Plumbing in most housebuilds is done in three phases:

1. Sub Rough
2. Rough
3. Finish Plumbing

The sub-rough is under the cement and connects to the sewer and water lines of the city, or if you have a septic tank and well, it connects to the septic and the well.

The rough plumbing is the basic running of flexible-plumbing-pipe, P-traps, drains, and tubes. This plumbing has to have the “tests on”, for one of the early inspections. In other words it has to be ready to hold water and sewage, with no leaking.

Pex lines resist the build up of chlorine and hard water scale. Other advantages of using Pex lines is it doesn't corrode, develope pinholes, and requires less fittings and connections than more traditional plumbing systems

For finish plumbing all that is left is installing all the sinks and putting on the fixtures, and connecting them to the already installed plumbing pipes and flexible-plumbing-pipe.

As soon as the framers have finished, the plumber can bring in his rough plumbing crew and “knock-out” the plumbing holes. Then they will install the various types of pipes; the pex pipes, the copper lines, and the PVC pipes.

It was at this point in our construction that we decided to put in a half bathroom. We didn't think it would be much more than simply running a line over from the water line at the laundry area (only 5-8 feet, and running the sewer line over to the middle of the house. There would be the sink and toilet but they were minimal.

The plumber agreed that if we were going to do it, now was the time. That change order cost us around $2500, and that's not counting the electrical and HVAC change orders.

I came over to watch them at work, and within a couple hours the plumbers were done; I mean finished. If we had been the DIY types, it would have taken us days if not weeks to knock out all the holes, and then another month or more to install everything. This doesn't even include the plumbing supplies that we would have had to have.

The crew knew exactly what they were doing and had all the parts and pieces and before we could turn around, they were done.

This is why we leave the building to the professionals while we stand back and watch.

Usually the Electrician wants to come after the Plumbing and Ductwork have been put in place. That way he won't have to re-route his wires. The ductwork and plumbing doesn't bend, like the wires do, and it's easier for the wiring to be done last.

When you are nearly finished with the inside rough plumbing and electrical, you can notify the insulation subcontractor, that the inspection is coming right up on “this” date and he can start putting you on his calendar for insulating your home.

It's a simple “heads up” on where you are in the process that is a good idea to give to all your subs. They need to know in advance to start adding you to their scheduling calendar. That way when it's time for them to come, you aren't waiting because they didn't know and you aren't on their list.

For the rough plumbing, the flexible-plumbing-pipe is nice to have because it bends easily and makes a plumbers job much easier.

• subrough plumbing
  
  
• rough plumbing
  
  NEXT
• Basic electrical
  
  
• HVAC
  
  
• add central vac to your home
  
  
• Plumbing supplies
  
  
• make sure you get a programable thermostat

A step by step guide to building your free home

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