!

All the time! We have a regular shower head too and we use them both at the same time for a body spray effect. Love it!!!

I priced all my stuff through the plumber (via Ferguson), then found it all online at a fraction of the cost. But I was nervous about ordering it online. I found a local plumbing supply that would also sell retail to me and they matched every single online price, plus I got great customer service. You also might want to try that. The one I used was Consolidated Supply, but I think they are only in the NW. (no affiliation).

I love my hand shower and I put mine on a nice long 36" bar and can lower it down to do my back. This was an answer to the body sprays that people are putting in. I love mine, I put in a Brizo it is a contemporary style in chrome, and no didn't pay those prices. I ditto all the other great uses mentioned.

We finished our bathroom almost a year ago and I haven't had a single regret about NOT installing a hand shower.