WE PIPE LLC
Installing a custom marble shower in a Glendale pre-war home requires setting the thermostatic valve at the precise depth for the planned tile assembly, applying waterproofing membrane at the floor and wall corners before tile begins, and replacing any original supply stubs while the wall is open. Glendale's 1910s-1930s attached brick homes have wall framing that is rarely perfectly plumb, so rough-in depth has to be measured off the planned finished surface, not the studs, or the trim plate won't seat flush under the escutcheon.
An owner on Myrtle Avenue was renovating a bathroom and installing a high-end marble shower, Calacatta tile, brass fixture package with a thermostatic valve, rain head, and handheld. The wall framing in the 1920s house was slightly out of plumb, typical for buildings this age, which meant standard rough-in depth assumptions from the framing face weren't reliable. The valve had to be set for the actual finished wall assembly to ensure the trim plate seated flush after tile. The existing supply stubs had been sweated with lead solder from before 1986, we replaced them back to the main shutoffs while the wall was open.
Coordinated the rough-in with the tile contractor before touching any pipe. Measured the planned finished wall assembly, 1/2-inch backer board plus the marble tile thickness, and set the thermostatic valve body at the precise depth off that finished surface. Ran the rain head supply up through the ceiling framing, positioned the handheld outlet at the specified height. Applied Schluter waterproofing membrane to the shower floor and lower wall corners before the tile sub started. Came back for trim-out after tile: brass escutcheons seated flush, no gaps, no shimming. The homeowner's tile investment is protected by a waterproofed, correctly roughed-in shower behind it. Installed a Grohe Grohtherm SmartControl thermostatic valve body. Set the valve at 1-7/8 inches from the stud face to match the planned finished assembly. Confirmed the measurement with the tile sub before any pipe went in.
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