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From the Field
Buying Your Own Fixtures Before the Plumber Comes
Yes, you can buy the faucet, toilet or shower trim yourself. A few checks before you pay keep the install quick and the return policy useful.
Short answer: Yes. With Ryan you can buy the fixture yourself or he can source it. Either way, check three things before you buy.
- Does it fit what is already there: the hole count, the rough-in, the valve type and the supply connections.
- Is it a real, complete fixture, with all the parts in the box, and can you still return it if it does not fit.
- Is the part you can not see, like the valve or cartridge, a type that can be repaired and replaced later.
- If you are not sure, text Ryan the model or a photo before you pay. It costs nothing.
- If you would rather skip shopping, tell him what you want and he can source it. Estimates are free.
Can You Buy Your Own Fixtures?
Yes. You can buy your own fixture and have Ryan install it, or you can have him source it. Both are fine, and it is your choice. Some homeowners already know what they want and have it sitting in the garage. Others would rather hand the whole thing over. He gives a free estimate before any work starts, so you know the price either way.
What matters is that what you buy fits what is in your house. Bathrooms and kitchens in mountain homes can be a mix of new work and old pipe, and a fixture made for a standard setup does not always drop into a house that is not standard.
This page is a short checklist for the homeowner who is about to click buy, in the order that saves the most trouble.
Check That It Fits Before You Pay
Each type of fixture has a measurement or a count that decides fit:
- Toilets: the rough-in, which is the distance from the finished back wall to the center of the floor drain. The page on how to choose a toilet explains how to measure it.
- Kitchen and bathroom faucets: the number of holes in the sink or the vanity top. The page on choosing a kitchen faucet goes through it.
- Shower trim: the valve behind the wall. Trim kits are made for a certain brand and type of valve, and they do not mix. If you do not know what valve you have, take the handle off and look, or text a photo. See shower valve replacement.
- Sinks and vanities: the drain position and the width of the cabinet.
- Garbage disposals: the sink drain opening and the room under the sink. The post on repairing or replacing a garbage disposal covers when to swap one.
Look at the supply connections too. The small valves under a sink or behind a toilet are often old and may not turn. If they do not work, they should be replaced during the install, and it is smart to plan for that.
Have a fixture picked out?
Text Ryan a photo or a link before you buy. He is a licensed Master Plumber and answers his own phone, and he will tell you if it fits your setup.
What Should Be in the Box
A fixture is more than the part you see. Check the box for the mounting hardware, gaskets, the supply lines if they are listed, and the instructions. Some fixtures do not come with supply lines or a drain, and you need to buy them. Read the parts list before you leave the store or before you click.
Keep the receipt and the packing until the work is done. If a part is cracked or missing, you want to be able to return it. Do not open the package a week early and then lose the small bag of hardware.
If you have more than one fixture in a room, buy them together. Finishes vary from batch to batch, and a handle that looks a bit different from the faucet next to it is hard to un-see.
Look at What You Can Not See
The finish is what you notice. The inside is what you live with. For faucets and showers, that means the valve or cartridge. A fixture whose valve can be replaced, from a maker that sells the parts, is a better buy than a cheaper one that has to be thrown out when it starts to drip. Read the product page for the words replaceable cartridge, and look for a support page that lists parts.
On a well, or with hard water, the inside parts matter even more. Minerals and grit wear on them. The post on hard water explains why, and a simple design with fewer moving parts often holds up better.
Be careful with deals that look too good. A bargain fixture with no way to get parts is the kind that comes back as a second call.
When It Makes Sense to Have Ryan Source It
Some jobs go smoother if Ryan picks the fixture. That is true when the plumbing in the wall is unusual, when you are not sure what fits or when you have no time to shop. Tell him what you need, how you use the room and what you want it to look like, and he can source something that works with your setup. The estimate is free.
Others are the other way around. If you have a specific toilet or faucet in mind, buy it. He will install it. The one thing he asks is that you check the fit first, and text him if you have any doubt.
Whichever way you go, the next step is a call or a text. For the full list of what he installs, see fixture installation.
Common Questions
Buying Your Own Fixtures: Questions
Will Ryan install a fixture I bought myself?
Yes. You may buy the fixture yourself, or Ryan can source it for you. Either way, he gives a free estimate before any work starts.
Should I buy online or in a store?
Either works. The store makes returns easier, which matters if it turns out not to fit. Online can have a bigger choice. Whatever you pick, read the return rules before you pay and keep the box until the fixture is installed and working.
What if the fixture I bought does not fit?
That is why to check first. If the hole count, the rough-in or the valve type is wrong, it may need to go back. Text Ryan the details first and he can say whether a problem is likely.
Do I need to open the box before the plumber comes?
Open it and check that every part is there before the day of the job. A missing part means a wasted trip. Do not throw away the box or the instructions until the work is done.
Can I install it myself?
Many homeowners swap simple fixtures themselves. Where it goes wrong is old shutoff valves that will not hold, corroded nuts and hidden leaks. If you are not sure, call or text first.
Is it cheaper to buy it myself?
Sometimes it is, and sometimes the one that looked cheaper does not fit and costs a second trip. Ask Ryan for a free estimate and decide with the full picture.
Want a Second Pair of Eyes First?
Call or text Ryan before you buy. Send the model or a photo, and he will tell you what to look for. Free estimates.