I’m trying to rough in this shower fixture that DW came
home with.
Kohler Bellhaven R11552-4S-BN
http://cgi.ebay.com/KOHLER-K-304-K-RITE-TEMP-PRESSURE-BALANCED-VALVE-NEW_W0QQitemZ390011954069QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SRCH:US:101
That’s pretty much what the valve looks like.
So, how do you secure it? Nothing on the back to tie in to the framing. Just that plastic ring thingy on the front. But then your
on the back side of the Dura Rock.
Also, what holds the escutcheon in place?
Habit?
PS
Sorry about the crammed together sentences. Mzinga strikes again.
Edited 11/28/2008 6:53 pm ET by Henley
Replies
Rough in guide:
http://www.catalog.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/1064111_1.pdf
Installation instructions:
http://www.catalog.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/pdf/1085791_2.pdf
Web page where I got those links from:
http://www.catalog.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail.jsp?item=11821102§ion=2&category=8&subcategory=50
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Tu stultus es
Oh sweet! thanks.
Install a piece of 1x or 2x blocking between the studs, behind the valve. When you attach your piping to the valve, strap the piping to the blocking. Figure the exact depth of the blocking relative to the face of the tile so that the valve trim will go on correctly.
By the way, that's not the model of that valve that I would buy. Get one of the models with integral stops... mo betta.
Well I already have this one...
What do you mean by integral stops?
So, I think what is happening is the valve body and escutcheon
are pulled tight by the bell housing on the lever.
Typical poor instructions Or dumb polack!
This is a typical stupid installation method that Kohler and many others recommend. The problem with any shower valve that depends on the wall of the shower for attachment is that a little rough use will loosen it up....or break the flimsy wall of the module.
Do as the others have said and mount a 1x between the studs and secure the valve to the 1x (preferably with copper straps)
ALSO glue some wood blocks in between the valve piping and the back of the shower wall. This will prevent the wall from bending back when you tighten the front cover. This is important if you have thin walls such as a fiberglass module.
Yeah, kind of what I've been thinking.
Thanks all!
I'll strap it to the 2x blocking and fir out the front. Kind
of what I was expecting from the beginning.
These Chinese directions got me all turned around!
Integral stops are shutoffs built right into the valve body. The ones I've seen are all quarter-turn ball valves. You pull the trim plate and turn 'em 90 degrees with a screwdriver to shut off the inlets so you can open up the valve for repairs without having to shut off the whole house. The extra cost is marginal and the convenience is huge compared to installing dedicated ball valves and an access panel somewhere.Bill
Oh right.
That would be better, I'll just stick with the bird in hand.
Thanks for the lesson.
I'd go with a board behind, and pipe straps.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
These installation guides are rarely very helpful.
Here's what I do:
Purchase a brass fitting called a "drop ell". This fitting has female threads to accommodate the shower head and two ears to insert screws into. Position it where the shower head will go and screw it to a two-by. Solder your pipe to it and connect it to the valve body. Now this set up will hold the up and down portion of the valve body. Next, get your pipe strapping and then strap the valve body to a piece of wood. Of course some of this requires a little more explaining, for example, the thickness of the wood may vary from a two-by to a one-by depending on the wall thickness. But that's my little trick and it will get the valve body good and tight. It keeps the shower head good and tight also.
The esckuten (I know it's not spelled right) will usually just stay in place when you push it on, but then I would highly recommend caulking around it to keep water from finding it's way behind it.
Good tip, thanks. I have the drop elbow already, but hadn't thought of using
it to aid install.