What is Plumbing Trim?

Plumbing trim is a term that refers to the finishing touch of your plumbing installation. It is what you will use to cover exposed pipes in your home, and it can also include things like sink faucets, towel racks, soap holders, etc. Plumbing trim significantly improves the overall aesthetic appearance of your bathroom or kitchen and adds value to the home.

 Types Of Plumbing Trim

There are three main types of plumbing trim that you can use in your home. They include:

PVC Trim

This is the most inexpensive type of piping, but it also has a tendency to malfunction over time if installed incorrectly or without proper ventilation. It’s best used for things like towel bars and soap holders where they aren’t constantly exposed to water.

Ceramic Trim

This is the most durable type of piping and it’s also resistant to rusting or corroding. However, ceramic trim can be difficult for a novice plumber to install correctly. For that reason, it is recommended that you use an expert who has experience installing ceramic trim if possible.

Metal Trim

This is the most expensive option, but it also has a very aesthetically pleasing finish and can be used for both towel bars and faucets. It’s recommended that you use corrosion-resistant metals like stainless steel or nickel when choosing metal trim because they are more durable than other types of metal piping in your home.

All three types of plumbing trim are available to purchase at your local hardware store. Before you start any installation, be sure that the room is well ventilated, and ensure that there’s plenty of light because it can make the project easier if you have a clear view of what you’re doing. If possible, use an expert plumber who has experience installing plumbing trim to get the best results.

Where To Find Plumbing Trim?

You can find plumbing trim at your local hardware store. If you do not have one near you, check out your local listings for plumbers in your area.

You can also shop on the web! There are countless stories that sell wholesale and retail prices for plumbing parts like these. Just visit any search engine with terms like ‘plumbing trim’, ‘plumbing supplies’ or ‘plumbing hardware’.

 Plumbing Trim Installation Steps

Here are the steps you should follow when installing plumbing trim:

Step one: Remove the old trim

The first step is to remove any existing plumbing parts that you have installed in your home. This includes items like towel bars, soap holders, and faucets if they are already there.

Once everything has been removed, get rid of all debris, so it doesn’t interfere with the installation process later. You might also want to have a garbage bag on hand to throw away any old parts that you have removed from the wall.

Step two: Prepare your pipes for installation

After removing all of the existing plumbing trim, it’s time to prepare the area where new trim will be installed. If there is still wallpaper in place, make sure you take care of it first because this can interfere with how well you’re able to install new piping later on if left alone.

Next, remove a thin layer off drywall or plaster so that everything is smooth and even before putting up your new material. You might also need to cut out holes for faucets depending on what type of hardware they are using as far as toilet valves go. Some use drier threads, while others use tapered or straight threads.

Step three: Install new plumbing trim

There are two ways to install your new piping: gluing it in place with plumber’s putty or drilling through the drywall and fastening them into position using screws.

If you choose to use screws, make sure they are long enough so that once installed, they won’t poke out of the wall too much when everything is tightened down correctly. Also, be sure not to over-tighten anything because this can result in warping pipes which will cause problems later on during installation if left unchecked. 

Step Four: Test for leaks

One last step before finishing up is testing all parts of your new plumbing hardware for any possible leaks caused by incorrectly assembled piping. Use a wrench to remove valves and faucets from the wall, making sure not to damage them in any way.

Next, make sure everything is clean before you re-attach all of your piping using Teflon tape or plumber’s putty if necessary. Turn on your water supply again after testing for leaks, then turn it back off once more when finished because this will help prevent flooding later on down the line if there are problems with how well things have been installed.

Step Five: Wash up!

Once that has been completed, wash your hands thoroughly because plumbing hardware can sometimes come into contact with harmful chemicals like lead which is present in old pipes around homes built prior to 1986, so be safe rather than sorry about this step.

Common Mistakes When Installing Plumbing Trim 

Making mistakes when installing plumbing trim is easy to do for those who are not experienced with doing things like this, especially if it’s the first time they ever tried their hand at working on pipes.

The most common mistake that people make is choosing piping that doesn’t match up correctly, which leads to leaks over time because of an improperly installed section somewhere along the way throughout your new piece of hardware. This can be frustrating, but there are ways around these problems, so don’t fret!

People sometimes choose parts made out of inferior plastic instead of metal that isn’t strong enough and will break down after a short period of using it in your home. You wouldn’t want faulty products cluttering up your space, now would you? Be sure to purchase high-quality pieces of piping that will last you for a long time without any problems cropping up.

With all the information above, you can see that plumbing is not an easy job. So, before doing it by yourself, make sure that this is your area of expertise, or else hire a plumber to do the task for you. You can also check our post wye in plumbing and know what does non plumbed water dispensers mean.