Bathroom Remodel Plumbing: What to Plan Before You Pick Tile

Tile, vanities and lighting get most of the attention in a bathroom remodel. But the plumbing decisions come first, and they're the hardest to change once the walls are closed and the tile is down. Here's what to think through before you start, so the bathroom works as well as it looks.

1. Decide What Moves

Keeping the toilet, shower and sink where they are keeps plumbing costs down. Moving them is possible, but each move means new drain and supply lines, and drains need the right slope to work.

In many Tampa Bay homes, the drains run under a concrete slab. Moving a toilet or shower drain on a slab usually means cutting and patching the concrete. It's done all the time, but it should be in the plan and the budget from the start.

2. Choose Your Shower Valve Early

The shower valve goes into the wall before the tile, and it has to match the trim you'll install at the end. Decide early:

• How many outlets: a showerhead only, or a handheld, rain head or body sprays too. Each needs its own plumbing and the right valve.
• Where the controls go: near the shower entry, so you can turn the water on without getting soaked, is a popular choice.
• Pressure-balancing or thermostatic: both protect against sudden temperature swings. Thermostatic valves hold a set temperature more precisely and are common with multi-outlet showers.

Pick your trim before rough-in and give your plumber the model, so the valve and the trim match.

3. Freestanding Tubs Need a Plan

Freestanding tubs are popular, but they need a drain in exactly the right spot and a filler. A floor-mounted filler needs supply lines run under the floor. A wall-mounted filler needs the tub placed close to the wall. Either way, the tub's exact position has to be settled before rough-in.

4. Fix Old Pipe While the Walls Are Open

If your home has galvanized pipe, polybutylene or aging cast-iron drains, a remodel is the cheapest time to replace them. The walls are already open, and there's no patching to pay for later. At minimum, replace the old pipe serving that bathroom.

5. Check Your Hot Water

A big soaking tub or a shower with several outlets can use more hot water than your current water heater can keep up with. If you're adding one, check whether your water heater is big enough, or whether this is the time to upgrade. See tank vs. tankless.

6. Don't Skip the Waterproofing

The shower pan and waterproofing under the tile are what keep water out of the floor and walls. It's usually the tile installer's or remodeler's job, but it has to work with the drain the plumber installs. Make sure they coordinate.

7. Permits

Moving or adding plumbing in a remodel generally requires a permit in Florida, from your city or county depending on where you live. Inspections happen at rough-in, before the walls close, and at the end. A permitted job also matters when you sell the house.

Planning a Bathroom Remodel?

Believe Plumbing handles the plumbing side of bathroom remodels across Tampa Bay: rough-in, valves, supply and drain lines, and setting the fixtures, ready for your tile or remodeling contractor. See more finished bathrooms in our work, our tub and shower services, or contact us for a free estimate.