Hello,
I am 'modernizing' a 60 yr old rustic shower in a basement. All the plumbing is there however the walls of the stall I plan to tile over has surface mounted copper feeds coming from the ceiling to a couple of 1/2 globe valves then and standpiped up to the showerhead. The walls are cinderblock and are a supporting wall that I don't wish to remove. I have tried to locate some good looking surface mount type valves, chrome pipes etc.. But to no avail. Is it possible to cut a channel into the block wall to hide the pipework and protect it from the corrosive concrete? I would also need to hack a hole for the shower valve but am leary of a way to properly support it. (And service it.)
Thanks,
Brian

Good morning Brian,

Instead of tearing up the block walls why not simply fur out the wall?
If you recessed the pipes and valve in the blocks you would have to cement over them and that would bury the valve. You could just frame out the wall the valve mounts on or you could frame out two more walls and make a shower enclosure. Let me know what you decide. Tom

It would be aswesome to change your basement into a nice luxury bathroom retreat: I would love that! Imagine a luxury shower (http://www.divapor.com/). Anyway, how is the concrete corrosive? You shouldn't be removing any supporting wall: if it isn't a supporting wall, go for it. It's a lot of work but I bet it would be worth it.