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    kmylml's Avatar
    kmylml Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Sep 20, 2013, 09:21 PM
    Shower Arm Plastered to Wall
    I just moved into a new home and the shower head is too low for my family. We bought a new one that raises the shower head up by about a foot. Took off the wall plate and it looks like the old shower arm is plastered all the way around the hole. Basically it's the shower wall (tile) with a hole cut in it and then plaster filling up the hole and the shower arm sticking out.

    Do I remove the plaster to get to the shower arm end that is inside the wall? How do I remove the plaster? Is this even possible without damaging the pipes?

    Any advice would be most appreciated.
    creahands's Avatar
    creahands Posts: 2,854, Reputation: 195
    Ultra Member
    		  
    #2

    Sep 21, 2013, 06:03 AM
    The shower head arm screws out. New one should fit in same hole in wall.

    Chuck
    ma0641's Avatar
    ma0641 Posts: 15,675, Reputation: 1012
    Uber Member
    		  
    #3

    Sep 21, 2013, 07:05 AM
    Probably grout from the tile install.Careful chipping with a small screwdriver or icepick will easily remove enough to unscrew the arm as Chuck described.
    kmylml's Avatar
    kmylml Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #4

    Sep 22, 2013, 02:54 PM
    Thanks for the replies! In response to creahands, the shower arm is surrounded by this material and you can't turn, move, or pull at the arm at all.

    In response to ma0641, I don't think the material is grout because it's quite smooth. Say this was plaster, would you be able to chip at it like you would with grout?
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #5

    Sep 22, 2013, 03:01 PM
    Hi Kmylml

    Like Chuck said, the arm just spins out and he is right. The shower arm may be in there tight, but it screws in and screws out to remove.

    In terms of the material around the shower arm, you are overthinking this (and that is a GOOD THING most of the time) as it is something we run into all the time and as Chuck, Ma0641 and now me are telling you if you simply unscrew the shower arm it will come out. After the arm is out, put some thread sealant on the new threads and install through the hole and tighten appropriately.

    It should be that simple. Be clear, however, that there are times when someone unscrews a shower arm and it breaks off at the threads in the wall (even happens to experienced plumbers). Things get tougher when it happens, but even then we have a few tricks to resolve that sticky situation!

    Unscrew the arm... report back with final results!

    Mark
    kmylml's Avatar
    kmylml Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #6

    Oct 7, 2013, 10:25 PM
    Hi everyone,

    Thanks for your great advice! It turns out that the stuff around the pipe was travertine epoxy and it held on pretty well to the shower arm. I was still able to turn the shower arm (slowly and firmly) and unscrew the old thing off. New shower arm and shower head is installed and the family is very happy.

    Thanks again to everyone for the input. You guys were super helpful!
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