Relocating Sinks, Toilets and Showers in East Canton Homes

Why Moving a Fixture Is a Bigger Job Than Replacing One

Swapping a faucet or toilet in the same spot uses connections that already exist. Moving that fixture, even a few feet, means extending the drain with correct slope, connecting it to a vent, and running new hot and cold supply lines. Drains are the hard part. Water supply lines can bend around corners, but a drain needs a steady downhill path and a vent within a limited distance of the trap.

That is why the same remodel can be simple or involved depending on which direction a fixture moves and what is underneath the floor.

Common Moves and What They Involve

These are the relocations we are asked about most.

Kitchen sink to an island or new wall

An island sink needs a drain run under the floor and a vent solution, since there is no wall to hide a vent pipe. Options include a loop vent under the cabinet or an air admittance valve where permitted. In homes with a basement, routing the drain below is straightforward.

Toilet to the other side of the bathroom

A toilet needs a 3-inch drain, so moving it usually means opening the floor and possibly cutting into joists. We route around framing where possible and add support where a joist must be notched.

Tub out, walk-in shower in

Converting a tub to a shower usually moves the drain to suit the new base and raises the valve and showerhead. It is one of the most popular projects in older homes.

Where DIY Makes Sense and Where It Does Not

Plenty of homeowners are comfortable with simple plumbing tasks, and there is no reason to pay a plumber for all of them. The line tends to fall where mistakes would be hidden inside walls or floors, or where a mistake affects health and safety.

Reasonable homeowner tasks versus jobs worth calling in a professional:

• Usually fine for DIY: replacing a faucet, swapping a toilet in place, changing a P-trap under a sink
• Call a pro: extending or rerouting drains and vents
• Call a pro: cutting into the main stack or a cast iron line
• Call a pro: any work that requires a permit and inspection
• Call a pro: gas lines to ranges or dryers in a relocated kitchen or laundry

Permits and Inspections in General Terms

Relocating fixtures or adding new drain lines generally requires a plumbing permit and inspection, while like-for-like replacements often do not. Requirements depend on the jurisdiction, so the rules in the village can differ from those in surrounding townships. When a project needs one, we handle the permit coordination and schedule the rough-in and final inspections so the work is documented when you sell the house someday.

Planning Your Remodel With Us

Bring us in before the cabinets are ordered. We will look at the floor framing, the location of the stack and vents, and tell you which layout changes are easy and which add cost. After you approve the plan, we rough in new lines, pressure test supply piping, and come back to set fixtures once the finishes are done. A final quality inspection wraps it up.

For full-room projects, see our East Canton bath and kitchen remodeling service. Relocated sinks get new faucets too, which our East Canton faucet installation covers. The full range of upgrade work is explained on our plumbing installation services for Stark County page.