Have you considered Huntingdon Brass? They certainly aren't plastic. The handheld can double as a medieval weapon if need be, and you might actually hurt yourself pretty badly if you dropped it on a toe. Solid doesn't even begin to describe it. If your pipes aren't well secured, you can have issues with them pulling loose from the weight. Which is probably why some manufacturers use the plastic.

Kohler is also good. I've never liked Danze. It's no "upgrade" to regular Delta at all.

I have had good sucess and quality with Grohe. Bought them from faucetdirect.com

I'd return the Brizo.

This post was edited by Geoffrey_B on Fri, Sep 20, 13 at 12:11

Hi thank you for your replies!

I called Huntington Brass. Super nice fellow on the phone and willing to help me choose fixtures, valves, etc. However, he didnt have warranty information and couldn't direct me to a site that has it. He said they will replace a handle if it breaks in a few years and sometimes they will mail cartridges if they leak but otherwise they don't really cover replacement or repairs.

The volume handles on the Brizo are nice and heavy, the shower heads and quite a lot of the bits that go in the walls are plastic. Which make me very nervous.

I feel like I'm looking for a husband again! I'm not just looking for a pretty face, I want strength and brains that will endure for the long haul!

I do not have the Brizo shower head---I bought a Grohe! I did buy the shower valve and bath faucet

Thanks for letting us know about Brizo and Newport Brass. I saw them in a showroom and thought they had a nice look and feel but after reading so many negative comments I don't think I will even bother looking at them. I have Kohler in our small bathroom and not a problem in 12 years.

handhelds will almost all be plastic--that is to protect you from (what you'd like to be metal) heating up as the hot water flows through the HH.

I can't say for the showerhead though. I will say, it is likely you got the builder chrome edition... Chrome in any line is more likely to be the "plastic" one with other metal finishes being actual metal.

I got sick of mold forming on the plastic rubbery holes on shower and hand-held heads. Looking at hardware stores, I could not find any hand-helds that were not plastic. What I tried, and what worked for me, was to get the smallest solid brass shower head, which has an on-off valve, and attach that to a metal hose. I needed a brass fitting to attach it to the hose, since it is threaded for the shower arm. Click the linky below to see it, it is quite small.

It makes it so that the hanging hose sprays downward, not outward. This works well for me, since I have a fixed shower head at the top. I use the handheld for aiming at specific places, and find that this small hose-end spray is better for directing water than a traditional hand-held. I also use it when shaving my legs, when I turn the water at the nozzle on and off as needed, right there, as I am bent over, without having to stand up again to do so. This hand-held set-up works best, however, at washing the dog. The spray is directed downward, toward the dog, and there is less juggling and dropping involved in getting the dog soaped and rinsed.

I still am using a tub-shower combo. I was a little concerned that the heavy brass fitting might chip the tub if I dropped it and it swung too hard against the porcelain. It has not done so. I love the set-up.

I know that it is unconventional, and that it is not going to work as a hand-held on one of those adjustable-height poles. But if you find a fixture that you like - except that the hand-held head is plastic - keep this idea in mind. For $23 at Ace, you can get a different fixture to put at the end of that hose that is solid brass. Do you really need it to spray at you from the wall, or do you need to use it as a hand-held? If you want to use it in your hand, this is a good solution.

I suppose if you are at a good plumbing store, you might even be able to find plumbing parts to give you a 90 degree turn. Then if you had the right diameter pieces, you might be able to hang it on the height-adjustable wall bracket.

I am sorry that you home suffered damage from plastic parts in your high-end plumbing fixtures. It is almost like nothing matters today, as long as it LOOKS good! I will remember your story as I go about my buying for our bath remodel that we expect to do in a year or so.

Here is a link that might be useful: Small showerhead

You might want to look at California Faucets. Not a bit of apparent plastic in mine. I don't have their handheld although those almost always have plastic for heat and potential injury reasons. Lots of styles to choose from and I thought their prices were reasonable for the quality.

California Faucets customer service was friendly and helpful when I called with questions. Then I purchased from Qualitybath.com for the best prices, calling in my order to include a piece not in their online site.

Here is a link that might be useful: California Faucets site

Thank you everyone for your comments and suggestions! I love this community!

I went back to the showroom today to return all the Brizo parts. I was hopping mad after a phone call in which I was told I would have to pay a 25% restocking fee. However, once I arrived the rep said she spoke to Brizo and they were going to waive the fee (good thing because there was no way in the hot place I was going to pay it). Anyhoo... She showed me that the plastic I was seeing on the valve bodies is to protect the cartridges during installation and will come off after tile is complete. Even she was surprised at the poor quality of the shower heads. They really are dreadful - I've seen nicer on the shelf at Walmart - seriously! I decided to keep the valves and handles which are nicely made, heavy metal and do what I need them to do. I returned the plastic shower heads. We searched the showroom for non-plastic shower heads. Even most of Grohe's heads are plastic now! I was able to find two that will work. The shower head is a Jado Hatteras shower head 842/083 and the hand held is Brizo Vesi wall mount hand shower RP41202. I was not able to see either in person in the chrome finish but I have been assured they will be all metal. I understand the theory of saving me from the heavy hot shower head but I've had sold metal fixtures for over 50 years now and have yet to injure myself with one. I think it's a BS sales pitch by the marketers to save money.

Next up - marble slab shopping tomorrow wheeee! Thanks again!