shower valve problem

We are changing fixtures in our showers and have 1993 plumbing. We want to install a Moen positemp shower controller to match other fixtures already in. However, our old plumbing is not able to handle the positemp controller. Does anyone know of anyway short of tearing out the wall and installing a new valve to get around this issue.

need more info please

you are not supplying need to know informaiton...

what have you got in there now, ect......

more info on shower valve problem

Sorry for not putting more info - new at this.

Currently there is an old Moen shower faucet put in by the builder when the house was originally built in 1993. They do make faucets that would work with the shower but the problem is color. We have already installed, not realizing that there would be a problem going Moen to Moen, all of the other new fixtures in the bathroom - so we are committed. Also we want that oil rubbed bronze look- we have changed out door handles, light fixtures to keep that color scheme in the house. The problem is that Moen only makes the oil rubbed bronze fixture that goes with what we've chosen in positemp. Supposedly one can change the valve in the wall to accomadate the positemp but it involves major destruction of the wall - including the tile. The current valve has screws fairly close together in a horizontal pattern, while the new plate has diagonal screws and the new shower controller won't fit over current valve piping. We have spoken with Moen and they recommend tearing out the shower wall. The local plumber we spoke to(but who has not seem the shower) acts as if no one has ever faced this issue in the history of man and we shouild change out all the other fixtures to accomadate the shower valve. Any suggestions?

You'll need to replumb the supply lines to accomodate that new valve. If you can't get to it from behind, then you'll have to do it from the front.

Hi - Thanks for the reply. Do you mean cut open the wall and replace the valve?

pipes

that would be the best go from the backside instead of replacing the whole shower, a sheet of drywall and some spacle is alot cheeper

This is a recurring question not well understood by DIY'ers. Shower valves are unique by brand and model. You can almost always repair one, you can usually find new (identical) handles and trim, and with some of the big brands like Moen, PP, there are sometimes choices of new colors and styles on the handles. What you can NOT do is somehow change the internals to a better model, different brand, etc. without being inside the wall to solder in a complete new valve.