If it’s not broke. Don’t fix it. If it’s not leaking, don’t touch it.

Hey let’s replace this nasty escutcheon plate. But let’s wait until after we replaced the floor and painted the walls.

Hmmm. I can’t get that compression ring off.

I’ll cut it off! Hmmm why is there goop like construction adhesive on this ring?

Crap. I nicked the pipe. But it had to be done! But now what? I’m only replacing the plate, not the valve. I don’t have a new valve! I’ll put it back together.

Great. It’s leaking. That Teflon tape you see is my attempt to make the leak stop.

I’m going to have to replace the pipe. Fortunately I can go in through the closet from the back. Holy crap why is that pipe so close to the drywall. I can’t even get the close quarters cutter in there.

Solder up the replacement part.

Damn. My failed attempts to get the cutter in there might have damaged the pipe. I need to cut further back. That means I’ll need to put a janky extension on my replacement piece.

LOL I’m a pro!

Bad picture of the 1x4 reinforcement to replace the drywall.

Done!