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Shower valve
A shower valve is the control body inside the wall that mixes hot and cold water and sends it to the shower head or tub spout.
Why it matters
The valve body is what you want to buy for quality. Replacing it later usually means opening tile or drywall.
Where people get this wrong
The trim kit is not the valve. The valve is inside the wall. Depth matters. A valve set too deep can make trim install difficult.
Real-world example
You pick a nice trim kit, but the valve was set too deep in the wall. Now the trim does not sit right. That is a rough-in detail that shows up later.
Where this hits your build
This comes up during rough-in and final fixture installation. Accessibility for future repairs matters as much as the initial install.
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