Installing a shower faucet

Traditional, modern, art deco or with decorative elements, faucets come in a wide variety of shapes and styles. From one to another, there is a constant: they’re ideal for customizing a shower corner.

Before purchasing your model, ask yourself some questions about the features you’re looking for: a shower head that saves water? A flow that imitates rain? A model with massage? A pressure regulator? A telephone shower? Think also about the finish that will best suit your decor. Chrome is the most popular finish. But we also find brushed nickel, brass, copper, oil rubbed bronze, and metal-glass mixtures. So throw yourself under the water! It takes less than two hours to install a shower faucet. And you’ll enjoy it for years!
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Specifications
Advice
1. Prepare the installation
2. Install the valve
3. Install the decorative plate and the faucet handle
4. Install the shower head
5. Install the spout
6. Finish the installation

Specifications

You can connect your shower pipes in two ways. You can choose the conventional method with copper pipes, which are traditionally reliable and require welding. Or you can opt for PEX plastic pipes, which are gaining popularity due to ease of installation, but which provide slightly lower water pressure because the metal rims are secured inside the pipes, thus reducing their diameter.

Advice

To work better and make adjustments or eventual repairs to your shower pipes, plan for a trap door in a wall.

1. Prepare the installation

1.1 

Shut off the water supply to your shower. Then determine where you want to install your shower head and faucet (and the bathtub’s spout if applicable). Draw reference marks with a lead pencil to indicate the holes. Make sure to observe height standards in effect.
  • Faucet height: from 45 in. to 48 in.
  • Shower head height: from 72 in. to 78 in.
  • Spout height: from 24 in. to 28 in.

1.2 

Drill holes in the shower stall with a crown saw (hole saw).

2. Install the valve

2.1 

Position the valve so that the “UP” indication faces upward.

2.2 

Connect the hot and cold water supply pipes directly to each side of the valve. You can weld directly on the valve, but it is strongly recommended to use ½ in. FPT × ½ in. welded adapters. If you weld, avoid overheating the valve, which could damage it.

You can also use ½ in. FPT × ½ in. PEX adapters, which do not require welding.

2.3 

Secure the valve inside the wall. To make sure it is solidly secured, screw it to a horizontal 2 × 4 in. part. If there is no such part at that location, install one.

2.4 

Connect the riser tube (long tube connecting the shower head to the valve) and the spout pipe (if applicable) by using ½ in. FPT × ½ in. welded adapters. If the valve is only for a shower installation (without a spout), plan for a ½ in. brass cap to block the outlet that will not be used.

You can also use ½ in. FPT × ½ in. PEX adapters.

2.5 

Put the shower stall in place.

3. Install the decorative plate and the faucet handle

Remove the protective template attached to the valve. Then make the decorative plate slide on the valve. Position the plate hole(s) in front of the holes in the valve and screw. Now is the time to install the handle. Screw the handle adapter on the cartridge and, using the hexagonal Allen key, install the handle. It is important that the lever points downward when the faucet is shut.
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