When you need it
Any bathroom project that moves a fixture, changes a shower, or opens the walls involves plumbing. Even a cosmetic update can turn up problems, such as an old shower valve that will not take new trim, or a drain with too little slope. Bring us in at the planning stage when you are:
- Trading the bathtub for a curbless or low-curb shower
- Moving a toilet or vanity to a new spot
- Adding a second sink or a freestanding tub
- Replacing an old shower valve with a pressure-balanced one
- Building a new bathroom in a basement or an attic
For a below-grade bathroom specifically, our basement bathroom rough-in page explains the extra steps that come with breaking a slab.
How we do the job
Renovation plumbing happens in two visits, with your tile setter and drywaller working in between.
- Planning. We look at the existing drains, vent and supply routes, and confirm the fixture models so rough-in heights match.
- Rough-in. Fresh drain, vent and supply piping goes in, along with the shower valve body and any blocking for wall-mounted fixtures.
- Testing. Drains and supplies are tested before walls close, and an inspection is booked where a permit applies.
- Finish. After tile and paint, we set the toilet, vanity, faucets, shower trim and drains.
What affects the work
Moving a toilet is the biggest single variable, because its 3-inch drain needs room to slope and a vent within reach. Floor joists running the wrong way can force a different layout. Curbless showers need a recessed floor or a linear drain. Upstairs bathrooms above finished ceilings take more care than a main-floor room above an open basement. We give a written scope after the planning visit so your other trades can price their own work against the same plan.
Brampton specifics
Plumbing that adds or relocates fixtures usually calls for a City of Brampton permit, and we work to that process. A lot of Brampton renovations involve basement second units, where the new bathroom shares drains and a water heater with the main house; our guide to basement apartment plumbing covers how that changes sizing. Homes from the Poly-B era are worth checking while the walls are open, since replacing the lines feeding a bathroom costs far less mid-renovation. See shower valve replacement if the valve is the only thing you are changing.
Timing with other trades
Book the plumbing rough-in before your tile setter, and leave a gap of a few days for inspection. Rushing that window is the most common cause of renovation delays.
Asked at the shop counter
Will my bathroom update need City approval?
Swapping like for like in the same spots generally does not. Relocating or adding fixtures, or building a new bathroom, generally does. Ask us and we will check your plan.
My renovator has a schedule. Will you fit in?
Certainly. Owners who hire their own tile and drywall people often bring us in for the pipes alone.
How long between rough-in and finish?
That depends on your other trades. The plumbing visits themselves are each typically a day or two.
Questions about this job? Call (365) 413-9125 and talk to a plumber.