basement-bathroom-plumbing needs gravel around it before you can pour the foundations or flatwork cementBefore pouring flatwork cement, basement-bathroom-plumbing, or sub-rough plumbing, has to be installed before pouring the flatwork. After it is ready, then gravel is spread around the entire sub-rough plumbing, and over the entire basement floor area. The cement will be poured over the top of the gravel. Sometimes the gravel is spread before the plumbing and then the plumber has to dig the area where his plumbing lines will go. This base provides a solid foundation for the cement to rest on. In addition, it provides drainage in case your ground water builds up for any reason against or under the house. 
Preparing adequate drainage before flatworkBefore the flatwork is begun for the basement floor, your basement-bathroom-plumbing, or sub rough plumbing will need to be done. Then you need 2-4 inches of gravel spread out on the ground to cover the sub rough plumbing and provide adequate drainage under the cement. Outside flatwork also requires road base gravel to be put down before pouring walks and driveways. Find out how much gravel you'll need to cover your sub-rough plumbing from your excavator. Have it delivered before it is needed. Ask your excavator to give you an itemized bid for labor and materials. Then you can check the price of gravel yourself and supply it yourself if your price is significantly better than your Excavator's price. Also, check with your excavator to see what he would charge to supply gravel but if you use him, make sure you get it in writing in the contract!
Other Needs for GravelYou will need gravel in several places. 1 - In the basement sub-rough before flatwork 2 - Window wells 3 - In the garage sub-rough before flatwork 4 - Before any cement flatwork is poured outside ie. walks & drive 5 - Under any cement steps 6 - For any RV parking or landscape areas where you will use gravel Again ask your excavator how much gravel you will need for your basement-bathroom-plumbing. He better be able to tell you! For the landscape purposes, your landscaper can tell you how much he'll need. Whoever is doing your flatwork can tell you approximately how much gravel you will need for that too. I was able to save by ordering the gravel myself, but you need to do the math yourself. Your outside flatwork will be done sometime later, so you may want to wait to order the gravel for flatwork and landscape after the house is nearly completed - just before you do your outside walks and driveway.
As you build your house, remember that you must contact the plumber to notify him in advance of starting the footings and foundations. See what his work load is like and "how far out" he is. Then tell him that you hope to be ready for the sub rough plumbing by "X" date. He'll put you on his calendar or tell you when he can be there. It's OK if things don't work out quite as planned. All you have to do is call him and keep him updated, and he'll reschedule you for your basement-bathroom-plumbing if needs be. basement-bathroom-plumbing... top of page
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