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Discussion Forum

Plumbing “rough-in”… what is it?

markls8 | Posted in Construction Techniques on September 20, 2003 08:21am

A blueprint specifies a “rough-in three piece bath” in an unfinished loft in a new- construction house. 

My interpretation of this is; rough drain stub outs for bathtub (under the floor, no trap), sink, and floor toilet drain; plus individual hot and cold stub outs for the tub and sink; plus a cold stub out for the toilet.

Shut-off taps (ball valves are common here) at each hot and cold water termination might be optional unless they were specified. 

What is the consensus on the definition of “rough-in three piece bath”?. What would you install given this instruction?

Thanks in advance – Brian.

 

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Replies

  1. brownbagg | Sep 20, 2003 09:22pm | #1

    everything on the other side of drywall

  2. ccal | Sep 20, 2003 09:25pm | #2

    Everything mentioned plus ventstack, usually doesnt include stops just capped off.

    1. markls8 | Sep 22, 2003 06:25am | #3

      Then, since it's in an unfinished loft it would include everything behind the drywall, AS IF  the  drywall were installed? The fact that the requirement is made in an unfinshed area, (defined on the print as being "future finished") would that not affect the "three piece bath rough-in" definition, or is that definition as universal, in your opinions, as it is in mine?

      Thanks - Brian.

      1. toast953 | Sep 23, 2003 09:31am | #6

        (defined on the print as being "future finished,,    Around here, Arizona, you have got, in new const. 1st- rough in,2nd- top-out,3rd- trim. At  Rough-in, all drain lines will be provided, along  with water supplies. At the Top-out phase, plumbers will "penetrate" the wall line, and the roof plane. Though  in your case, the option/communication,, should have been brought to your attention. Seems like there is something missing in the communication chain, though don't feel like the Lone Ranger. A lot of your question (s), relate to your job site conditions, ie just how accesible is the future 3 piece bath??, are you going to have to violate ceilings and walls in the future,   or is it????? good Luck,  good sleep, and good communication be headed your way. Jim J

  3. User avater
    JeffBuck | Sep 23, 2003 06:00am | #4

    Brian ....

    how 'bout ya ask who ever drew the blueprints?

    I'm thinking there's more to this mystery....

    Who ya trying to sue?

    And did U get the scope of work in writting??

    Jeff

    Buck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

     Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

    1. markls8 | Sep 23, 2003 06:46am | #5

      I've contacted the architect and he's away on vacation until the end of this week and I wanted to get a consensus on this forum since this may be a time-sensitive issue. The blueprint is what defines the scope of the work in this case.

      I'm not suing anyone, not my style. Other means of dispute (no dispute yet!) resolution are more desirable. Sorry my question can't be more dramatic than just that.

      Long story short - some things weren't done right earlier on in construction and they were corrected at my builder's expense (which they should have been- they were his mistakes). Lucky for me I chose a reputable builder. I need to be aware of these things because I'd like to continue to trust that my builder is providing me with what I have paid for in my original contract; such as the degree of "roughness" in the plumbing.

      Nothing more than that here, and nothing less. I'm being as candid as I expect you to be in answering my questions.

      Regards - Brian.

      Edited 9/22/2003 11:48:43 PM ET by MARKLS8

      1. User avater
        JeffBuck | Sep 23, 2003 06:54pm | #7

        then I'll get to my real point...

        Just ask the builder!

        Not that there's anything wrong with getting outside info ..... but sometimes I wonder why people ask certain Q's on line when they could just turn to the person they're paying and ask ....Hey, what's this 3-fix rough-in mean?

        IF ya didn't trust the guy ..I could see. ...making sure you weren't getting ripped off...

        sometime this new internet world confuses me .... over complicates simple situations.

        Probably just me .....

        JeffBuck Construction   Pittsburgh,PA

         Fine Carpentery.....While U Waite                  

        1. markls8 | Sep 23, 2003 10:31pm | #8

          Precisely. Never hurts to get a second opinion. Some conventions and norms are universal. Does the internet complicate things really? Or are they more simple now?

          44 - Good points. You asked...

           "ie just how accesible is the future 3 piece bath??, are you going to have to violate ceilings and walls in the future"

          So far, for the bathtub drain I've had to chip through 1 1/2" of radiant-heated concrete floor, between the tubing, saw through the subfloor around an already-cut 2" dia. hole on the other side of which was no drain for about 6 feet! So the 2" dia. hole for the drain was cut in the subfloor, but no drain was run up to it, and then it was concreted over. Now, another hole will have to be cut in the floor to connect the tub drain to the main drain. All this after I provided a drawing with precise dimensions for the bath fixtures.   Not to mention that the IFR tubing should not be under a tub (let alone the refrigerator which I also told the plumber of its location beforehand.)

          Since there is no drywall up I will be able to run all the water lines without so much trouble. But the whole thing irritates me because I believe that the builder is trying to recoup on things that would have been included had he not made mistakes elsewhere. That is NOT the way a contract SHOULD work. I believe that I already paid for rough-ins to each fixture, but if that is not the convention, and I am mistaken then I would like to know that too.

          Regards and thanks for the replies - Brian.

          Edited 9/23/2003 3:32:45 PM ET by MARKLS8

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