Bidet Installation
Mount a bidet seat or attachment on your toilet, with the water supply and power it needs.
Fixtures and appliances ยท Lafayette, CO
Shower and Bathtub Installation in Lafayette, CO
A shower or tub replacement touches the valve, the drain, the vent and the wall behind them. Doing it well means getting the rough-in right before the tile or surround goes up.
Take a photo of the existing valve trim and the drain opening before you shop.
Typical projects
- Tub swapA new tub in the same footprint.
- Tub to showerA walk-in shower in the old tub alcove.
- New valveA mixing valve with better temperature control.
Planning the rough-in
Rough-in is the plumbing hidden in the wall and floor. The shower valve sits at a set height, the drain has to line up with the pan or tub, and the vent has to allow the drain to run freely. These locations are set before the wall is closed.
If you move the shower or add a second head, new supply lines and a revised drain route may be needed. The contractor should show you the plan before demolition.
Valves and temperature control
A pressure-balancing valve keeps the temperature steady when a toilet flushes or a dishwasher starts. A thermostatic valve lets you set a temperature and holds it. Both are safer than an old single-handle valve.
Replacing a valve often needs access from behind the wall or a cut into the tile. A plumber can work from the back of an access panel in an adjacent room, which saves tile.
In Lafayette
Older bathrooms and basement baths
Basement bathrooms in some homes drain by gravity to a sewer line below, and others use an ejector pump. A pump needs a sealed basin and a vent, and a failure floods the room.
Older bathrooms near the coal-era streets may have galvanized supply pipe behind the tile. A rusty pipe is cheaper to replace now, with the wall open, than at a later date.
Cost
What affects shower and tub costs
The plumbing is one part of a remodel, and the wall and finish work are the rest.
Ask who handles the demolition, the wall repair and the tile, and get each priced.
Drains and pans
A shower pan has to slope toward the drain and keep water from leaking into the floor. A leak below a pan can rot a subfloor, so the contractor should test the pan by plugging the drain and filling it for a day.
A tub drain needs an overflow and a trap, and the trap has to connect to a vented drain. In older homes, the drain may be cast iron or galvanized and may need replacing at the same time.
Permits and finish work
A tub or shower replacement may need a permit if the drain or valve moves. The City of Lafayette Building Division handles permits under the 2024 I-Codes. Ask the contractor to confirm.
After the plumbing is in, a tile setter or an installer sets the surround. Coordinate the two trades so the valve trim and the drain cover fit the finished surface.
Waterproofing behind the finish
A shower is only as good as the waterproofing behind the tile. A membrane, a sloped mortar bed and a sealed corner turn water to the drain instead of into the wall. Ask the installer what system they use and whether they test the pan.
A tub surround needs sealed joints at the tub rim and around the valve. Plan on a small bead of silicone, not grout, at the change of plane, because that joint moves.
Safety features to plan in
Anti-scald valves keep the water at a safe temperature, which matters for children and older adults. Blocking behind the wall allows grab bars to be added later without opening the wall.
A handheld shower head on a slide bar helps with rinsing and cleaning. If you are planning a walk-in shower, ask about a low-threshold pan and a linear drain.
Bathroom plumbing nearby
Toilet Repair & Installation
Cure a running, wobbling or leaking toilet, or set a new one in place.
New Construction Plumbing
Rough in and finish the plumbing for a new house, finished basement or addition.
Common questions
Answers on Shower and tub
Often a day or two for the plumbing, plus time for the surround.
Yes in many layouts. The drain and valve may need to change.
Often when the drain or valve moves. Ask the contractor.
Phones are staffed all night. Turn off the supply or the main for a live leak, then dial. Scheduled replacements happen during the day.
Replacing a shower or tub?
Call, describe the layout and the fixtures you want, and ask for a plan and a quote.