Shower Installation Across the Denver Metro
Shower Installation in Denver
Shower installation across the Denver metro, tile-and-pan builds, prefab surround installs, valve rough-in, drain connection, and waterproofing. Deft Plumbing handles the plumbing side of every shower install: setting the valve at the correct depth behind the wall, connecting the drain with proper trap and vent geometry, and pressure-testing the supply lines before tile or surround goes on. Flat-rate quote before any work starts. Licensed and insured. Call (720) 880-8064.
Most shower installs we run in Denver fall into one of three categories: a like-for-like replacement of a prefab surround in a starter home, a custom tile-and-pan build in a remodeled bath, or a tub-to-shower conversion where we're tearing out the old tub and roughing in a new drain at a different location. Each has its own gotchas, and the right plumber will tell you upfront which one you're actually getting.
Valve Rough-In and Set Depth
The single most expensive mistake in a shower install is the valve set at the wrong depth. Set it too shallow and the trim plate doesn't seat flush against the tile. Set it too deep and the handle won't reach the cartridge cleanly. Deft Plumbing measures from the finished wall plane, not the bare stud, so the rough-in is correct before drywall closes. Moen, Delta, Pfister, Kohler, and Grohe all have slightly different rough-in dimensions, and we set to the manufacturer's spec, not "somewhere close." For pressure-balance and thermostatic valves common in new installs, we pressure-test the rough at 100 PSI for 15 minutes before signing off. The same valve work applies when we replace a shower valve on an existing wall.
Drain Connection: Trap, Vent, and Slope
Shower drains require a P-trap below the floor with a vent stack tied into the home's drain-waste-vent system. In Denver, code requires the trap arm to slope at 1/4 inch per foot minimum and the trap to be within 5 feet of the vent. We run schedule 40 PVC with proper primer and cement on every joint, set the strainer flush with the finished pan, and test the drain with water before the pan or tile crew arrives. A poorly connected drain leaks at the slab and the only way you find out is when the ceiling below stains. Drain trouble elsewhere in the house falls under our water and drain piping repairs.
Tile-and-Pan Builds vs Prefab Surrounds
A tile-and-pan shower install requires waterproofing the pan with a hot-mopped pan liner or modern sheet membrane (Schluter Kerdi, USG Durock), proper mortar bed slope toward the drain, and a tile-ready transition between the pan and wall membrane. We coordinate with the tile contractor on the rough-in and pan prep, but we don't do tile work ourselves, that's a separate trade for a reason. Prefab surrounds (Aquatic, Sterling, Delta, Bestbath) are simpler: we set the unit on the floor, level it, connect the drain, and run the supply lines into the back of the valve panel. Both work, tile-and-pan is more expensive but custom; prefab is faster and waterproofed at the factory.
Tub-to-Shower Conversions
Converting an old tub to a walk-in shower involves more than swapping fixtures. The drain typically needs to move from the foot of the tub to the center of the new shower pan, that's cutting concrete on a slab home or framing on a crawlspace home. We pull the Denver permit, run the new drain to code, and rebuild the valve rough-in for the new shower configuration. Most conversions take 2-3 days of plumbing work spread across pan-prep, valve install, and final connection. We coordinate with the demo crew, tile crew, and glass installer so the project doesn't sit idle waiting on the next trade. For a combined tub-and-shower build, see our bathtub and shower installation service.
Need Shower Installation?
Contact Deft Plumbing for a free, upfront quote. No surprises, no hidden fees. We're licensed, bonded, and insured for your protection.
Call (720) 880-8064 or request a free estimate online.
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We provide shower installation services across the Denver metro area, including Aurora, Lakewood, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton, Broomfield, and more.