FHB Logo Facebook LinkedIn Email Pinterest Twitter X Instagram Tiktok YouTube Plus Icon Close Icon Navigation Search Icon Navigation Search Icon Arrow Down Icon Video Guide Icon Article Guide Icon Modal Close Icon Guide Search Icon Skip to content
Subscribe
Log In
  • How-To
  • Design
  • Tools & Materials
  • Restoration
  • Videos
  • Blogs
  • Forum
  • Magazine
  • Members
  • FHB House
  • Podcast
Log In

Fine Homebuilding Project Guides

Plumbing

Guide Home
  • Plumbing Basics
  • Bathrooms
  • Kitchens
  • Roughing In
  • Water Heaters, Washers, and More
  • Maintenance and Repair
Video

Why I Build: Tom Cardillo, Plumber

Watch a residential plumber install a PVC drainage manifold as he explains why he takes pride in the craft of plumbing.

By Fine Homebuilding Editors
  • X
  • facebook
  • linkedin
  • pinterest
  • email
  • add to favorites Log in or Sign up to save your favorite articles
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
/
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time -0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions settings, opens captions settings dialog
    • captions off, selected

      This is a modal window.

      Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.

      Text
      Background
      Window
      Font Size
      Text Edge Style
      Font Family

      End of dialog window.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.

      Tom Cardillo, a residential plumber who works in and around central Rhode Island, is a tradesman of the traditional sort. He is careful in his work and takes great pride in its execution. Tom is in a trade where much of his work will be hidden and no one will ever see the result of his efforts—the care he takes to ensures that every joint is free of glue and primer drips, that his pipe markings are aligned and facing the same direction, that his supply lines and drain lines as symmetrical as possible. He needs no applause or celebration for his attention to detail. It’s just a part of who he is.

      In his now renowned book, “Shop Class as Soulcraft,” Matthew Crawford describes this type of tradesman. He writes, “The satisfactions of manifesting oneself concretely in the world through manual competence have been known to make a man quiet and easy. They seem to relieve him of the felt need to offer chattering interpretations of himself to vindicate his worth. He can simply point: the building stands, the car now runs, the lights are on … the tradesman must reckon with the infallible judgement of reality, where one’s failures or shortcomings cannot be interpreted away.”

      When Tom leaves a job, he can state plainly that the plumbing works, and only those who know the complexity behind such a statement can offer recognition and true appreciation. When we sat down with Tom one afternoon to talk to him about his work and his motivations, he was roughing in a drain-waste-vent system on a new build in East Greenwich.

      Exclusive to Fine Homebuilding members, check out more great plumbing content:

      • “Connecting PEX Plumbing” by Matthew Millham
      • “Replace a Shower Mixing Valve” by Ed Cunha
      • “Installing a Wall Hung Toilet” by Andrew Grace

      Fine Homebuilding has long supported those who share a commitment for quality building and craftsmanship. Continuing in that tradition, our Why I Build series tells the stories of men and women who have sought out careers in the building trades.

       

      Previous: Roughing-in Drain-Waste-Vent Pipes Next: How to Cut Copper Pipe

      Guide

      Plumbing

      Chapter

      Roughing In

      Sign up for eletters today and get the latest how-to from Fine Homebuilding, plus special offers.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      View Comments

      1. mjncad | Feb 12, 2018 03:38pm | #1

        I wish Tom did the plumbing for our house! A true craftsman.

      2. jrrjrr | Feb 12, 2018 11:09pm | #2

        i would like to see more carpenters in our local who feel this way when they come to work. i am still amazed that i am paid to do what i love to do, build . jrrjrr old 1145 carpenter.

      3. msal47 | Mar 08, 2018 04:37pm | #3

        Tom Cardillo has done a lot of work for me and my family. He is very professional and great at this craft. The first thing I noticed was that he was very neat and cared about his work like he says in the video. Sears did my first water heater and they were amateurs and left a mess, that never would have happen with Tom. I mentioned his name at a local Kitchen and Bath store and they said he was one of the best. He is always there when I need regardless the problem big or small. A satisfied customer!!!

      Log in or create an account to post a comment.

      Sign up Log in

      Become a member and get full access to FineHomebuilding.com

      Plumbing

      Plumbing

      Trusted, comprehensive guidance from the pros for tackling any plumbing project

      View Project Guide

      View All Project Guides »

      Become a member and get unlimited site access, including the Plumbing Project Guide.

      Start Free Trial

      Plumbing Basics
      • Plumbing Systems
      • Materials
      • Plumbing Tools
      Bathrooms
      • Sinks
      • Showers & Tubs
      • Toilets
      Kitchens
      • Kitchen Sinks
      • Water Filtration
      • Appliances
      Roughing In
      • Layout
      • Installation
      • Copper Pipe
      • PEX Tubing
      • PVC Drainpipe
      Water Heaters, Washers, and More
      • Water Heaters
      • Whole-House Filters
      • Sump Pumps
      • Washers
      • Sprinkler Systems
      Maintenance and Repair
      • Sinks
      • Toilets
      • Showers & Tubs
      • Systems

      Fine Home Building

      Newsletter Sign-up

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox.

      • Green Building Advisor

        Building science and energy efficiency advice, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      • Old House Journal

        Repair, renovation, and restoration tips, plus special offers, in your inbox.

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
      • Fine Homebuilding

        Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X
        • LinkedIn
      • GBA Prime

        Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.

        Start Free Trial Now
        • Facebook
        • YouTube
      • Old House Journal

        Learn how to restore, repair, update, and decorate your home.

        Subscribe Now
        • Facebook
        • Instagram
        • X

      Membership & Magazine

      • Online Archive
      • Start Free Trial
      • Magazine Subscription
      • Magazine Renewal
      • Gift a Subscription
      • Customer Support
      • Privacy Preferences
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Careers
      • Terms of Use
      • Site Map
      • Do not sell or share my information
      • Privacy Policy
      • Accessibility
      • California Privacy Rights

      © 2025 Active Interest Media. All rights reserved.

      Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.

      • Home Group
      • Antique Trader
      • Arts & Crafts Homes
      • Bank Note Reporter
      • Cabin Life
      • Cuisine at Home
      • Fine Gardening
      • Fine Woodworking
      • Green Building Advisor
      • Garden Gate
      • Horticulture
      • Keep Craft Alive
      • Log Home Living
      • Military Trader/Vehicles
      • Numismatic News
      • Numismaster
      • Old Cars Weekly
      • Old House Journal
      • Period Homes
      • Popular Woodworking
      • Script
      • ShopNotes
      • Sports Collectors Digest
      • Threads
      • Timber Home Living
      • Traditional Building
      • Woodsmith
      • World Coin News
      • Writer's Digest
      Active Interest Media logo
      X
      X
      This is a dialog window which overlays the main content of the page. The modal window is a 'site map' of the most critical areas of the site. Pressing the Escape (ESC) button will close the modal and bring you back to where you were on the page.

      Main Menu

      • How-To
      • Design
      • Tools & Materials
      • Video
      • Blogs
      • Forum
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Magazine
      • Members
      • FHB House

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Podcasts

      • FHB Podcast
      • ProTalk

      Webinars

      • Upcoming and On-Demand

      Popular Topics

      • Kitchens
      • Business
      • Bedrooms
      • Roofs
      • Architecture and Design
      • Green Building
      • Decks
      • Framing
      • Safety
      • Remodeling
      • Bathrooms
      • Windows
      • Tilework
      • Ceilings
      • HVAC

      Magazine

      • Current Issue
      • Past Issues
      • Magazine Index
      • Subscribe
      • Online Archive
      • Author Guidelines

      All Access

      • Member Home
      • Start Free Trial
      • Gift Membership

      Online Learning

      • Courses
      • Project Guides
      • Reader Projects
      • Podcast

      More

      • FHB Ambassadors
      • FHB House
      • Customer Support

      Account

      • Log In
      • Join

      Newsletter

      Get home building tips, offers, and expert advice in your inbox

      Signing you up...

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      See all newsletters
      See all newsletters

      Follow

      • X
      • YouTube
      • instagram
      • facebook
      • pinterest
      • Tiktok

      Join All Access

      Become a member and get instant access to thousands of videos, how-tos, tool reviews, and design features.

      Start Your Free Trial

      Subscribe

      FHB Magazine

      Start your subscription today and save up to 70%

      Subscribe

      You have 1 free article remaining.

      Get complete site access, including thousands of videos, how-to tips, tool reviews, and design features.

      Start your FREE trial

      Already a member? Log in

      We hope you’ve enjoyed your free articles. To keep reading, become a member today.

      Get complete site access to expert advice, how-to videos, Code Check, and more, plus the print magazine.

      Start your FREE trial

      Already a member? Log in

      Privacy Policy Update

      We use cookies, pixels, script and other tracking technologies to analyze and improve our service, to improve and personalize content, and for advertising to you. We also share information about your use of our site with third-party social media, advertising and analytics partners. You can view our Privacy Policy here and our Terms of Use here.

      Cookies

      Analytics

      These cookies help us track site metrics to improve our sites and provide a better user experience.

      Advertising/Social Media

      These cookies are used to serve advertisements aligned with your interests.

      Essential

      These cookies are required to provide basic functions like page navigation and access to secure areas of the website.

      Delete My Data

      Delete all cookies and associated data