When you think of Big Bear plumbing, the first picture that may come to your mind is a plumber repairing your kitchen sink or installing a shower. Like most others, you will also think about repairing or replacing plumbing hardware located in the visible and easily accessible areas of your house.
However, there is a complex array of pipes, valves, and connectors within your walls and under your bathroom and kitchen flooring. They provide you with hot and cold water and dump the household waste into the public sewerage system. Unfortunately, not many people know about this area of plumbing called rough-in plumbing.
Let’s take a look at what rough-in plumbing is and why it matters.
What Is Rough-in Plumbing in Big Bear?
In plumbing terminology, the process of installing pipes and valves behind walls and under the flooring is often referred to as rough-in plumbing. On the other hand, the process of installing accessible plumbing fixtures like sinks and showers is called finish plumbing. Both types of plumbing require unique skill sets and knowledge.
Rough-in plumbing usually begins when your house (it may be new construction or remodeling) has a roof and is considered weatherproof. However, depending on your location, you may have to comply with additional local guidelines and regulations to begin the work. The work usually involves laying down the foundation of your complete plumbing network.
Why Rough-in Plumbing Matters?
As a leading Big Bear plumbing service provider, we consider rough-in plumbing as the backbone of your home plumbing system and pay extremely close attention to it. The primary reason why rough-in plumbing matters greatly is that this work is reviewed by the building inspection authorities.
Along with plumbing, rough-in often involves electrical work. So, both electrical and plumbing inspectors will visit your under-construction house for a thorough inspection. If the plumbing work is not compliant with the code, you will need to redo it.
In other words, you will be spending more money on plumbing. It will also delay your construction work by days, if not weeks. Remember, the inspection authorities see the rough-in work as final, not a work-in-progress. That’s why you need an experienced Big Bear plumbing service provider on your side.
Understanding the Process of Rough-in Plumbing
Usually, a typical rough-in plumbing process involves the following steps:
- Your Big Bear plumbing service provider will lay down the pipes through the wall cavities and run the vent stacks to the roof. It involves measuring and cutting down the pipes to the desired length.
- Once all the pipes are laid, they are connected. This includes connections to the main water line, septic systems, and public sewage system.
- The plumber will also lay down underground pipes, connecting your plumbing with the main utility lines.
- The system will be checked by the authorities before the inspection.
- The finishing phase of plumbing will commence once rough-in work is approved.
Important Factors You Should Consider
As rough-in plumbing is a critical step in construction, you need to pay careful attention to it. You need to keep the following points in your mind:
- Make sure to treat the rough-in work as the final work. It should be complete in every aspect before the inspection. It should be finished on time using only high-quality materials and equipment.
- When it comes to installing rough-in plumbing for wooden frames, the plumber will usually make holes in the timber studs. However, drilling too many holes in a timber stud will compromise its integrity, requiring you to reinforce it. Make sure the integrity of wooden frames is not compromised. Otherwise, your work will most likely fail during the inspection.
- The pipes also need to be secured tightly to the frames. Loosely connected pipes will make a hammering sound as water passes through them. This irritating noise will keep disturbing you. It might also break the pipes eventually. That’s why loosely connected pipes are also a common reason for rough-in inspection failure.
- The slope of the drain lines also needs to meet the building code, because wherever possible, water and waste should be drained by gravity. In other words, you need to know the exact specifications mentioned in the local and state codes before commencing the work.
- Rough-in work is a complex and laborious task. So, taking the DIY route for rough-in plumbing may not be the best idea for most people. If you have experience in rough-in work, you can go ahead with DIY. Remember, however, rough-in work will require you to put in long hours.
- Make sure to hire an experienced and competent Big Bear plumbing service provider. It is better to hire a plumber who has worked on projects similar to yours. The plumber should also have the necessary certifications and licenses.
Parting Words
As you can see, rough-in plumbing needs to be robust and compliant with the building code. You can move forward with the rest of the construction of your house only when the rough-in work is approved by the building inspector. Hopefully, this post will help you understand how important rough-in plumbing is and the factors involved in it.
Contact Our Big Bear Plumbing Team Today To Arrange An On-Site Estimate
The team of professional plumbers at Bear Valley Plumbing & Heating has the experience and skills required to handle complex rough-in jobs. Call us today on (909) 584-4376 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.
If you are looking for a Big Bear plumbing, heating & air conditioning contractor, please call (909) 584-4376 or complete our online request form.
Category: Plumbing Installation
