Rough-in decisions
The twelve decisions, one at a time.
What each one is, what it depends on and what to bring to the walk-through. Not every job has all twelve.
01Shower valve height and trim
Set the valve where a hand reaches it without stepping into the spray. The trim you choose decides which valve body goes in the wall, so the trim comes first.
Bring: the trim or fixture spec sheet
Depends on: the tile layout and who showers
02Niche size and position
A niche needs framed space between studs, on a wall with no drain behind it. We mark its height against the tile layout so no row of tile is cut around it.
Bring: the tile layout drawing
Depends on: stud spacing and the wall behind
03Drain location and slope
Center, wall side or linear: each changes how the floor slopes and which tile it can take. The drain is fixed before the pan is built.
Bring: the pan or tile choice
Depends on: the framing below and the floor height
04Rain head and hand shower
Each head and diverter needs its own stub at its own height. Settling the rain head's center first keeps the arm clear of the glass.
Bring: the shower set's spec sheet
Depends on: the glass and the ceiling height
05Tub filler and drain
A freestanding tub fills from the floor or the wall, and its drain sits where the tub's feet end up, not where the old tub stood.
Bring: the tub's spec sheet
Depends on: the floor structure and the window
06Toilet: flange or wall carrier
A wall-hung toilet needs a carrier and a wall framed to hold it. A floor-mounted one needs a flange at the right distance from the wall.
Bring: the toilet's rough-in sheet
Depends on: the wall's depth and the door swing
07Vanity supplies and drain
Stops and drain come through the wall at heights set by the drawers and the spout. Move the cabinet by two inches and the stubs are wrong.
Bring: the cabinet drawings and the tap's sheet
Depends on: the drawers and the spout reach
08Blocking behind the wall
Solid wood goes behind every place someone might need to hold on or hang something heavy: bars, benches, rails, shelves. It costs a board now and a wall later.
Bring: any bars, benches or rails you want
Depends on: the studs and what hangs where
09Kitchen sink and island vent
An island sink needs a drain path and a vent that stay inside the cabinet run. A farmhouse sink changes the base cabinet before it changes the plumbing.
Bring: the cabinet plan and the sink's sheet
Depends on: the island depth and the run to the vent
10Pot filler
A pot filler is a cold line behind the range, in the same wall the hood and the backsplash want. It needs a shutoff you can reach and a height chosen with the range.
Bring: the range model and the hood height
Depends on: the backsplash material
11Dishwasher and disposal
The dishwasher's drain loop, the disposal and its switch, and the filter line all share one cabinet. We draw where each one goes before the cabinets are ordered.
Bring: the dishwasher and disposal models
Depends on: the cabinet width and the outlet
12Shutoffs and access panels
Every valve you may need to close should be reachable after the tile is up. An access panel is cut into the plan, not into the finished wall.
Bring: the tile layout and the cabinet plan
Depends on: where a panel can sit unseen
Bring the plan set. We bring the tape.
A walk-through takes a morning at most. You leave with the decisions that apply to your job, marked on a sheet.