Bathroom Plumbing Remodeling Services in Highland Park, IL
The hidden plumbing behind your bathroom walls is what keeps everything running smooth — if something's off, troubles like slow drains, unseen leaks behind tile, or inconsistent shower temps often crop up later. Proper plumbing installation before the drywall goes up makes the difference between a bathroom that functions smoothly for decades and one with recurring headaches. If you find water damage or mold signs when opening walls during your remodel, get in touch — we offer leak detection to uncover and fix hidden leaks before they turn into bigger problems.
When you reach out to us at 224-524-1178 about remodeling your bathroom, here’s what to expect: simple fixture replacements — like swapping out your faucet, toilet, and showerhead in the existing spots — generally take a day and are straightforward. But if you’re shifting fixtures around — relocating toilets, turning tubs into walk-in showers, adding a double vanity — that involves reworking drain, vent, and supply plumbing with permits and inspections. We handle every step with experience.
One key tip: finalize your fixture choices before we set rough-in measurements. Toilets, tubs, and shower valves all have specific rough-in dimensions. Locking in the exact models ahead of time avoids expensive errors and rework due to mismatched plumbing setups.
Bathroom Plumbing Services We Offer
Shower & Tub Plumbing Setup
Setting the shower valve correctly is one of the most important steps in bathroom rough-in plumbing. It has to be at the perfect height, proper depth behind the finished wall, and hooked up with right-sized supply lines for good water flow. We install pressure-balance valves (required by Illinois code to avoid scalding in showers and tub/shower combos), thermostatic mixing valves for exact temp control, and multi-outlet valve setups for rain shower heads, body sprays, and handheld units.
Tub-to-shower conversions are more involved — we core through floors to set new drains, reposition or add a shower pan drain with correct slope, build up the shower base for waterproof membranes, and reroute supply lines from the tub filler to the shower valve location. We provide a detailed plan and timeline before beginning. We also do plumbing rough-ins for freestanding tubs including floor or wall-mounted filler supply lines.
Toilet Installation & Moving
Replacing a toilet in the same spot is straightforward — check out our fixture installation service for that. Moving a toilet takes more work: rerouting drain pipes through concrete or subfloor as needed, installing a new flange at the right finished floor height, adjusting the soil stack connection, and ensuring venting meets code. This is permit-required plumbing that must pass inspection before walls close.
We install standard height, comfort-height (ADA), wall-mounted, and dual-flush toilets. Adding a bathroom or enhancing one is a good time to check if your water heater can handle the extra demand. For bathrooms with accessibility features like grab bars or curbless showers, coordinate with us early so we can align plumbing and blocking needs with your general contractor.
Vanity & Sink Plumbing
Switching from a single sink to dual sinks, changing from a pedestal to a vanity, or relocating the vanity — we take care of supply and drain changes. Adding a second sink means extending supply lines and configuring drains with either shared or separate P-traps, depending on the setup. Adjusting vanity size might require moving drain and supply stub-outs to fit new cabinetry.
We install faucets, drain assemblies, supply lines, and P-traps when setting vanities. While cabinets are open, we highly recommend swapping out old gate valves for modern quarter-turn ball valves — a small upgrade that prevents many under-sink leaks. For layout changes affecting drains, we handle necessary drain and P-trap work as part of rough-in.
Full Rough-In Plumbing for New Bathrooms & Additions
Adding a bathroom to your Highland Park home — whether a basement bath, half bath, or en-suite — requires complete plumbing rough-in: running supply lines from the nearest accessible main, connecting drain lines to existing stacks or building drains, installing vent pipes through the roof or tying into current vents, and setting floor flanges at finished floor height. This phase requires permits and inspections before drywall. We work closely with your GC and handle inspections to keep things on track.
Bathroom Plumbing Checklist
- Shower valve, trim, and showerhead installation
- Tub drain, overflow, and filler plumbing
- Removal and installation of toilets (wax ring plus supply line)
- Vanity faucet, drain, and supply connections
- Replacing old gate valves with ball valves
- Rerouting drain lines for new layouts
- Installing or adjusting vent pipes
- Bidet seat or standalone bidet water connections
- Permit application and inspection scheduling
Tips for a Trouble-Free Bathroom Remodel
- Choose fixtures before rough-in: Rough-in pipe placements depend on your selected fixtures — lock these in first
- Limit fixture moves: Moving drains and supply lines costs much more than replacing fixtures in place
- Upgrade shutoffs during remodel: Replace worn valves before closing walls to avoid leaks down the road
- Check hot water supply: Large tubs or additional showers might mean upgrading your water heater
- Start permit process early: Plumbing inspections can affect your construction timeline — involve the plumber early
Bathroom Remodeling FAQs
For simple replacements in the same spot, a permit usually isn't required. But if you're moving drains or adding new supply lines, permits are mandatory in most communities around Highland Park. We handle pulling permits and scheduling inspections to keep everything up to code. Skipping permits on plumbing rough-in can cause future problems with insurance or resale.
Yes. Relocating plumbing features means rerouting drains — sometimes cutting through concrete or subfloor — plus adjusting vent pipes and supply lines. This adds to cost but lets you customize your bathroom layout. We provide a clear quote based on your desired arrangement so you can weigh the expense.
As soon as possible — ideally during planning before walls are opened. Early involvement helps us advise on correct rough-in dimensions, what’s possible with your existing drain stacks and vents, and the permit schedule. Waiting until demolition can lead to scheduling conflicts and rushed plumbing decisions.
Definitely. We collaborate with GCs, designers, and homeowners directly. We handle the plumbing work as a subcontractor and coordinate inspections with your project timeline. Call 224-524-1178 to chat about your schedule.