Those bloody bath taps

[robson]

I need some advice. I have a regular set of bath taps (2 handle faucet with the shower plunger in the middle). The Threads are worn in the seats - can't re-tap them. The surround tile is real nice stuff and I can't replace this.(match up). Am I looking at a complete tile job to replace the taps or can I do the job with the 10 spare matching tiles that the previous owner left under the vanity. To remove the tap divertor and spout area it would take 8 tiles plus one for on top where the shower spout is. Guess the main worry is if I have to, for some reason remove the verticle row of tiles that cover the area where the shower pipe leaves the divertor and ends at the shower spout.

[Matt]

Can you get at it from behind the wall?

[robson]

Your teasing me now. Naw, it's an outside wall.

[Rich]

They sell a retro kit for just what you have. It ends up being a single faucet and there is a cover plate that runs out left and right to cover the old holes etc. I saw it on Ask This Old House, maybe you can find pictures of it there?

Rich

[C & M]

You might try some sort of rotary tool like a Dremel or Roto-Zip to remove the grouting and spare the tiles.

[robson]

Yes. This is a real old house and it appears that at one time there was a claw foot tub and all the piping was outside. I thought about that idea and this would be fine if the backing was blue board or regular drywall as the tile would come off. my worry is if it's plywood. I think this is a job where I can just jump into and hope for the best and expect the worst - think i'll try the dremel.

[George E. Cawthon]

Don't forget to look at what is on the other side of the taps. Is it a room, or is it an outside wall? If it is a room, would it be simpler to change the taps by removing part of the wall in that room. It is certainly easier to repair a piece, even a big piece, of wall board than to mess with tile.