Remodel plumbing
Bathroom Remodels
in Little Rock
Gutting a bathroom, or finally fixing a kitchen layout that never worked? We do the plumbing: new lines roughed in before the walls close, then the shower, tub, toilet, and sinks set, connected, and tested.
- Master Plumber MP #6781
- Licensed & insured
- 20+ years in the trade
When to call us about remodel plumbing
The plumbing decides what a new bathroom or kitchen can be: where the shower drains, where the toilet sits, where the sink goes. Call while the plan is still a plan, and we'll tell you what it takes to put things where you want them.
- A tub you'd rather trade for a walk-in shower.
- A toilet, vanity, or kitchen sink that needs a new spot.
- Old or rusting pipe showing once the walls come open.
How we find the cause
What does a bathroom remodel involve?
On the plumbing side, a bathroom remodel comes in two stages: the rough-in, when supply and drain lines are run or moved before the walls and floor close, and the finish, when the fixtures are set and tested. Before either, we check what the old bathroom is hiding.
The finding: galvanized pipe behind the old tub, rusting at the threads.
Replace it now, not after the tile.
Sound pipe that's the right size and in the right place can stay.
What we check while the walls are open
With the walls open, old plumbing is easy to reach, so it gets checked first.
The drains and vents. Every fixture needs a drain with a steady slope and a vent, and a new layout has to keep both.
The supply lines and shut-offs. Valves that won't close and corroded or undersized pipe get replaced while they're exposed.
The shower valve. A new one should be pressure-balancing or thermostatic, so a flush elsewhere can't turn it scalding.
The floor. A soft subfloor by an old toilet or tub means a slow leak, fixed before the new floor goes down.
The fixtures. For a fixture upgrade, WaterSense-labeled toilets and showerheads are the water-efficient choice: they use about 20 percent less water than the federal maximum.
The water heater. A big soaking tub can empty a small tank: see tank water heater repair or tankless installation.
Not a remodel. A running toilet or dripping shower is plumbing repairs work; a faucet alone is faucet installation and repair.
Everything is done to code and tested, before the walls close and again with the fixtures in.
Word gets around
Good to build with, in customers' words
4.9★ on Google · 20+ years in the trade behind the work
What remodel plumbing includes
- 01
Call and get on the schedule.
- 02
A licensed tech walks your plan and checks the plumbing it builds on.
- 03
You get the real number before the work starts.
What's included
- Rough-in of new supply and drain lines, before the walls and floor close
- Fixture sets: toilets, drop-in sinks, tubs, and showers, including ones you've picked out
- Shower valves and trim, and tub-to-shower conversions
- Moving plumbing for a new layout, kitchen islands included
- Kitchen hookups: sinks, disposals, dishwashers, and refrigerator water lines
- Done to code and tested, every connection, before we hand the room back
We make the problem the problem, not the price.
How we price
What does remodel plumbing cost?
It depends on how much of the plumbing changes. A price over the phone is a ballpark.
What moves the number: whether fixtures stay put or move, what's behind the walls, and whether the drains run through a crawl space or a slab.
Simple service is billed by the hour. Big jobs are priced per job, with a free estimate. For a homeowner, a remodel's plumbing gets a free estimate.
Kitchen remodel plumbing
In a kitchen remodel, the plumbing is the sink, the disposal, the dishwasher, and the refrigerator's water line, plus anything the new layout moves. We rough it in before the cabinets go in and connect it all once the counters are set.
Sinks, disposals, dishwashers, icemakers, islands, and gas for the range
- The sink. A new sink gets a new drain and trap, and its own shut-off valves. For the faucet itself, see faucet installation and repair.
- Disposal and dishwasher. We install the disposal and tie in the dishwasher's drain and water supply. A disposal that only needs fixing is plumbing repairs work.
- Refrigerator and icemaker. A water line with its own shut-off, run to where the refrigerator will stand.
- An island, or a sink on a new wall. The drain and vent have to follow the sink, and an island has no wall to vent through, so it needs its own venting plan.
- Gas for the range. Moving the range, or switching it to gas, is gas line work.
- Old pipe under the sink. With the cabinets out, old pipe is easy to reach, replace, and bring up to code.
Expect to lose the kitchen sink between the rough-in and the counters; a bathroom or laundry sink can stand in. Once it's done, keep grease out of the drain and check under the sink for drips now and then.
Tub-to-shower conversions and walk-in showers
Trading a tub for a walk-in shower changes more than the fixture: the drain, the valve, and often the floor change with it. We do tub-to-shower conversions, valve and trim included.
Drains, curbless showers, easier access, and keeping it new
- The drain. A shower usually needs a bigger drain than the tub it replaces, so the line under the floor changes to match.
- Walk-in and curbless. A shower with no curb needs its drain set lower, which can mean cutting into a slab or the floor framing.
- Easier to get into. An accessible shower usually adds a handheld showerhead on a slide bar and a valve you can reach from outside the spray. We plumb walk-in showers built for easier access. Blocking for grab bars goes in while the walls are open.
Keeping it new: run the vent fan through every shower and a while after, wipe down wet glass and tile, skip harsh cleaners on new finishes, and check the caulk and grout once a year.
Moving plumbing for a new layout
Moving a sink a few feet is usually simple. A toilet or a shower drain takes more, because the drain has to keep its slope and its vent. We move it where the plan needs it, or tell you first what that would take.
Slabs, crawl spaces, second floors, and when it's a repipe
- On a slab. The drains run under the concrete, so moving one means opening the floor along the new route.
- Over a crawl space. The drains run in the open below the floor, which makes most moves easier.
- Upstairs. Drains run between the floor joists, which can limit how far a toilet can travel.
- The supply lines. Water lines are the easy part: they run through walls and around corners to almost any spot.
- Adding a bathroom. A new bathroom needs its own drain and vent tied into the main line, and more hot water than the house may have.
A remodel usually replaces only the pipe in the rooms it opens. When the pipe is failing all through the house, replacing it is repiping.
Remodel plumbing questions
Do you install sinks, tubs, and showers?
Yes. We set sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets for a remodel, in the models you've picked out, and connect and test each one. We do the plumbing only: the vanity cabinet, its top, and any undermount sink go in with the cabinets and counters.
Can I keep my existing plumbing layout?
Yes, and it usually costs less, because the drains and supply lines are already where the fixtures go. Moving things opens up more of the room, and you hear what each move takes before you decide.
How long does the plumbing take in a remodel?
It comes in stages: the rough-in after demolition, an inspection where one is required, then the fixture set once the tile, cabinets, and counters are in. The weeks in between depend on the rest of the remodel. Our part, the rough-in and the set, takes a couple of days.
Do I need a permit for a bathroom or kitchen remodel?
Usually, when plumbing is added, moved, or replaced. Swapping a fixture in the same spot often doesn't need one. The rules vary by city and county, so the local building department has the final word. On a remodel, we pull the plumbing permit and handle the inspection.
Can you work with my contractor or designer?
Yes. We work alongside general contractors, designers, and cabinet installers, and fit the rough-in and the fixture set into their schedule.
Should I replace old pipes during a remodel?
Not always. Copper or PEX in good shape can stay; old galvanized or polybutylene pipe is worth replacing while the walls are open. Pipe failing all through the house calls for a whole-house repipe: see repiping.
Will a remodel raise my home's value?
An updated bathroom or kitchen is one of the things buyers notice most, but a remodel rarely earns back its full cost when the house sells. Plan it for how you'll use the room, and get the plumbing right so it lasts.
Can I stay in my home during the remodel?
Usually. Expect the water to be off for parts of the rough-in days, and the room out of use until the fixtures are set. If it's your only bathroom, plan for that stretch. We'll work out the schedule with you to keep the disruption small.
Remodel plumbing across Central Arkansas
From our shop in North Little Rock, we plumb bathroom and kitchen remodels in homes across Little Rock, North Little Rock, Maumelle, Sherwood, Bryant, and the rest of Central Arkansas. Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Get the right answer
Small things turn into bigger problems.
A pipe you can see today is behind tile tomorrow. Call before the walls close, and we'll make sure what goes in them is right.