SFGate

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Is the hand shower your primary shower head or is it an extra? Makes a difference on where I would mount.

Unless your ceilings are really low, we recommend not to tile the ceiling.

Judy M Yes it will be the primary shower head and my ceiling over the tub is 7.5 feet.

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders At that height you may want to tile the ceiling.

What we do with the sliding bar (or any component of the shower) is to have the client stand in the area and then have it mounted based on what is comfortable for them - taking into account the different heights of the homeowners. Sorry, that's not a very definitive answer. I guess the other thing I would say is that we do try to get shower heads as high as reasonably possible so that taller guys can get under the spray.

Judy M That is our situation for sure. Husband is 6 feet 4 and I am five feet nothing. That's why i was going with the sliding bar.

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Push it up as high as you can, he will appreciate it and then you can still use as well. We have a couple of 6'6" guys in our family and you can't get anything tall enough for them.

victorianbungalowranch The sliding bars are a pain and don't hold position well. Eventually the little screws or gears wear out--we've had to replace about once a year or so for various models of showers. Perhaps two heads mounted more or less permantly would work or a couple handshower hooks attached to the wall, if it is close enough to the tub.

Use epoxy grout if you can. It doesn't mildew or stain as bad.

Judy M we did discuss the nonstaining grout with contractor, is that the same as epoxy grout?

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders I would use a specialty grout such as Ardex which is an anti-fungal, mildew resistent grout - particularly if you are going to tile the ceiling. A nonstaining grout would mean that the color of the grout will not stain a porous tile or other such material it comes in contact with (although I believe all grout will stain wallpaper if it is up against the surface when the grout is applied).

Neither of these is the same as epoxy. We tried epoxy on a backsplash once and hated it so much we tore the backsplash out and redid it. Same tile but different grout the second time.

Judy M Thanks, I will check into that product. It is so difficult when a homeowner mentions a product and the contractor says they've never heard of it. This is also our experience asking contractors about the Wedi system. Only one of 3 contractors knows it.

What about the epoxy did you not like?

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders It was very thick and gooey. It just didn't clean up nicely and made the grout lines look too heavy. We were using it on a tile that did not have a straight edge and I am sure that made it worse. The epoxy is great for commercial applications and high traffic areas, I just don't see using it in residential.

We have had good luck with Ardex but do be careful that it is completely wiped down right after grouting. You can't come back a day later and try to wipe any stray grout off - it hardens like a rock. We always come in a couple of hours after our tile setter finishes and rewipe the grout to make sure nothing is left on. Ardex will stain however so you would not want to use it with marble or other soft material. Another good product is Laticrete and it may be more widely available. Laticrete also has non-staining products.

victorianbungalowranch Well, if you are going vintage you might not like it since it doesn't look the same, but not bad with a thin grout line and white or light colored tile.

They do make heads for clawfoot tubs with a separate hand shower, and that might work for your difference in height.

What is the Wedi system?