I have our main bathroom gutted to remodel. I converted the bath in our other bathroom to a shower by attaching a hose with a shower head to the spigot as you can see in the pictures.

The problem now is that we can barely get any hot water out of the valve. The valve is real old and doesn't work right. You have to play with it for 5 minutes to get lukewarm water.

I have to replace it but it's behind a cultured nmarble panel. Can someone tell me the best way to remove this panel without destroying the sheetrock wall. I'm assuming I have to remove it.
I'm also thinking about putting in a permanent shower head. Can I do this without tearing out the sheetrock above the panel?
Any help is appreciated.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...7/IMGP0034.jpg

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g2...7/IMGP0033.jpg

 

What is behind the wall there? Often there is an access panel behind the shower to get to it from the back. Even if there isn't it's better to make one behind it then try to remove that marble.

 

Thx for the reply, BuildPro.

The wall on the other side has a built in vanity that would have to be removed and replaced. Is it that hard to get the panel off? What If I cut through the sheet rock around the panel?

 

well assuming you cut around the panel and removed the marble sheetrock and all without breaking it how would you put it back? I guess you could glue the heck out of it with subfloor adhesive but I wouldn't be very comfortable with it. I can't see what you have in back there but I'm still leaning towards getting to it from the rear. This would also enable you to put in a new shower head without tearing up the bath wall. Again I can't see the vanity but if you can pull it out and put it back might be easier then replacing and patching sheetrock.

 

Thx BuildPro,

I'll look at that tonight when I get home.

 

Just to give an update BuildPro. You were right. I ended up going through the other side. Took out an 8' mirror and drawers out of the vanity. After 14 hours of squeezing between drawer opeinings, leaky solder joints (my first time sweating copper), and various other surprises , I finally got the new valve and shower head in. Now everyone is happy and i can take as long as I want to on the main bath remodel. And don't have to worry about good patch jobs since everthing is covered back up.