Plumbing Question - Copper to tub

Factual Questions
1

I am currently replacing the floor and pipes in my bathroom. I have all the under-floor plumbing done.

I have 1/2 inch copper pipes coming up through the floor for the sink, toilet, and tub. The sink and toilet connect easily, but how do you connect the tub?

All the valve sets I have seen have screw type connectors. Do I have to solder screw fittings onto copper pipes? That seems like it wouls be about impossible. Are there hoses to go from copper to the valves like there are for the sink? Should I switch to plastic or steel pipe above the floor?

I think the previous owner just slapped the pipes together before selling the house.
The shower pipes were steel and corroded right off the copper pipes. I also found rubber hoses between copper pipes held on by automotive hose clamps. Thousands of $ in damage from leaks. None of thses pipes can be accessd without tearing out the whole floor, I want to make sure I get it right.

2

IANAP, but yes, IIRC. You will probably need to solder elbows to the risers to get them to point towards the wall, then sweat female pipe fittings to attach them to the mixer assembly.

If I remember correctly, the mixer valve has a coupler that comes apart to let you thread it to the pipe and then reconnects to the valve body.

3

IANAP

Are there hoses to go from copper to the valves like there are for the sink? NO

Should I switch to plastic or steel pipe above the floor? NO

Sweating (soldering) threaded brass fittings onto copper pipes is easy. If you haven’t soldered any copper or brass before, just make sure the places where the solder is supposed to flow are clean, use the right flux, and don’t burn the house down. One tip: “dry” fit everything together first to see if it fits before starting to solder anything. Also, get a DIY book or booklet that describes what you have to do and the safety precautions necessary.

4

So I just sweat them on? That should be easy enough, I’ve had to sweat 3 Ts and 4 elbows so far and I’m getting pretty good at it.

Thanks.

5

>>The shower pipes were steel and corroded
>>right off the copper pipes

Maybe you meant iron instead of steel. If iron pipe and copper pipes are screwed together, in a few months the iron will dissolve away enough to fall off.

SFAIK, if the iron doesn’t touch the copper, it will be ok. Maybe that’s what the rubber hose was about.

For a zillion years, we’ve used lead for plumbing (lead=plumbus). In America, at least, a paranoia is growing about lead solder used on copper pipe. Just to avoid future hassels, use non-lead solder.