Bob visits with Ed Zywusko who is undertaking a tricky tile installation in a shower area, and then joins plumber Frank Iadarola in a flashback.

Bob Vila meets with Carlos Leuchtmann from Blue Ridge Plumbing, who shows Bob the shower pan and layout of the new fixtures. Leuchtmann explains that the drain is off center due to structural supports in the floor that cannot be moved. Leuchtmann also points out the anti-scald restrictor and the dual-flow Moen shower fixture, which allows for either an overhead rain-type shower or a body spa with four wall sprayers. Leuchtmann shows Bob a tool for plumbers and electricians called the �stud popper�. The device makes a perfect hole in steel framing for running pipes or electrical wire. Once punched, the stud is fitted with a �pipe tight� that provides a feed for the pipes or wires and keeps them from touching the metal studs. Carlos also explains how sanding the pipe and adding flux creates a bonding surface for the solder to adhere to when sweating pipe.

Tankless hot water heaters provide on-demand hot water without the need to continually store and heat water 24 hours a day. Aaron Siegel from Eemax joins Steve Easley at the EnergyWise House to explain how the company s products supply hot water for applications ranging from hand washing to drench showers, with a sophisticated thermostatic control to ensure precise outlet temperature. Whole-house units are activated by water flow and demand to draw only the energy required to meet hot water demand.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. Showers account for more than one-fifth of the water Americans use every day. We can conserve more of this precious resource with a low-flow showerhead. If you re not convinced you need to cut your water flow, put a 2-quart pan under your showerhead and turn it on. If it takes less than 12 seconds to fill the pan, you could conserve. Low-flow showerheads limit flow to 2 and a half gallons per minute or less and cost between $8 and $50. Contrary to popular belief, they do not reduce the water pressure of your shower. Some mix the water with air, others pulse and some are elevated to provide a rain shower effect. For between $70 and $250, you can buy one that will even filter chlorine and other chemicals from your water for a truly clean shower that won t dry out your skin. Take a look at the end of your faucet: Most are threaded to receive an aerator. If your existing aerator has a number greater than 2.75 GPM written on it or there isn t one at all, it s an easy upgrade to install. Remove the old one by turning it to the left. If it s stuck, gently use vice grips or tongue-and-groove pliers. Add a piece of Teflon tape over the faucet threads before screwing on the new one to form a tight seal. Faucet aerators only cost $5 to $10 and will pay for themselves in water savings in only a few months. Installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads in your home is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental footprint, and it can save you 50 percent of your water and hot water costs to boot. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

A hand shower brings convenience and flexibility to the shower space.

For a first-rate shower installation, be sure what's behind the tile is waterproof. Start with a layer of 15lb felt paper to shield insulation and wall studs from escaping moisture. Instead of drywall, use cement board: it cuts and trims like drywall, but it provides a protective layer under wall or floor tile.

Tom Memory of Coastal Doors joins Bob to complete the installation of the glass shower doors. The heavy, safety-tempered glass doors are bolted on a track rather than hinged to eliminate mildew points in the shower. The track itself is designed to shed water with jambs that are installed over the track to eliminate leaking to the outside, and tracks that are single-surfaced and pitched to the interior so that water runs back into the shower. Elliptical, brushed-metal handles complete the look and the installation.

Bob tours the upstairs master bath with an eye towards the space's luxury appointments, including the double vanity fixtures, granite countertop, and Wellborn cabinets. Plumber Dave DuVerger is installing a trim package to finish off the spacious shower. The shower features three showerheads in a nearly six-by-six foot enclosure. To supply enough water pressure, these are built on a plumbing loop with a 3/4-inch supply line.

Bob meets Eli and Greg who are installing the finish kit of the Kohler shower tower in the loft bathroom in downtown Boston. Greg explains the computer solid state circuitry that controls the pump and motorized valves. The buttons on the front of the unit are pushed which operate a variety of body, hand and head sprays. The unit operates at only 12 volts, which is a huge safety step, so there isn't 120 volts with a person in the shower. A real nice feature of the unit is its ability to compensate for low water pressure. The pump will boost the pressure to the desired setting.

Test The walls in the shower are nearly complete as the crew gets ready to grout the Vitrus GlassTile they've installed. Bob shows how glass tile differs from ceramic tile, giving an artistic, light-filled, fluid-green look to the bathroom. Bob also explains the special grout that is used to completely mildew- and stain-proof the tiles. Lichen-colored SpectraLOCK grout, with a Microban mildew inhibitor, is mixed with Glow Dazzle, which will give a luminous green complement to the Vitrus tile. This epoxy grout completely seals the tile installation, will not discolor, stain, or change the effect of the glass tile over time. Bob watches as the epoxy grout is applied, first in a thick layer, then pushed into every crack between the tiles.