You’re ready for a new shower. You picked the tile, bought the fixture, and cleared the calendar. It seems simple — pull the old one out, drop the new one in. But here’s the part most homeowners in Sacramento don’t see coming: what’s behind the tub can change everything.

At Golden Valley Plumbing, we’ve done enough shower installations to know that the hard part isn’t always the new setup. It’s the moment we take down the wall and find something unexpected — and we’ve seen it all.

Mold, moisture, and missing insulation

One of the most common surprises? Moisture damage. Many older bathrooms were built without proper vapor barriers or insulation, and over time, small leaks or condensation add up. We’ve opened walls to find mold growing behind the tub, crumbling drywall, or wood that’s soft to the touch.

And no, it doesn’t always mean a full rebuild — but it does mean we need to stop and fix it before anything new goes in. Otherwise, you’re just hiding a problem that’s going to come back.

Pipes that aren’t where they should be

We’ve found pipes that run sideways across the wall, strange DIY reroutes, and even galvanized steel hidden behind newer copper — all of which change how we install your new shower or tub.

In some Sacramento homes, we’ve even discovered that the drain wasn’t sloped properly — which means water sat in the pipe instead of flowing out. Over time, that turns into clogs, odors, and hidden damage.

Electrical surprises (and not the good kind)

Once in a while, we’ll pull off a tub or surround and find electrical lines too close to the plumbing, or old, ungrounded wires sitting where moisture can reach them. That’s a major red flag. We don’t touch electrical work ourselves, but we’ll stop the job and help you get it handled right — because safety comes before speed.

Why it matters who installs your shower

A good shower installation isn’t just about lining up tile and sealing the fixtures. It’s about knowing what to look for behind the scenes. We’ve saved homeowners thousands by catching things early — before water started leaking through the floor or into the wall.

Bottom line

When we do a bathtub installation in Sacramento, we come ready for the unexpected. Because what’s behind the tub matters just as much as what’s going in. If you want it done right — and done once — Golden Valley Plumbing is here to help you see the full picture, not just the pretty surface.