Install now or pay to open the wall later
Every plumbing install is cheaper to do while the walls and floor are open. After drywall, tile and cabinets go in, a missed valve or a wrong drain location means cutting and patching. That is the main reason to call a plumber early in a remodel.
We cover new showers and tubs, kitchen and bath sinks, washer and dryer hookups, outdoor hose bibs and rough-in for additions. If you are not sure where the pipe should go, describe the room and we will go through it with you.
From plan to a working fixture
Most installs follow the same path, whether the room is new or old.
Walk the space
We look at where the supply, drain and vent sit now and where the fixture needs to land.
Price it clearly
You get a clear price before work starts, and we note anything that could change it, such as rot or a missing vent.
Rough in
Drains are run at a steady slope, vents are tied in, and supply stubs and valves are placed for each fixture.
Set and connect
Fixtures go on, supply lines and traps are connected, and every joint is tested under water pressure.
Check and hand over
We run the fixture, check for slow drains or weeping joints and show you the shutoffs.
Call (206) 864-6558 and describe the fixture, the room and whether the walls are open, so the dispatcher can plan the visit.
What each kind of install needs from the pipes
Different fixtures ask different things of the supply, drain and vent. This table sets out the basics.
| Install | Supply and drain | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Shower or tub | Hot and cold supply, a mixing valve and a trapped drain | Floor framing and drain position |
| Kitchen sink and dishwasher | Supply stops, a trap and a dishwasher drain loop | Cabinet layout and outlet access |
| Bathroom sink or vanity | Supply stops and a P-trap | Vent location behind the wall |
| Washer hookup | Two supply valves and a standpipe drain | Standpipe height and floor drain |
| Toilet | One supply stop and a flange on the drain | Distance to the wall and flange height |
| Hose bib | A tee from the supply and a valve | Shutoff location and wall depth |
What changes the price of a plumbing installation
Installs vary because every wall and floor is different. Here is what moves the number.
A fixture beside the current drain is simpler than one across the house.
Open walls and a crawlspace make rough-in easy, while finished walls mean cutting and patching.
A fixture you buy needs a good fit with the rough-in, and a specialty valve adds cost.
A drain must fall at a steady slope and be vented, which can decide where a fixture may go.
Some jobs need a permit and an inspection, and the timing affects the visit.
A homeowners policy covers sudden accidental damage, not new fixtures or upgrades. Check your own policy. We give a clear price before work starts, so call (206) 864-6558 for your number.
Opening walls is the time to fix old traps
Older drains sometimes carry an S-trap under a sink, which can siphon its water seal and let sewer gas into the room. A P-trap tied into a vent holds its seal and drains smoothly.
If a sink gurgles or a tub drains slowly after an earlier remodel, the vent or trap may be wrong. We can check that before you add new fixtures to the same line, because a drain that already struggles will struggle more with another fixture.
If you hit a blockage during a remodel, drain cleaning clears the line before we connect anything new.
New construction and the permit question
Town Center, between 220th and 236th Streets, now has new apartment and mixed-use buildings, which shows how much construction is going on in the city. If you are building or adding on, the plumbing is sequenced with framing, so decisions about fixtures and drain routes need to come early.
Permit rules vary, so ask the city permit center before the work starts. It sits at City Hall, 23204 58th Ave W, and the number is 425-776-1161. Having a clear scope in hand makes that call shorter.
What to have ready when you call
A few details let the dispatcher plan the right visit.
Say what you want installed and where in the room it goes.
A photo shows existing valves, drains and access.
Spec sheets list the rough-in dimensions.
Tell us whether walls are open or drywall is already booked.
Say if you have already asked the city permit center.
Why a late-night call still starts with a plan
Our dispatch line runs 24/7, but installations are planned in daytime so the plumber can see the space and the parts are ready. Planning ahead also keeps the price clear.
If a fixture fails while you are waiting for an install, call faucet repair or toilet repair for a fix that holds until the new fixture goes in.
Beyond the kitchen and bath
Water heaters have their own pages, including water heater installation. For neighbors south of us, see our Lynnwood service page.
To talk through a project, call (206) 864-6558.
Before you plan an install, answer these
Permit rules vary, so ask the city permit center before the work starts. The City of Mountlake Terrace lists Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fire permit types and has plumbing application checklists. We can tell you what the job involves so you can ask the right question.
Yes, when the drain and supply can be run to that spot. The first questions are where the drain can fall to, how the vent will connect, and whether the floor below allows for it. We look at the location before quoting.
Rough-in is the pipework inside walls and floors before fixtures go on. It sets where drains, vents and supply stubs end up. Fixes after the walls close are more work, so a rough-in is checked while everything is open.
We can install the supply valves, the standpipe and drain, and a washer box. A gas dryer needs a gas connection, which we do not handle. For gas, call your gas utility or a gas fitter, and call 911 for a gas smell.
An S-trap can siphon the water seal out and let sewer gas into the room. A P-trap with a proper vent holds the seal. If the wall is open, it is the right time to change it.
Call and describe the project. Plumbing for a house or addition fits here. Larger commercial buildings and hotels are handled through our commercial plumbing page, and the dispatcher will tell you where your project fits.
Yes. The line at (206) 864-6558 is open 24/7, though installation planning is usually done in daytime so the visit can be scheduled.
Standards and sources
These public references sit behind the rules and checks this page mentions.