bathtub plumbing help

we are trying to get a new bathtub. we turned off the water, but it leaks when we take off the handle and/or faucet, if not from one its the other. please help.

If you have turned off the bath tub cut off valves and they are closing, you need to either repair them or replace them. If they are the type valve that use stem packing, you can try tightening the packing nut. If that still doesn't work, add some packing and try again. If the valves need to be replaced, you must turn off the main water supply to the house so the new valves can be installed.

all our lines are saldered in. we are leaking from the on/off handle even though water is off. no valves besides main shut off.

Then the answer is simply to shut the main supply off, cut the pipes, and install cut off valves. You really should be able to shut the water off to every fixture in you house without turning off the main supply.

valves

Maybe you "should" be able to, but millions of tub and shower faucets are installed without valves, because;
1. it is often impossible to access them because there is another tub or shower on the other side of the wall. Or,
2. Providing an access cover would look "tacky", or,
3. Those valves are the least used in the house, and often the best constructed so they do not need servicing very often. Usually about every ten years or so. Or,
4. By the time you need to use a valve's integral stops, if you go that way, they are corroded to the point they do not work anyway.

If you're having problems with them leaking while the water is turned off at the meter then it's probably seeping by the valve at the meter. If you have a hose pipe bibb/spigot in the yard or anywhere that is at a lower elevation you can open it up and water will drain out there instead of the tub faucet. Also remember that you may be draining your hotwater heater and it should be turned off until it can be refilled before turning it back on.....

Some hose bibs are spring loaded at the washer and may not allow the water to drain out.