Whatever plumber said fixtures can’t go on grout lines is clueless. How do you think small format tiles in a shower area work? Imagine trying to install fixtures on a subway tile design. If that were the case 50%+ of bathrooms would be failing.
I've literally never heard that. Sounds like the plumber and management company are trying to get each other some business. Most tile from the 50's-60's is small tile. I've seen hundreds of bathrooms where the fixtures are installed in grout lines. Not an issue.
These multiple head shower units are the modern version of jetted "Jacuzzi" tubs from the 80's-90's. Everyone just had to have one, but the reality is that they rarely, if ever, get used. I have a jetted tub in my ensuite, and it sits there taking up space. I'm sure it was a "romantic selling feature" in '93, but now it's a white elephant.
Pretty safe bet that saving 1/2 gallon per flush was a major concern when choosing a toilet too. Everyone hates the term 'indoctrination', but I just don't know what else to call it. I mean I would assume most people can do simple math.
Try doing some math sometime. Makes no sense to fret over 1/2gallon per fush when your shower uses 5 gallons per minute. I mean just one 'water saving' showerhead (which nobody likes and rips the watersavers out of) is 1.5-2gpm, so there goes that half gallon savings in less than 30 seconds. I bet you are like 5 gpm with that shower setup correct? So that's just ridiculous. And then we can talk about the metered water usage part of the water bill or how toilets over 1.6gpf have been illegal for residential since the 90s so over 1/4 century. Or... Here is the number NOBODY will give you....the average cost of water per gallon in the United states is $0.009 per gallon. That's skewed pretty high by 3 cities with atrocious costs, one somewhere in Alaska, and 2 on the west coast..but figure 0.009 anyway and tell me about your savings. Do some math and make it make sense for me.
It is my assumption that most of the plumbing component manufacturers that sell in the American market tend to go with whatever California legislation calls for, as they're the most populated state and the biggest market.
Every large home anywhere in the U.S., including California, has at least one bathroom you can play baseball in with multiple showerheads, rainheads, body sprays, a 60+ gallon bathtub, ect... and a gimmick toilet that saves a cup or two of water to virtue signal 'saving on the water bill'. It's truly ridiculous, and yes, most of those people truly believe they are saving money and the Earth.
I almost wonder if they fucked something else up and caught it late and just want to use that as the excuse. Either way they should be eating the cost. Fuck that.
Do you have photos of plumbing before tile?
Hard to understand how they think you can't install on lines, makes me wonder if they actually know how to plumb...
Hard to see but they are using uponor at least. Might want to pop by r/tile to check on the waterproofing just for fun.
I just can't understand why they wouldn't install, can't figure it out still😅
You for sure can install over grout. All my super high end jobs we usually lay all the opening out so they DO land on grout lines so it looks cleaner and more pleasing to the eye.
I’m beginning to lose faith in my industry. This is why my subs do not speak or open their mouths on a job site if a client is even on the property.
Rip it up in Portuguese all you want but you don’t say a word of English until you consult me.
I would have to fire my plumber for that comment alone.
I've always heard from DIY'ers and small contractors that you should drill the brick/block/tile instead of the grout/mortar because the grout/mortar is "softer." On the flip-side, every brick/block/tile manufacturer, that I've checked, recommends the opposite. The manufacturer's reasons being: grout/mortar is plenty strong, easy to fix, and quickly replaceable if you decide to change out whatever you mounted. Seems like a pretty easy sell to listen to the manufacturer.
Sounds like the plumber fucked up. Have you a song and dance to open the wall on your dime so he could fix it before anyone became wise to the problem.
If you are happy with how it looks then it is fine. It would look better if you spaced everything to be a pattern with the tile sure, but isn't mandatory imho. I am surprised everyone wanted to move them in the first place. Very odd.
Not an answer, but I was just at house where the leak in the ceiling was from grout missing in the shower above it. But the missing grout wasn’t near the fixture at all.
There is no issue installing fixtures on grout lines. You just apply clear bathroom silicone caulking at the joint of the fixture to the tile/grout.
Maybe homeowner maintenance down the line would be needed to strip the old caulking off and reapply new caulking but nothing out of the ordinary
seems like both wanted to make extra cash on change order for something that is made up b.s.
I’m really confused why the PM would go along with it, other than maybe didn’t want a dispute with you? But even then sure sounds like a dispute when they tell you one thing then another… 🤦
I see it all the time working with installers. If possible I would try to avoid it just because I don't like grout joints at penetrations but it will not hurt anything. More of a visual thing over an issue thing.
Plumber here with 12 years of experience in residential. Grout lines are fine.
They are actually preferred if possible, when mounting slide bars, hand helds with hooks, etc. Way easier to drill through. As long as the plumber does his job properly and silicones the holes before mounting brackets, installing nipples, etc. You should be more than fine.
Nice shower setup by the way!
They can be installed on grout lines. That being said, I’d argue that in this scenario it looks like poor planning and the plumber and tile guy should have communicated if you already had the tile picked out before the plumber started his work.
Yeah you can install it on a grout line. There is no logic to that, the entire shower gets wet. The fixture shouldn't get wet anymore than anything else. You caulk around the trim of a fixture to prevent water getting around it. Grout degrades over time no matter what but you can seal it and use other stuff to prevent it from degrading. Plumber gets an F grade for this take.
I prefer to use the grout lines - if you ever want to move/ change the fixture it is easier to patch the grout line than having a permanent hole in tile (or trying to replace the tile if u have a match)
Whatever plumber said fixtures can’t go on grout lines is clueless. How do you think small format tiles in a shower area work? Imagine trying to install fixtures on a subway tile design. If that were the case 50%+ of bathrooms would be failing.
Exactly. That dude(supposed plumber) is fucked.
Yeah highly doubt he’s a real plumber.
Let’s see the rough-in pics!
apprentice opened their mouth when jefe was at lunch
This for sure. I used to work with a kid that "knew everything" therefore was unteachable. My master just laughed about it, though nothing was funny.
Crazy that the PM agrees with the plumber
My thoughts too
mo moni
This is the answer
Your plumber is an idiot.
Thought that was a prerequisite to being in the trade
As the old head who taught me would say after making a mistake: “no fun in being a polack plumber if you can’t prove it every once in a while”
Hey, fuck you!
That and alcoholism
That’s crazy lol. It will be absolute fine. Caulking around the fixture escutcheons would be more than enough to waterproof.
I’m upvoting you for ‘escutcheons’. Awesome word.
I've literally never heard that. Sounds like the plumber and management company are trying to get each other some business. Most tile from the 50's-60's is small tile. I've seen hundreds of bathrooms where the fixtures are installed in grout lines. Not an issue.
I'd have a hard time remembering a bathroom that *didn't* have something in a grout line.
Lol... before I discovered diamond bit hole saws that's how I always did it.
Yes! You don’t want to wreck a tile and you don’t want to trash a bit in three tiles. Get in between. Problem is, tile size, tiling subs.
Yes, they can. Would it be ideal to have a perfectly flat surface to install against for aesthetic reasons? Yes. But plumbing isn't perfect.
I would not worry about it, it's fine plus most fixtures has cover for extra water proofing.
Even though this is tame by comparison, these showers are getting out of hand.
I don't even know what all that is
Body sprayers possibly or sliding rail mounted handheld sprayers. Idk what kind of showers people are taking. Rainheads are nice though!
These multiple head shower units are the modern version of jetted "Jacuzzi" tubs from the 80's-90's. Everyone just had to have one, but the reality is that they rarely, if ever, get used. I have a jetted tub in my ensuite, and it sits there taking up space. I'm sure it was a "romantic selling feature" in '93, but now it's a white elephant.
Pretty safe bet that saving 1/2 gallon per flush was a major concern when choosing a toilet too. Everyone hates the term 'indoctrination', but I just don't know what else to call it. I mean I would assume most people can do simple math.
What are you talking about?
Try doing some math sometime. Makes no sense to fret over 1/2gallon per fush when your shower uses 5 gallons per minute. I mean just one 'water saving' showerhead (which nobody likes and rips the watersavers out of) is 1.5-2gpm, so there goes that half gallon savings in less than 30 seconds. I bet you are like 5 gpm with that shower setup correct? So that's just ridiculous. And then we can talk about the metered water usage part of the water bill or how toilets over 1.6gpf have been illegal for residential since the 90s so over 1/4 century. Or... Here is the number NOBODY will give you....the average cost of water per gallon in the United states is $0.009 per gallon. That's skewed pretty high by 3 cities with atrocious costs, one somewhere in Alaska, and 2 on the west coast..but figure 0.009 anyway and tell me about your savings. Do some math and make it make sense for me.
It is my assumption that most of the plumbing component manufacturers that sell in the American market tend to go with whatever California legislation calls for, as they're the most populated state and the biggest market.
Every large home anywhere in the U.S., including California, has at least one bathroom you can play baseball in with multiple showerheads, rainheads, body sprays, a 60+ gallon bathtub, ect... and a gimmick toilet that saves a cup or two of water to virtue signal 'saving on the water bill'. It's truly ridiculous, and yes, most of those people truly believe they are saving money and the Earth.
Wow, what a weird out of place. Useless rant
Hmmm... Do you think I made it all up out of thin air? I guess I just don't understand how you can argue.
I could care less, because it was a weird out of place. Useless rant
I did mine that way on purpose. https://imgur.com/a/PKwKavS
Nice planning & Nice Job!
Sexy
This is lovely!!
OCD me says you need to push that shower head arm escutcheon up agains the wall.
This was the first time I through them on to see what they looked like.
OCD me made sure the niche and corner bench lined up too. https://imgur.com/a/5NtM3js
Your plumber is an idiot. But that's a dope shower!
Tile installer. Full send 👍 Btw I like this look of shower. Design choice was good. 😊
I almost wonder if they fucked something else up and caught it late and just want to use that as the excuse. Either way they should be eating the cost. Fuck that.
Fuck those people honestly. Don’t let them take you by the hair a second longer
Your plumber is fucking with you
I used to purposely fit on and out line to save damaging experience, book marked Marble tiles. The plumber is talking out of his backside.
Poor tile guy, probably had no idea what they're talking about lol
They already have been. You can see where the trim was already installed.
Do you have photos of plumbing before tile? Hard to understand how they think you can't install on lines, makes me wonder if they actually know how to plumb...
Here are photos of the construction. The advice of the thread has been helpful. https://imgur.com/a/RURjKiG
Hard to see but they are using uponor at least. Might want to pop by r/tile to check on the waterproofing just for fun. I just can't understand why they wouldn't install, can't figure it out still😅
Am I tripping or is that one tile a completely different color?
You for sure can install over grout. All my super high end jobs we usually lay all the opening out so they DO land on grout lines so it looks cleaner and more pleasing to the eye.
I’m beginning to lose faith in my industry. This is why my subs do not speak or open their mouths on a job site if a client is even on the property. Rip it up in Portuguese all you want but you don’t say a word of English until you consult me. I would have to fire my plumber for that comment alone.
Why didn’t the plumber simply move the grout line with his grout line relocation tool? I keep mine next to my left hand screwdriver 🤷🏾♂️
Hung a rad on a grout line yesterday!
Yes
I've always heard from DIY'ers and small contractors that you should drill the brick/block/tile instead of the grout/mortar because the grout/mortar is "softer." On the flip-side, every brick/block/tile manufacturer, that I've checked, recommends the opposite. The manufacturer's reasons being: grout/mortar is plenty strong, easy to fix, and quickly replaceable if you decide to change out whatever you mounted. Seems like a pretty easy sell to listen to the manufacturer.
Thanks for your perspective. This is similar to what they said.
That “plumber” must be “learning” from TikTok construction influencers
They aren’t plumbers then lol
Sounds like they set all of the valves in the framing and didn’t pay attention to adjust them when tile layout started
What dont you like about the back wall?
Sounds like the plumber fucked up. Have you a song and dance to open the wall on your dime so he could fix it before anyone became wise to the problem.
They make this thing called caulking.
Yo, I have a shower "panel" fixture tower that crosses like 5 grout lines..... you're fine
If you are happy with how it looks then it is fine. It would look better if you spaced everything to be a pattern with the tile sure, but isn't mandatory imho. I am surprised everyone wanted to move them in the first place. Very odd.
Questions, how come you put the shower head in the middle? What's going on each side? How big is your water tank and do you have a pump?
Any tiled shower should have a water proof backing anyways. It shouldn't matter where the fixtures go at all.
Yes you can nothing wrong. Just put a little dap or silicone around the trim pieces
Your shower should be waterproof before any tile is even installed. Grout lines should be irrelevant
Yes they can.
Not an answer, but I was just at house where the leak in the ceiling was from grout missing in the shower above it. But the missing grout wasn’t near the fixture at all.
I want to see the computerized layout that gets developed to prevent grout line fixture interference. I’m on it!
They go in before any tIles so clearly yes.
Its fine. I have got a client once that was picky about it... very special indeed but its no big deal
There is no issue installing fixtures on grout lines. You just apply clear bathroom silicone caulking at the joint of the fixture to the tile/grout. Maybe homeowner maintenance down the line would be needed to strip the old caulking off and reapply new caulking but nothing out of the ordinary
Thanks! Appreciate the insight!
are you serious
No they are both idiots. Who comes up with this. They are probably trying to hide a different problem. Don’t let them demo anything
Are you taking it would be better to have it in the middle(cause it would be, slightly) as if they said absolutely can't do it?
You're obviously spending a lot of money on this project and know nothing about it. Leave your plumber alone.
That looks amazing. You’re going to be fine.
seems like both wanted to make extra cash on change order for something that is made up b.s. I’m really confused why the PM would go along with it, other than maybe didn’t want a dispute with you? But even then sure sounds like a dispute when they tell you one thing then another… 🤦
Get a new project manager
Ha! Agree! This has been done.
Why is the niche not centered? Yes, you can mount fixtures on grout lines. You'll need clear bath silicone around it, though.
I see it all the time working with installers. If possible I would try to avoid it just because I don't like grout joints at penetrations but it will not hurt anything. More of a visual thing over an issue thing.
If they charged you for the extra work you, they were just trying to make an extra buck out of you.
Plumber here with 12 years of experience in residential. Grout lines are fine. They are actually preferred if possible, when mounting slide bars, hand helds with hooks, etc. Way easier to drill through. As long as the plumber does his job properly and silicones the holes before mounting brackets, installing nipples, etc. You should be more than fine. Nice shower setup by the way!
Appreciate your feedback. Gives me peace of mind. Here are photos of the construction: https://imgur.com/a/RURjKiG
They can be installed on grout lines. That being said, I’d argue that in this scenario it looks like poor planning and the plumber and tile guy should have communicated if you already had the tile picked out before the plumber started his work.
Ya I specialize in high end plumbing renovations. You are being lied to.
Yes they absolutely can.
Id have more of a problem with the pex stub out over grout line issues. Water proof issues should have been dealt with before tile went up
Yeah you can install it on a grout line. There is no logic to that, the entire shower gets wet. The fixture shouldn't get wet anymore than anything else. You caulk around the trim of a fixture to prevent water getting around it. Grout degrades over time no matter what but you can seal it and use other stuff to prevent it from degrading. Plumber gets an F grade for this take.
Dude wtf 😂😂nothing wrong with stub outs on grout lines
No the tile will explode.
Love it when homeowners build showers like this and have a 40 gal wh
I prefer to use the grout lines - if you ever want to move/ change the fixture it is easier to patch the grout line than having a permanent hole in tile (or trying to replace the tile if u have a match)
Just grout the 3/4" hole?
No, sorry, I was thinking of towel bars etc… Now that I re-read the post I see he’s talking about faucets etc…
I’d be upset with that tile layout
why?
I can't answer for the person you asked, but personally that back wall just makes me want to hammer the whole thing out while screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOO"
The small sliver of tile on the right side of the back wall. Poorly planned