Residential Roughing/Finish Preferences

[ericwagner4]

When you rough/finish a new home/renovation:
What do you like/use?
(i had this post set up chart like (so it was easier to read) - but spaces were erased)

Item: My Answers No Budget

Drainage type PVC CI verticals
Water pipe type Copper M Copper L
Gas Pipe type Wardflex ?
Tub/Shwr valves Moen Posi-Temp ? Grohe
Body sprays /volume controls/ Hand held sprayers Ondine Rohl
Shower pans Musty ? Fiberglass
1/2/3 Pc. fiberglass tub/shwr Sterling ?
Tubs Americast Cast Iron wide
Tub drains Kindred PVC tip toe PVC cable drain
Whirlpool ? Kohler ?
Water heater Takagi Mobius ? indirect w/h
wash. mach. pan or flr. drn. floor drain ? fiberglass flr. drn.
Boiler Weil McClain ? a new wall hung
Toilets Gerber Toto w/ $1000 seat
Pedestals ? American Standard ? Kohler
Faucets Symmons ? Grohe
Stainless Steel kitchen sink ? 8" deep Elkay
Basket Strainer Duo Specification ? Kohler
Hose bib B&G 1/4 turn Moen H & C model
Finishes Chrome Oil Rubbed Bronze

[westcoastplumber]

When you rough/finish a new home/renovation:
What do you like/use?
(i had this post set up chart like (so it was easier to read) - but spaces were erased)

Item: My Answers No Budget

Drainage type PVC CI verticals ABS, cast on second stories if customer pays for it
Water pipe type Copper M Copper L type L copper only
Gas Pipe type Wardflex ? Galv steel or tracpipe
Tub/Shwr valves Moen Posi-Temp ? Grohe Kohler/ symmons/kallista
Body sprays /volume controls/ Hand held sprayers Ondine Rohl Speakman
Shower pans Musty ? Fiberglass hot mop/ tile is best
1/2/3 Pc. fiberglass tub/shwr Sterling ?
Tubs Americast Cast Iron wide Americast or kohler cast iron
Tub drains Kindred PVC tip toe PVC cable drain ABS tip toe
Whirlpool ? Kohler ? Kohler
Water heater Takagi Mobius ? indirect w/h Bradford white/ rinnai tankless
wash. mach. pan or flr. drn. floor drain ? fiberglass flr. drn.
Boiler Weil McClain ? a new wall hung
Toilets Gerber Toto w/ $1000 seat Kohler cimarron
Pedestals ? American Standard ? Kohler Kohler fixtures
Faucets Symmons ? Grohe Kohler
Stainless Steel kitchen sink ? 8" deep Elkay Franke
Basket Strainer Duo Specification ? Kohler Pro Flow or kohler
Hose bib B&G 1/4 turn Moen H & C model
Finishes Chrome Oil Rubbed Bronze Chrome/ brushed nickle


My answers are all in red;)

[ToUtahNow]

Pretty much what Robert said except for the tip toe drain (YUCK)

Mark

[drtyhands]

I like PVC waste better than ABS.Cast overhead.

Ive never done a job where I picked out the fixtures and I don't fix'm.

Just have your interior designer fax me her selection.

[ericwagner4]

Robert,
i used to like ABS more at 1 time also - thought there was less of a chance for leaks & can fix leaks w/ a hot screwdriver,but dont really like the summer banana effect though
now im more into PVC - low chance of leaks also as long as every joint primed & glued correctly
+ psychological research states when people see white they think clean (as in why doctors & nurses wear white coats in hospitals)
i especially cant stand seeing ABS traps in cabinets/vanities
although, the 10 bath house we're roughing now will be done all in PVC foam core, the roof penetrations will be ABS (transitioned w/ some green glue)
why do you use galvanized gas pipe in a house?
does it have a longer life expectancy like L copper compared to M?
Kallista valves & Franke sinks are nice?
thanks for responses
eric

[drtyhands]

If people were willing to put in access panels trip lever tub waste are nicer.But for now its tip toe.Plus it's easier for Homer to maintain.

[westcoastplumber]

Robert,
i used to like ABS more at 1 time also - thought there was less of a chance for leaks & can fix leaks w/ a hot screwdriver,but dont really like the summer banana effect though
now im more into PVC - low chance of leaks also as long as every joint primed & glued correctly
+ psychological research states when people see white they think clean (as in why doctors & nurses wear white coats in hospitals)
i especially cant stand seeing ABS traps in cabinets/vanities
although, the 10 bath house we're roughing now will be done all in PVC foam core, the roof penetrations will be ABS (transitioned w/ some green glue)
why do you use galvanized gas pipe in a house?
does it have a longer life expectancy like L copper compared to M?
Kallista valves & Franke sinks are nice?
thanks for responses
eric

Kallista fixtures and Franke sinks are excellent, as long as the customers wanna pay for the quality. I never go anything less then kohler on residential and symmons on commercial or rental units.

I love galv for gas because you can use it looks cleaner and is rust resistent, I can use it ouside, above ground and inside also, less fittings and nipples to carry on my van.

My fellow plumbers back east say it is bad because it flakes, I never have had that problem, it isn't a concern out here, and code approves the use of galv for gas here.

Between you and me, I think we have better gas here in the west;):D

[ericwagner4]

If people were willing to put in access panels trip lever tub waste are nicer.But for now its tip toe.Plus it's easier for Homer to maintain.
u dont like the cable drains as opposed to the trip levers?
some r pretty nice

[westcoastplumber]

If people were willing to put in access panels trip lever tub waste are nicer.But for now its tip toe.Plus it's easier for Homer to maintain.



Excellent point Adam, an access panel is needed for slip joint w/o's, I think tip toe is nice, they have to be adjusted right;):D

[drtyhands]

I don't think you can use it Eric.You got bad gas.

[ToUtahNow]

If people were willing to put in access panels trip lever tub waste are nicer.But for now its tip toe.Plus it's easier for Homer to maintain.

Of course if you use brass ferrules on the W&O instead of slip-joint washers you don't need access panels.

Mark

[drtyhands]

Excellent point Adam, an access panel is needed for slip joint w/o's, I think tip toe is nice, they have to be adjusted right;):D
Right...They have to be adjusted

[drtyhands]

Of course if you use brass ferrules on the W&O instead of slip-joint washers you don't need access panels.

Mark
All seriousness why have I never heard this before.I thought it was due to mechanical joints.Why would the brass ferrule alter the application.

[ToUtahNow]

All seriousness why have I never heard this before.I thought it was due to mechanical joints.Why would the brass ferrule alter the application.

They are consider a permanent joint which never need maintanance unlike rubber or plastic slip-joint washers which need to be replaced on occassion.

Mark

[drtyhands]

Mark,
That is a very large piece of information,I thank you very much.Ferrules are so easy to be had.

I do appreciate this Mark

I'll buy your ammo for the trap festival:D

Adam

[westcoastplumber]

Thanks Mark for that info, I have heard it before, a very long time ago, just forgot, see, things you don't use, you lose.

I am so used to using the ABS type w/o's

[drtyhands]

Robert,
I haven't seen the ABS W/O's they are putting out these days so I don't know if this matters.
Last week one of my contractors sister had a master jacuzzi tub that needed some maintenance.one of the items was the stopper wasn't sealing.The thin rubber washer was missing.What a pain to find that exact size.I like the brass better than the thin ABS one I was working on.The brass has a solid,heavy sliding stop and a brass adjustment rod,unlike the forementioned with it's rusted steel rod and nut.GARBOOJE

[yasudaplumbing]

Item: My Answers

Drainage type PVC/DWV.....C.I. no hub for upper floors if they wanna pay

Water pipe type Copper L or K if underground (if they wanna pay)

Gas Pipe type Galvanized from meter wrapped with 10 mil. if underground...... Brasscraft Yellow flex @ fixtures.

Tub/Shwr valves Delta R10000unws with T17430 trim, Grohe, Hansgrohe

Body sprays /volume controls/ Hand held sprayer Kohler, Grohe

Shower pans Copper pan base for tile & marble, cultured marble for econo plumbing.

1/2/3 Pc. fiberglass tub/shwr Never

Tubs I recommend only Kohler C.I., anything else the customer decides on. Briggs pressed steel for rentals with tubs 54" and 48".

Tub drains Only Kohler K-7160TF/AF series

Whirlpool ? Whatever the customer wants.

Water heater Ruud, Rheem, Richmond, Bradford White, whatevers available.

wash. mach. pan or flr. drn. N/A

Boiler N/A

Toilets Kohler or Toto

Pedestals Any, all of em' are a PIA.

Faucets Delta, Kohler, Grohe, Hansgrohe

Stainless Steel kitchen sink ? Self rimming - Elkay......Undermount - C Tech I, http://www.dovae.com/sinks/ctech%20sinks/c_tech_i.html# These SS undermounts are made in Italy, Check out the Lutecia model, I bought this for $400 total, shipped Fedex 2nd day to Hawaii. The quality on this sink is thru the roof, 10" deep, High polished 16 gauge bowls with 15 gauge mounting flange, good sound proofing, comes in a red cloth bag with a bunch of accessories. This model is the largest double compartment undermount available I believe.

Basket Strainer Kohler or if econo job..Deep Cup (Zurn, Dearborn, Proflo)

Hose bib We use Arrowheads here

Finishes Chrome


I don't like the ABS/PVC w&o, there is no way to secure the overflow pipe when you gotta snake them, it runs the risk of breaking something. The KOHLER waste & overflow has the extra securing bracket and the Brass drain ring as well as the overflow plate will last forever.

I didnt' know they made brass slip joint washers, I know of the lead types.
Here in Hawaii, if we solder the w&o drains, an access isn't required. As an added measure, I still use the SJ nuts & washers though.

[ericwagner4]

thanks for posts guys
i learned/got ideas about 10 things w/ this thread

[westcoastplumber]

Robert,
I haven't seen the ABS W/O's they are putting out these days so I don't know if this matters.
Last week one of my contractors sister had a master jacuzzi tub that needed some maintenance.one of the items was the stopper wasn't sealing.The thin rubber washer was missing.What a pain to find that exact size.I like the brass better than the thin ABS one I was working on.The brass has a solid,heavy sliding stop and a brass adjustment rod,unlike the forementioned with it's rusted steel rod and nut.GARBOOJE


Yeah, they make 2 sizes for the tip toe drains, the thing I do not like about the linkage is after awhile they break and the bell falls in the drain, great job for the micro thought, to see it and pull it out.

I have had a few jobs where I have been abl to get the bell out with a coat hanger, but had a couple I had to get under the house.

As for the abs waste and overflows, mentioned by another memeber here, the manufacture I get mine from have a bracket on the overflow tube, so I never have any problem with that, now with the slip joint, you have abetter chance of the overflow moving or falling apart.

[PLUMBER RICK]

adam before you buy 1.5'' slip joint ferrules, check with me. i have hundreds of the 1/2 ferrules. the full double bevel ones are too deep and don't work. i also have plenty of the lead ferrules.

trade you some brass ferrules for steel shot;) i have lead:eek:

rick.

havn't installed a tub access panel since 1981. other than for a spa motor.