Luxury Shower Installation
CF Plumbing installs premium shower systems for homes throughout La Jolla, Del Mar, Solana Beach, Encinitas, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, and Rancho Santa Fe, as well as select areas of San Diego and Orange Counties.
Luxury shower installations can range from replacing a single valve to building a complete shower system as part of a remodel. Our team works with thermostatic valves, rain heads, hand showers, body sprays, multi-outlet shower systems, and luxury steam showers.
Fixtures may be selected through a showroom or designer, purchased directly by the homeowner, or supplied by CF Plumbing. Our technicians are experienced with premium shower systems and receive ongoing training on the products we install and service.
Waterworks, Fantini, California Faucets, Dornbracht, THG Paris, ROHL, Newport Brass, Grohe, Hansgrohe, Brizo, Kallista, and Perrin & Rowe are among the brands we work with regularly, although our experience is not limited to these manufacturers.
Replacing a Shower Valve Without a Full Remodel
A shower valve can often be replaced without remodeling the entire shower, provided there is appropriate access to the plumbing.
Whenever possible, access is made through the drywall on the opposite side of the shower wall. This allows our technician to remove the existing valve, make the necessary plumbing modifications, install the new valve, and set the finished trim without disturbing the shower tile.
If the plumbing cannot be accessed from behind and the only option is through the finished shower wall, we discuss the required tile opening with the homeowner before any finished surface is disturbed.
CF Plumbing performs the plumbing portion of the work. Drywall repair, patching, painting, and tile work are handled separately by the appropriate trade. This applies both to individual valve replacements and larger remodel projects.
Luxury Shower Remodels
For a remodel, shower installation is generally completed in two stages.
The first visit takes place while the walls are open. During this rough-in phase, we install and connect the shower valves, water supplies, and plumbing for the fixtures included in the design. Depending on the system, this may include rain heads, hand showers, body sprays, multiple controls, and the plumbing required for a steam shower.
Once the shower has been waterproofed, tiled, and finished, we return to install the visible trim and fixtures. This is typically one of the final plumbing stages of the remodel and is often completed shortly before the shower glass is installed.
Keeping the rough plumbing and finished trim installation as separate stages allows the system to be installed correctly while protecting the finished fixtures throughout construction.
Repairing an existing valve—including identifying the correct internal components or matching new trim to an existing valve generation—is handled separately through our specialty fixture repair service.
Supply Lines and Plumbing Connections
During installation, our technicians inspect the plumbing connections associated with the new shower system and confirm that the existing conditions are appropriate for the fixtures being installed.
Luxury shower systems can have very different water-delivery requirements depending on the number and type of fixtures being used. When a system includes multiple shower heads, body sprays, hand showers, or other high-flow components, the existing plumbing is evaluated as part of planning the installation.
If additional plumbing modifications are necessary, those requirements are reviewed before the additional work is performed.
Who Does the Work
Premium shower systems require careful planning and familiarity with the fixtures being installed. Our shower installations are performed by experienced journeyman-level technicians or above who are familiar with luxury and specialty plumbing systems.
For more involved installations or unusual site conditions, the owner is available to assist with the project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a new shower valve be installed without remodeling the shower?
Often, yes. If the plumbing can be accessed from the wall behind the shower, the existing valve can typically be replaced without disturbing the tile. If access is only available through the finished shower wall, we discuss that process before proceeding.
When is the trim installed during a remodel?
After the shower has been tiled and finished. The valves and plumbing are installed while the walls are open, and the finished trim is installed during a return visit near the end of the project.
Do you repair the drywall or replace the tile afterward?
CF Plumbing performs the plumbing work. Drywall repair, painting, waterproofing, and tile work are handled separately by the appropriate trades.
Can you install a steam shower as part of the remodel?
Yes. When a steam shower is included in the project, the necessary plumbing and steam components are coordinated during the rough-in stage. Service or repair of an existing steam generator is handled separately.
To help us understand the existing installation, photographs of the shower and, when available, the wall behind the shower are a helpful place to start.
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