First time plumbing a shower. How did I do?

[JanSolo]

Hello again, o wise plumbing masters!

I'm continuing with my bathroom project and today, I tackled the new shower plumbing. It's a normal Delta shower with tub-spout. I used PEX for most of it; but I had to do some copper sweat connections too.
It's my first time doing sweat and PEX, so let's see how you think I did...

This is what it looked like with the old faucet still there.

Here's my layout before I crimped in all my PEX

Here's my rough-in valve all crimped in.

My very first copper sweat connections for the tub-spout.

Copper to PEX. It was a bit hair-raising to mess around with my propane torch indoors. Kids thought I was gonna burn the house down for sure.

So there you go; it holds water; completely dry so far. If you see anything sketchy, let me know and I'll try to address it before I close the wall up.

Couple of questions:

The center-line of my bath/show coincides with a stud on the wall, you can see I trim some of the stud to get the valve & pex to fit. Do I need to add some more wood here so that I have something to attach my drywall to securely? I'm expecting yes....

My current plan is to close up the shower with Kerdi-board and use normal drywall for the rest of the room. I looked a the price of Kerdi-Board and it aint cheap! Is it better/cheaper/easier to just drywall the whole thing and just use Kerdi membrane near the shower? How hard is it to have a Kerdi-Board/Drywall mix solution?


Thanks, wise plumbing wizards!

Jan

 

[Terry H]

I hope that is uponor or rehau pipe. I won’t bend any other pipe like that but that’s just me and my opinion. I’ve seen too many leaks in bends like that on other brands. At least use some bend supports.

Your valve is at the proper depth and everything looks good. I’d say you did a good job. How high is the valve and shower head? I usually do 4 foot and around 78ish inches depending I usually ask the homeowner. Looks good though.

 

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[JanSolo]

I hope that is uponor or rehau pipe.

The pipe is HomeDepots finest Sharkbite brand. No idea if that’s good or not.

I won’t bend any other pipe like that but that’s just me and my opinion. I’ve seen too many leaks in bends like that on other brands. At least use some bend supports.

I did buy a few supports to try out. Didn’t end up using them because it ‘felt’ like like I didn’t need em. If you’re recommending that I do use em, I’ll put em in for sure.

IYour valve is at the proper depth and everything looks good. I’d say you did a good job. How high is the valve and shower head? I usually do 4 foot and around 78ish inches depending I usually ask the homeowner. Looks good though.

Thanks Terry! Valve is at 4foot; shower head at 7foot 10inches. I’m a tall guy, so it needs to be high.

Thanks!

 

[Terry H]

After looking again you are probably right that you don’t need them. I just said that out of fear of that brand. I’m sure you’ll be fine.

 

[Jadnashua]

Each type of pex will have a minimum bend radius...as long as you don't try to exceed that, it should be fine. Assuming the bend supports are for that brand of pex, you're a long way from the minimum.

 

[Plumber69]

I thought there was a length restriction between the valve and spout or it will come out both

 

[Reach4]

The pipe is HomeDepots finest Sharkbite brand. No idea if that’s good or not.

In 1/2, that has a minimum bending radius of 5 inches (10 inch diameter). So you are not close.

You are probably fine, but you are supposed to use a go-nogo gauge on your crimp rings. https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBi...per-Crimp-Ring-Go-No-Go-Gauge-23080/202032965

 

[Jeff H Young]

I got Terry H totaly it wasent the bend radius it was the joint at tub valve . when there is a bend near a joint it dosent allow the barb to have as good a bite. bend supports help. but it looks like all agree that installation should be fine just dont want more stress on joints than nessesary

 

[JanSolo]

I thought there was a length restriction between the valve and spout or it will come out both

Delta says that the TubSpout must be at least 8 inches upto 18 inches. I'm right at 18 for my spout, so I should be fine.

 

[JanSolo]

In 1/2, that has a minimum bending radius of 5 inches (10 inch diameter). So you are not close.

You are probably fine, but you are supposed to use a go-nogo gauge on your crimp rings. https://www.homedepot.com/p/SharkBi...per-Crimp-Ring-Go-No-Go-Gauge-23080/202032965

Thanks! I did use the Go NoGo thingy... it did fit into the slot, but not all the way in. That's how it should be, correct?

 

[Reach4]

Thanks! I did use the Go NoGo thingy... it did fit into the slot, but not all the way in. That's how it should be, correct?

I don't know. I have only used the expansion PEX fittings.

 

[Jeff H Young]

I think your good to go and looks clean a lot of pros dont do it as good looking everyone has own prefferance on valve height etc. thats what makes it custom!