A bathroom remodel is the one time the walls, the floor and the fixtures are all open to change at once. The plumbing decisions are the ones to settle first, because they disappear behind tile and drywall: the shower valve, the toilet flange, the supply lines and stops under the vanity, and a water line for a bidet seat. The biggest of these is usually a shower valve replacement, because the valve lives inside the wall. Here is what each choice involves and what to decide before the walls close.
The Shower Valve Comes First
Bathrooms from the tract building decades often still have three handle tub walls, original tile set in thick mortar beds and cast iron tubs worth keeping. We convert three handle setups to a single handle, pressure balanced valve, and wall access is planned before anything is cut. With the wall already open for a remodel, the valve change is part of the same work rather than a separate opening, and the new valve is tested before the wall closes around it.
If you are still choosing a valve, here is how the shower valve types compare: pressure balance, thermostatic, volume control and diverter. Tile, shower pans and glass belong to your remodel contractor; we handle the plumbing inside the remodel.
Toilet and Flange Before New Flooring
New flooring changes the floor height around the toilet. The flange stays at the old height, too low for the wax ring to seal, so it may need an extender, and an old cast iron flange from before the 1970s is often more rust than metal and needs replacing. The flange gets inspected while the toilet is up, before the new floor hides it.
If the toilet is being replaced too, every new toilet sold in California is a 1.28 gallon per flush model. We install Kohler, American Standard and Glacier Bay, in standard and comfort height, as part of our toilet replacement work.
Bidet Seats Need Water and Power
A bidet seat is one of the most practical upgrades a bathroom can get, and a remodel is the time to plan it. The seat takes a water connection teed at the toilet's cold supply stop, which we install, often replacing a stop that has sat untouched for decades. An electric seat also needs a grounded outlet with ground fault protection beside the toilet, and many bathrooms here have none. Adding that outlet is an electrician's work, so put it in the remodel plan while the walls are open. Here is how bidet seat installation works.
Vanity, Faucet and Shutoffs
A new vanity brings a new faucet, and the work underneath matters as much as the fixture on top. Every faucet installation includes new supply lines and a check of the angle stops, because a corroded valve left under a new faucet is how shortcuts get remembered. Fixtures you supply are welcome, and the estimate separates fixture from labor. We also stock Moen, Delta, American Standard and Pfister. Here is what replacing a vanity sink and faucet involves.
Lower Water Use Without Losing Comfort
Saving water in a bathroom comes down to two fixtures. The toilet saves the most: a unit from the 1980s can use three times the water of a modern 1.28 gallon per flush model, and the good new ones flush better than the old ones did. A low flow aerator on the bathroom faucet cuts its use as well. Both conserve water without compromising how the room works. For more ideas, see our water saving plumbing upgrades.
Plan the Plumbing Before the Tile
Talk to a local plumber to plan for a bathroom remodel before the tile is ordered, so the valve, the flange, the stops and the bidet supply are settled while the walls are open. Shower valve work is usually the biggest of these decisions. We are owner operated from our shop in Paramount, and Luis answers most calls during business hours himself. Call or text (310) 953-3566.
Frequently Asked Questions
What plumbing should I upgrade during a bathroom remodel?
Settle the parts that disappear behind tile first. That usually means the shower valve, the toilet flange, the supply lines and angle stops under the vanity, and a water line for a bidet seat, plus any outlet a powered seat will need, which an electrician adds. In older homes, converting a three handle tub wall is a signature project for us. Everything decided before the walls close goes in once.
Can a three handle shower be converted to one handle?
Yes. One pressure balanced control replaces the hot, cold and diverter handles, and a large cover plate bridges the old holes so the existing tile usually survives. Most conversions finish in a day, with scald protection set for your household and the connections tested before the wall closes.
Does a new floor affect my toilet flange?
Often. New tile or a thicker floor raises the finished floor while the flange stays at its old height, too low for the wax ring to seal properly. A flange extender brings it back up, and an old cast iron flange that has rusted may need replacing instead. The flange is inspected while the toilet is up, before the new floor hides it.
Do I need an electrician for a bidet seat?
For an electric seat, often yes. It needs a grounded outlet with ground fault protection beside the toilet, and many bathrooms here have none. A plumbing license does not cover branch circuits, so an electrician adds the receptacle. We install the water connection and the seat, and a non electric seat needs no power at all. In a remodel, plan the outlet while the walls are open.
Can I supply my own fixtures for a bathroom remodel?
Yes. Fixtures you supply are welcome, and the estimate separates the fixture from the labor so you can see both. When you supply it, the manufacturer warrants the fixture itself. We will tell you before installing if the model you picked has a reputation worth knowing about. If you would rather buy through us, we stock Moen, Delta, American Standard and Pfister faucets.
Does a remodel need a plumbing permit?
We pull the permit where the work requires one and coordinate the city inspection. Which parts of a remodel need one depends on the scope and the city, so we confirm it when we quote the plumbing and schedule the inspection around your remodel.