Portland, OR on May 12, 2012

When to call the plumber for bathroom remodel?

I am remodeling my bathroom and will do all the work except the plumbing. I am putting in a renovated claw foot tub and the water supply comes out of the floor. I am also putting in a new toilet and sink and vanity. My question is should I have the plumber come in before or after I tile. I was thinking that I would rip out the old floor, put in cement board, have the plumber come before I tile. Of course I could just call one and ask, but it's Saturday and I have a Hometalk community that I can ask.

9 Comments

Designing Home INc. Marietta, GA

Once when you finish framing for rough plumbing and then when you finish and complete everything else call for finish part.

on May 12, 2012 · Like 0
Superior Remodeling, LLC Raleigh, NC

As designing home said just call them after the framing is done but you depending on the tib location and being that its a claw foot tub and the plumbing willmost likley be comming thru the floor you will need to rerout the plumbing lines to do so. in that case you will need to take up the sub floor or access it from below if that is possible. If it cannot be accesed from below you may need to have the plumber do the plumbing rough in for the tub seperatly since you migth not be able to ...»
complete the rough framing until the subfloor is back in place.

on May 12, 2012 · Like 0
planetgreencreations Henrietta, TX

Hello thomas,personnaly ,WHEN I LAY TILE ON A PIER AND BEAM FLOOR I WOULD DEFINALY USE DUAROCK(CEMENT BOARD),ALSO I PREFER SCREWING THE BOARD DOWN VERSES NAILS,AND PUT THE SCREWS NO MORE THAN 10" APART IN ALL DIRECTIONS,ALSO I INSTALL MOISTER BURIER BETWEEN THE CEMENT BOARD AND THE WOOD FLOOR.DEPENDING ON WHOSE LAYING THE TILE,I PREFER LAYING THE TILE THEN DRILLING MY HOLES FOR THE PLUMBING,ESPECIALLY WHEN INSTALLING A CLAW FOOT.TO ME THIS MAKES FOR A CLEANER LOOK,ALTHOUGH A LITTLE MORE ...»
EFFORT.THE RIGHT BIT FOR THE TILE AND CEMENT BOARD.HOPE THIS HELPED.

on May 12, 2012 · Like 0
planetgreencreations Henrietta, TX

THOMAS,ONE MORE THING,WHEN YOUR TUB IS IN THE POSITION YOU WANT IT,SIMPLY RUN A LEVEL FROM EACH HOLE FOR YOUR DOWN TO THE FLOOR,MAKE YOUR MARK AND DRILL YOUR HOLES,THIS WILL ALLOW YOUR NEW PLUMBING TO BE STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN,WHICH IS COSMETICALLY IMPORTANT WITH EXPOSED PLUMBING OF ANY KIND.

on May 12, 2012 · Like 0
Thomas F Portland, OR

I probably didn't explain my remodel well enough. I only opened a small section of the walls to re-wire and I'm not moving any plumbing. The bathroom has 100 year old wainscotting that I stripped and will re-paint it. I also repaired and skim coated the lath and plaster. My question is it it's better for the plumber to do the drain and water supply ( which comes out of the floor) for the claw foot tub before or after cement board and tile is laid. Or should I tile, leaving the openings in ...»
the floor and then call the plumber so the tub and sink can be done at the same time.

on May 12, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

The best time to speak to the plumber is before you decide to start any rebuilding of the room. let them come in and see what is exposed and what is not and have them see either the fixtures your planning to install or re-install and any other layout issues you have. You may find he needs to do a special repair that may effect what else if anything needs to be opened up. This is the best time. They and only they can tell you just how far you can go in the rebuilding process before you ...»
need to have them come back in and do what ever plumbing work that is required so the job goes smoothly.
We did a repair just like your doing last year. We removed the floor to find that the drain was incorrectly pitched going to the tub and undersized as well. This gave us the chance to properly fix the system before we did any rebuilding. Way less expensive to go through an entire build only to find out that the drain or water supply is defective.

on May 13, 2012 · Like 0
KMS Woodworks Nederland, CO

I'm in Woodbridges' camp (again) you only want to do each step ONCE. plumbing or tile. Investigation of the plumbing from the "rough framing" stage is the best. If any extensive work is required it can be completed with out having to undo any "cosmetic" work.

on May 13, 2012 · Like 0
HandyANDY Home Renovation... Marietta, GA

Same - I'm asssuming that you aren't pulling permits...but the plumber may want to. Is there an existing clawfoot tub in the same position now? It sounds like you have an older home so it might be the case. You will also want to check any framing under the bath for dryrot and make those framing repairs now prior to adding the weight of cement board, tile and a tub full of water! It would also be a good idea to pitch the tile some and install a floor drain under or near the tub....just for those oops moments when you fill the tub and "forget"

on May 14, 2012 · Like 0
Woodbridge Environmental ... Colonia, NJ

And I will go a bit further. Some of the very old tubs used different size drain pipes that for the most part are not standard or available today. If you upgrade the plumbing the drains you cannot see may not be sized properly for the new plumbing drain pipes you will most likely purchase for the plumber to use.

on May 14, 2012 · Like 0