How to Repair a Shower Valve in a Tile Wall

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and tile expert Joe Ferrante team up to repair a leaky shower valve installation.

Steps for repairing a shower valve

1. Remove access panel from behind shower valve and inspect for damage and loose connections.
2. Use a utility knife to score the grout around tiles to be removed.
3. Cut through tile glaze with a carbide-tipped scoring tool.
4. Carefully remove the scored tile from around the valve using a hammer and cold chisel.
5. If shower valve appears loose, cut and install 2×3 cleats to the wall studs above and below the valve.
6. Use copper pipe clips to securely fasten the valve’s water-supply pipes to the cleats.
7. Mark the center of the shower valve onto the new tile.
8. Drill hole for valve through tile using carbide-grit hole saw.
9. If necessary, enlarge and elongate the hole with tile nippers.
10. Install new tile around the shower valve with thin-set mortar.
11. Once the mortar cures, fill the joints around the tile with grout.
12. Press a thick bead of plumber’s putty to rear of the shower valve’s escutcheon plate, then screw plate to valve.
13. Replace the access panel at the rear of the shower wall.

Tools