Evening all,
would you recommend grohe showers?Have found a mixer shower on the web which looks cool.just wondered if grohe was a decent brand name.?
thanks
steve.
I have been fitting Barking Grohe (sometimes known as Friedrick Grohe) since I did my unvented training at their school in Barking in 1989 - don't mix this up with Hans Grohe (I know less about this brand).
Of all the brand names I have fitted in plumbing over a 30 year period, Barking Grohe stand out as the most reliable products I have ever fitted, by a country mile.
However, don't expect much of customer service. Its probably like the Calsberg complaints department.
The reasons to support my appreciation of the taps are:
1. Aerated flow (non-splash) which is important for sinks and small basins.
2. Zinc treated brass body and parts which are important for soft water areas.
3. Taps meet regulatory sound regulations which are required in Germany (silent in operation).
4. Parts are always available because they are one of the largest tap manufacturers in the world (but you won't need them)
5. They make a quality low-cost range which look fantastic (euro-plus).
Points to note: These taps are nearly always designed for high pressure systems. Grohe's attempts at low pressure taps and showers for the low pressure market back-fired with avenysis range of showers which were poor by comparison to the auto 2000/3000 range of high pressure thermostatic mixers. They are sometimes difficult to fit, because German systems use steel pipework more often, rather than copper or plastics. Some of the sink fittings are not in accordance with WRAS, such as submersible hose types taps which carry a fluid category 5 risk to wholesome water at kitchen sink (but they probably have some that are approved).
