Plumbing for bathroom renovations
Denver's bathroom remodels, plumbed by a master plumber.
Walk-in shower conversions, tub-to-shower conversions, vanity replacements, and full bathroom gut remodels handled by licensed Denver plumbers.
Plumbing rough-in for a remodel
Getting the plumbing right before the tile goes in.
Denver’s housing market drives consistent bathroom renovation work. Buyers of homes in Wash Park, the Highlands, Curtis Park, and Baker put bathroom updates near the top of the renovation list.
The plumbing behind a bathroom remodel determines whether the finished product holds up. Wrong drain slope, inadequate venting, or supply connections that aren’t properly supported cause problems after the tile is in. We handle all rough and finish plumbing for bathroom remodels in Denver.
A lot of Denver bathrooms sit on top of old galvanized supply and cast-iron waste from the original build. When we open a wall to move a shower valve or add a second sink, we usually find pipe that has been quietly narrowing from the inside for forty or fifty years. Once you have the drywall off, that’s the right moment to swap the old branch lines over to PEX or copper on the supply side and PVC or ABS on the waste side. Doing it while the wall is open costs a fraction of coming back later, and it means the new fixtures aren’t fed by pipe that’s already on its way out.
Denver also runs hard water. The mineral in it eats at chrome cartridges, coats the inside of shower valves, and leaves scale on aerators. When a homeowner tells us their old shower dripped no matter how many times they replaced the cartridge, the valve body itself is usually scaled up past the point of a clean seal. A remodel is the time to set a new pressure-balanced or thermostatic valve so the shower holds temperature when someone flushes a toilet down the hall. We size the rough-in for the valve you actually picked, not a generic guess.
Call (303) 883-9075 or contact us for a straight quote. See our bathroom remodel work.
- Walk-In Shower Conversion
- Vanity and Sink Replacement
- Toilet Replacement and Relocation
- Full Bathroom Gut Remodel
- Shower Valve and Fixture Upgrades
- Tub Installation and Freestanding Tubs
Rough-in and finish plumbing
From supply rough-in to trim plates.
A bathroom remodel starts with the plumbing rough-in: the toilet flange at the correct height and position for the new floor tile thickness, the shower valve at the correct depth for the planned tile, the lavatory supply at the right height and spread for the vanity. Getting these wrong means fixtures that don’t fit or trim plates that miss the rough-in opening after tiling.
After tile and walls are done, the finish plumbing goes in: shower trim and showerhead, lavatory faucet and drain, toilet set with new supply line, bathtub overflow and drain. Each piece has to align with the rough-in positioned earlier. We also replace supply shutoffs under the vanity and the supply line to the toilet as part of the finish.
- Toilet flange height and position
- Shower valve rough-in depth
- Lavatory supply positioning
- Drain slope and stack tie-in
- Vent connection and inspection
- Final leak test before tile
Full bathroom gut and rebuild
Demo through finish plumbing.
A full bathroom gut involves demo of the tile, surround, and fixtures, assessment of the subfloor and wall framing, and rebuild from the studs out. We handle the rough-in and inspection, and coordinate with your tile contractor on the rebuild through finish. Supply, drain, and vent rough-in done inspection-ready before any wall finish work begins.
Denver homes on slab and homes with crawl spaces or basements have different requirements for drain relocation. We assess what’s involved and give you a realistic scope before quoting. On a lot of the older bungalows and Tudors around Denver the bathroom sits over an unfinished basement, which is a gift on a remodel. It means we can pull a new waste line and vent from underneath without tearing up finished ceilings, and we can move a toilet or add a shower drain with the joists in plain sight. Homes on a slab are a different animal. Relocating a drain there means saw-cutting the concrete, digging out for the new pipe run, setting the slope, and pouring back. We tell you which situation you’re in before you fall in love with a floor plan that fights the plumbing.
Because Wes carries both the master plumber license and the general contractor license, the whole bathroom stays under one roof. There’s no waiting on a sub to show up for the rough-in, no finger-pointing when the tile guy and the plumber blame each other for a valve that’s set too deep. We plan the fixture layout, set the rough-in for it, and come back to trim it out. Call (303) 883-9075 or contact us. See our gallery.
Rough-in positioned for the actual fixture
Bathroom remodel plumbing done right.
The plumber who positions the rough-in should install the finish fixtures, because they know where they put the rough-in. You won’t have trim plates that miss the opening or fixtures that don’t align with the tile layout. Permits pulled and inspection scheduled. Call (303) 883-9075.
How the plumbing work goes
Plan the rough-in, then do it right.
Plan the Rough-In
Review the renovation plan with your contractor. Confirm drain locations, supply rough-in heights, and venting before demo begins.
Rough-In Plumbing
Set supply, drain, and vent rough-in to the planned configuration. Inspection-ready before tile and finish work begins.
Finish Plumbing
Fixture trim-out after tile and construction is complete. Valves, faucets, showerheads, and drain covers installed and tested.
Straight answers
Bathroom remodel plumbing questions for Denver.
Do I need a permit for bathroom remodel plumbing in Denver?
Yes, if you’re moving or adding plumbing. Cosmetic changes like replacing fixtures in the same location typically don’t require a permit, but moving a drain, adding a shower, or relocating supply lines does. We pull permits and coordinate inspections. Call (303) 883-9075.
Can you relocate my toilet or shower drain in Denver?
Yes. Drain relocation requires cutting into the subfloor or concrete slab depending on your home’s construction. Denver homes on slab and homes with crawl spaces or basements have different requirements. We assess what’s involved and give you a realistic scope. Call (303) 883-9075.
What is the difference between rough-in and finish plumbing in a bathroom remodel?
Rough-in is the supply, drain, and vent work done before walls are closed and tile goes in. Finish plumbing is the fixture trim-out after construction is complete. Both phases are needed for a full remodel. Call (303) 883-9075 or contact us.
Do you work with my existing contractor on the bathroom remodel?
Yes. We coordinate rough-in timing and inspection scheduling with your general contractor or tile contractor. Clear communication on drain heights, waterproofing requirements, and inspection timelines prevents conflicts. Call (303) 883-9075.
Can you install a curbless walk-in shower in my Denver home?
Yes. Curbless shower installations require proper drain positioning and slope to prevent water escape. On slab homes this involves more concrete work. We assess the feasibility and scope before committing. Call (303) 883-9075. See our gallery.
Should I replace the old supply pipe during a Denver bathroom remodel?
If your home still has galvanized steel supply lines, a remodel is the right time to change them out. Once the wall is open, swapping the branch runs over to PEX or copper costs a lot less than tearing back into finished tile later. Galvanized narrows from the inside with age, which is where the low pressure and rusty first-draw water come from. We look at what’s in the wall before we quote so you know whether it’s worth doing. Call (303) 883-9075.
Why does my shower lose temperature when someone flushes a toilet?
That’s a sign of an old two-handle valve with no pressure balancing. When another fixture pulls cold water, the balance at the shower shifts and you get a hot spike. A remodel is the time to set a pressure-balanced or thermostatic valve so the temperature holds no matter what else is running. We size the rough-in for the exact valve and trim you picked. Call (303) 883-9075 or contact us.
Does Denver’s hard water affect my new bathroom fixtures?
Yes. The mineral in Denver’s water scales up aerators, valve cartridges, and showerheads over time, and it’s the main reason a valve starts dripping again after a cartridge swap. On a remodel we can pair the new fixtures with a water softener or a whole-home filter so the finish and the working parts last. Ask us about it when we scope the job. Call (303) 883-9075.
Bathroom remodel plumbing in Denver?
Call us. Rough-in done right the first time, finish fixtures that align with the tile.