Rough-In Bodies

A rough-in body is the half of a mixer that goes inside the wall — the valve, the cartridge and the connections. It is installed before the wall is sheeted and waterproofed, and once the tiling is done you never see it again.

The range covers 13 bodies for shower mixers, diverters, wall-spout combos, freestanding bath fillers and wall top assemblies, including several that serve more than one range.

Why the body is bought on its own

Timing. The plumber needs the body in the wall at rough-in stage, which on most jobs is weeks or months before anyone has decided between chrome, matte black and brushed nickel. Splitting the purchase means the wall can be closed up and the tiler can start, with the finish settled later.

It also protects the decision. The body is the expensive, permanent part; the trim kit is the part you can change your mind about in five years without touching a tile.

What to check

Match the body to the trim kit you eventually want, not the other way around — they are sold as pairs and they are not universally interchangeable. Several ranges here share a common body, which is worth knowing if you are fitting out more than one bathroom, because it means one part number covers both.

Also check whether the job needs a diverter. A plain mixer body and a diverter body are different parts, and swapping one for the other after the wall is closed means opening it again.

The matching visible halves are in Trim Kits. Complete one-piece mixers are in Shower Mixers, and the wider range is in Bathroom Tapware. Builders Warehouse Online ships Australia-wide.