06/03/2026
We were able to squeeze in a shower valve replacement today, and often we won't do these for a few reasons.
1. The old valve was literally flopping around in the wall, one of the handles would fall off and you could push and pull the valve in & out of the wall. It was never secured properly. (You know it will be a headache and require patience & skill, but most importantly it will take time).
2. Limited access, often there is limited space to work, you have to cut open a wall, add or modify framing to get things installed properly. Most of the time there is copper, cpvc, galvanized pipe, and a hodge podge of various materials from years of handyman repairs.
3. Often the original install was rigged so bad, you have to create solutions, make a run to the store for materials not on the truck..... (Making things work and having the correct parts often takes longer than anticipated).
Basically what I'm getting at is often a shower valve replacement isn't a quick and easy, in & out job...... It's not a 1 hour job.
Often the customer will buy a $100 shower set from Lowe's, and then expect the install to cost $100 or $200. Unfortunately that's not the case in todays world. (Occasionally it is with some shower valves that are designed for easy valve cartridge replacement).
A more realistic expectation is to pay $500 to $600 for labor & materials on a shower valve replacement (Lower End), and that's not accounting for additional work that may be required. We are always willing to do repairs if the customer is willing to pay to get the work done.
