Bathroom Renovation Tips
An escutcheon is a pretty metal piece used to hide a hole in your wall where a pipe comes through. They can be found behind your faucets, showers, toilets, and under your sink. During any bathroom renovation, escutcheons are either removed to install new fixtures, or they are completely replaced. In addition to helping with the visual appeal of the escutcheons, ask your friendly Estes Services plumber for help with your bathroom renovation to avoid expensive damage down the road!
Estes Services has licensed plumbers ready to assist you with consultations, installations, and answers for your questions. Take the time to call us, so you can avoid headaches and financial problems later on in the renovation process.
We understand how exciting it can be to create a peaceful place in your home, which is why we want to help you any way we can! Below are common questions to ask our plumbers, before starting a renovation in your bathroom.
Do I Need a New Escutcheon with My New Fixture?
Your current escutcheon could match your new showerhead or faucet. If it's older, it might be rough looking and may not match the shiny appearance of the new fixture. It's up to you whether or not to change it out.
However, make sure you know how to correctly install it before beginning to remove any old parts.
Escutcheons come in an assortment of sizes, shapes, and finishes. The variety can make your renovation project less enjoyable and more time-consuming if you let the options overwhelm you.
If you are concerned about how to replace your escutcheon, contact Estes Services for assistance. Our plumbers will ensure your new fixtures match seamlessly with whatever escutcheon you choose.
How to Reach Hidden Escutcheons?
Many escutcheons are easy to reach, such as shower arm escutcheons. For those that are harder to reach, there are more steps involved. Some might require the help of your trusty plumber to remove them.
The first step is to locate the water shutoff valve and turn it off. Before removing the valve connected to the escutcheon, ensure the lines are completely drained of water. To ensure all water is drained, turn on a few faucets and let the lines run dry.
Use towels or a dishpan to catch any water coming out of the line where you are changing the escutcheon.
Next, remove the valve in front of the escutcheon. You may find one of two types of shutoff valves in front of your escutcheons, either threaded-on or soldered-on. A threaded-on shutoff valve is removed with a pair of pliers, and a simple twist or two.
Just use a soft towel with the pliers to prevent any tearing or damage to the valve. Once the valve is off, remove the old escutcheon and put the new one on, and then reinstall the valve in reverse of the way you removed it.
Soldered-on shutoff valves are more complicated to deal with. If you aren't familiar with this type of valve, contact Estes Services to remove the valve and finish out the project for you.
You will cause more damage trying to deal with a soldered-on valve on your own, which will cost you more money in the long run than scheduling a repair with our trained plumbers.
By consulting a plumber before and during your bathroom renovation project, you reduce the chance of problems in the future.
Contact Estes Services to speak with a licensed plumber about your home plumbing, even when it comes to a seemingly small job like replacing escutcheons. Our plumbers will answer any questions you have, and they will ensure your plumbing system can handle your plans.
