A kitchen remodel almost always involves plumbing changes, even when the layout is staying roughly the same. A new sink location, an island with a prep sink, a gas cooktop, a pot filler, or a filtered water line to the refrigerator all require plumbing work that has to be done correctly before walls close and finishes go in. Getting it right at the rough-in stage is far less expensive than correcting it after tile is set or cabinets are installed. Our team handles all kitchen remodel plumbing across Goose Creek and the Tri-County area, working with homeowners directly or alongside a general contractor. Call us at (843) 572-8522 to talk through your project.
Kitchen remodels involve more plumbing connections than most homeowners expect going in. Here’s what we handle.
Moving the kitchen sink to a new location, such as across the same wall or to an island, requires rerouting both the hot and cold supply lines and the drain. The drain is the more involved part because it needs to maintain proper slope and connect to the drain and vent system correctly.
Any kitchen remodel that includes a new or relocated dishwasher requires a hot water supply connection and a drain line routed correctly to the disposal or the drain assembly. The high-loop drain configuration and, in some jurisdictions, an air gap fitting on the countertop are also required.
New sink installations in a kitchen remodel typically include a garbage disposal. We set the drain assembly and disposal mounting during rough-in and complete the connection when the sink goes in.
Installing a prep sink in an island is one of the more involved kitchen plumbing jobs. Islands don't have a wall behind them to run supply lines and drains through, which means supply lines run through the floor and the drain requires either a connection through the subfloor to the drain below or an air admittance valve. Both approaches have code implications that need to be addressed during the planning phase.
A pot filler is a wall-mounted faucet above the range that folds out to fill large pots without carrying them across the kitchen. It requires a cold water supply line run to the wall behind the range. If you're doing a full kitchen remodel, adding a pot filler during rough-in is significantly less expensive than retrofitting one after walls are closed.
A filtered water line to the refrigerator and an under-sink reverse osmosis or filtration system are both reasonable add-ons during a kitchen remodel. Running the supply during rough-in costs far less than opening the cabinet or floor after everything is installed.
If the remodel includes converting from electric to gas or adding a gas line to a new range location, we run the gas supply line and connect it at the appliance location. Gas line work requires a licensed plumber and a pressure test before the connection is put into service.
Island plumbing deserves specific attention because it’s one of the areas most likely to be done incorrectly on a remodel that doesn’t involve a licensed plumber from the start.
The supply side is straightforward: hot and cold lines can be run up through the floor from the basement or crawl space below the island. The drain side is more involved. A drain running below the floor level in an island needs to maintain proper slope to the drain stack, which can be tight depending on the floor joist depth and the distance to the stack.
Air admittance valves are an alternative to running a full vent through the floor and ceiling, and they’re code-permitted in South Carolina for island drains in specific applications. We assess the existing drain configuration and the island location during the planning phase to determine the best approach before any rough-in work begins.
Pot fillers have become a common request in kitchen remodels, and they’re most practical to install when the kitchen walls are already open for other work.
A pot filler requires a cold water supply line run to the wall above the range location. The supply needs to be stubbed out at the correct height for the specific pot filler being installed, which varies by model. A shutoff valve is installed behind the wall for service access.
Retrofitting a pot filler after a kitchen is complete requires opening the wall, running the supply line, patching and repainting, and in many cases dealing with a backsplash that’s already in place. Doing it during a remodel when the wall is already open is the right time.
Moving a kitchen sink to a different location requires thinking about two things: supply access and drain routing.
The supply side is usually manageable regardless of where the sink moves. Supply lines can be extended or rerouted with relatively straightforward pipe work inside the wall or cabinet space.
The drain side is more constrained. Kitchen drains run at a slope of 1/4 inch per foot toward the drain stack. The further a sink moves from the stack, the more floor or wall depth is needed to maintain that slope. If the remodel moves the sink far from its original location, we assess the drain routing options before committing to the new position, because the drain path determines what’s actually achievable without major structural work.
We review the kitchen layout before demo, flag any drain or vent constraints, and confirm that proposed fixture locations are achievable with the existing drain stack and floor joist configuration.
With walls and floors open, we run new supply lines, reroute or extend drains, stub out fixture locations at the correct positions, and cap any lines being eliminated.
Some jurisdictions require a rough-in inspection before walls are closed. We coordinate timing with the project schedule.
After cabinets, countertops, and tile are in place, we return to connect the sink, dishwasher, disposal, pot filler, and any other fixtures. Every connection is tested before we sign off.
Kitchen remodel plumbing costs depend on how much is being relocated, the number of fixtures involved, and the scope of any gas line work.
We provide a written estimate after the design review. No work begins before the scope and cost are confirmed in writing.
We work in both arrangements and are comfortable with either. When a general contractor is running the project, we coordinate directly with them on scheduling so rough-in happens after demo and fixture installation happens after countertops and tile. We communicate any field conditions that affect the original plan and resolve them with the GC.
When a homeowner is running the project, we help sequence the plumbing phases within the rest of the project timeline and flag anything that needs to be resolved before a specific phase can proceed.
Island drains are sometimes installed with the wrong drain size or without adequate venting, which causes slow draining and odor problems after the kitchen is complete.
A dishwasher drain that doesn’t include a high loop or an air gap where required by local code allows wastewater from the sink to siphon back into the dishwasher.
Installing a pot filler before confirming the mounting height for the specific model being used results in a pot filler that’s either too high to use practically or too low to clear a large pot on the burner.
Gas line installation requires a licensed plumber, a permit, and a pressure test. Unpermitted gas work creates a safety risk and a disclosure issue when the home is sold.
We flag constraints at the planning stage so the design accounts for what’s achievable before work begins. We coordinate with general contractors and pull permits where required. Our team is family-owned, licensed in South Carolina, and has been serving Goose Creek for more than 30 years.
Fixture connections with existing rough-in run $800 to $2,000. A full rough-in with sink relocation and fixture installation typically runs $2,000 to $7,500. Island additions and gas line work are additional costs. We provide a written estimate after the design review.
Yes, but retrofitting after walls are closed requires opening and patching the wall, which adds cost and disruption. During a remodel when the wall is already open, the cost of adding a pot filler is considerably lower.
Relocating a kitchen sink involves drain and supply line work that typically requires a permit in most South Carolina jurisdictions. We pull permits where required and handle the inspection process.
Rough-in for a full kitchen remodel typically takes one to two days. Fixture installation at the end of the project takes another day in most cases. The two phases are separated by the rest of the finish work in between.
Yes. Island sink plumbing requires running supply through the floor and addressing the drain routing and venting. We assess the island location and floor configuration during the planning phase to confirm the approach before rough-in begins.
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