GROHE 35601000 Rapido Smartbox Universal Rough-In Box, Starlight Chrome

Love this type of water mixer. Pressure is good

I love, love, love the finished product using these valve boxes. These boxes permit very good water rate of flow and a wide variety of install options in terms of how many fixtures attached. The boxes themselves were pretty straightforward to install....I had to get them set up for my plumber but once he got the idea it was easy...just plug the ports you don't need and that's about it. Only word of caution is the the valve assemblies and covers are very pricey. Wow...yes. But they work fantastic. Temperature control is spot-on-perfect and so easy to use. I have them set up with two functions, hand sprayer and rain shower head. You can use both or either independently...works so well. So no regrets, but make sure you price the contraption you'll be putting inside this box before you get them.

This is a review of Grohe 35601000 Rapido Smartbox Universal Rough-In BoxI am installing this shower control unit in my housekeeper’s bathroom (Figure-1).It is the GROHE 24110000 Grohtherm Single Function 2-Handle Thermostatic Trim, Starlight Chrome.In order to do that, I needed the corresponding rough-in box. This particular model works with several models of Grohe shower controls.Note: Unless you have some plumbing experience, and the right tools, I would recommend having a professional plumber install it for you.The Unit (Figure-2)The unit itself has:• 3 outlets 1/2-inch female• 2 inlets 1/2-inch female, for hot/cold water supplyIt fits into a hole with a diameter about 5.5 inches (13.9cm)Once the unit is through the wall, and properly mounted, you can attach the input water lines, and up to three output devices. The unit can be mounted on solid and dry walls (Figure-3).As you can see, I had to remove the drywall in her closet to get to the plumbing. I plan on installing a door there for easier access. I then cut an access hole into the shower, poked the unit through, and mounted it to the back with a piece of particle board. I have roughed-in the plumbing, but have not yet connected itIn this image, you can see the unit coming into the shower (Figure-4).Okay, it looks pretty messy; however, the type of shower construction used on this old shower made it almost impossible to cut a perfectly round hole without damaging the surrounding tiles. The good news is that this rough-in box is very versatile and forgiving. Once I do of bit of retiling, and add the trim piece, you will never know.And, that is this end of this review, because it is all about the rough-in box; not the shower controls.But I will say this… It is designed in an almost intuitive way, and very well built. I take my hat off to the designers at Grohe.FYI: On the seller’s page is an excellent video on this product and its installation.Happy Plumbing.

It has to be installed Juuuust right. It takes awhile for adjustments in temperatures to actually reach the spray handle or tub filler. It’s nice to be able to stick out a toe and turn off the water by pushing a button. The individual buttons twist to adjust the flow rate, the large temperature adjuster is simple to twist but once you adjust the temperature be prepared to wait a minute or two for your adjustment to actually affect what’s coming out of the tub filler or the shower handle.

Installation is pretty straightforward and not very difficult. All that's needed are some wood screws to mount the box and 1/2" NPT adapters. In my case, I used PEX tubing adapters. Before you mount it, make sure you have your tile and wall board selected and measured. There is just over an inch of error when you mount it for where it needs to protrude beyond the finished wall. Once you have that, just screw in the adapters with some thread sealant, connect the plumbing, screw the box in, and turn on the water to check for leaks. After that, turn the water off and install the service stops to prevent your hot and cold from mixing if you're doing a remodel. Next, once the waterproofing on the wall is finished, it includes a membrane that you can thin set around this rough-in box. I'm really excited about Grohe's thermostatic shower control valve. It'll be a nice improvement over the track home quality products in the rest of the house.

I decided to go Grohe on my second bath remodel, my first one was Hansgrohe. Grohe seems to be way more sturdier and easier to install. Also, Hansgrohe unlike Grohe requires 3/4"NPT which is a slight pain especially when you have to transition to 1/2" PEX. German engineering in both cases is the top notch.

This rough-in box is needed if you are going to use a Grohe Grohtherm shower valve trim. It is physically larger than similar rough-in boxes from competing brands, so locating it between studs can be more of a challenge. But is fairly easy to install - once you figure out the installation instructions!It works well and I would have given it 5 stars if not for two things: it should come with integrated stops (they are optional to purchase to install in the trims), and the REALLY poor installation instructions. Like many European products the instructions are a series of diagrams with no text. And some of the diagrams are difficult to figure out. Grohe has on-line installation videos, but with no narration - similar problem. This resulted in me having to call Grohe tech support. Really annoying. But after you have installed one and learned the subtleties, subsequent ones should be easy.

It's perfect n work great