Of copper or ABS... or...

[latexia707]

Hey all...

First thing first... why is it that a shower needs a 2" waste pipe and a tub just a 1.5" pipe?

Now to the real question... we all know that cast iron waste pipe is the most silent solution... ABS is noisy, water reverberating inside the pipe and making you wish you'd never use it... and... then... there is the copper waste pipe...

i remember on my old tub there was a 1.5" copper waste pipe... and as far as i can tell... it was not that noisy... is there any reason why not use copper?

thanks all!

[drtyhands]

Copper is more expensive and labor intensive.

A shower has a smaller amount of water it can hold so it can overflow quicker do to a smaller clogged drain.

[cpw]

Copper is more expensive and labor intensive.
Does it have any advantages compared to plastic?

[drtyhands]

Does it have any advantages compared to plastic?
Non combustable,easier than cast-iron in some cases.

[plumb4life]

Copper DWV is sometimes used in high rise buildings because it can be prefabricated on the ground and the waste and vent trees are light enough to carry up through the construction elevator the the bathrooms, especially in typical installations where you may have 50 of the same.

[wrench spinner]

Does it have any advantages compared to plastic?

can handle the high temperatures of a commercial kitchen!

[PLUMBER RICK]

copper is also good for a tight space. fittings are a tighter pattern.

also copper can hold a much higher head pressure for testing multi stories;)

rick.

[latexia707]

In so many words... either 3 is fine... well then in another forum someone stted that ABS could last 200-400 years... as opposed to cast iron which coult last less and copper even lesser... but then again i read that copper pipes were found in ancient rome...

so now if we value longevity... which would last longer? miond... i wish i could be around in 400 years... i plan not!

cheers!

[row]

i agree w wrench spinner that copper and cast will handle the higher temp where as abs will warp over time and also copper and cast iron have a lower thermal expansion rate so u wont get "creepage" in your walls. As far as i understand copper is hella pricey now but like rick said it does fit better in tight areas but u do have to solder it. Another lil tid bit is that cast iron and copper are good for sound but a big reason is that in the case of a fire the abs toxic fumes are lethal and fire wont burn through floors/walls with cast iron or copper

[snake]

You can use 1.5 for a shower but in below grade installations you (unofficially) need 2" for clean out purposes.

[plumbworker]

copper waste also has a very smooth bore with a reamed and properly installed copper waste system clogs are almost unheard of.. Where i work in san francisco c/i and copper dwv are required for waste in homes over two storys i tend to use it alot.The size of the fitting and o.d. of the tube makes it's use great for tight spaces and can pre fab installed in areas cast iron won't fit when your doing crazy custom homes it helps alot but it is still noisy....

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/laundryclayst.jpg

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/lavclayst.jpg

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/loavsetups.jpg

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/wastefortowislands.jpg

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/island3.jpg

[plumb4life]

Hey, you're not gonna let them put drywall over that work are you? Clear plexiglass only! Looks good. :)

[Gene Bickford]

NICE LOOKING WORK.
I don't see much copper DW in my area. When I do, I always take a minute to admire it. I've never seen anything like the pics you've posted, around here.

I don't know what it is about copper that appeals to me but sometimes it's almost like art.
Pex and PVC are almost like architectural rape.

[drtyhands]

Nice looking work.

You guys were asking how much to charge per fixture;)

I wouldn't want to have to look at the price of realestate in the neighborhood your puting this in.

They let you drill through that Paralamb in that span?

Nice working on jobs that have money in them.

[JCsPlumbing]

Real art Plumbworker. I'd probably have the "East Coast Burn" all over the place. :)

Why are they insistent on enforcing DWV this way there?

J.C.

[drtyhands]

Real art Plumbworker. I'd probably have the "East Coast Burn" all over the place. :)

Why are they insistent on enforcing DWV this way there?

J.C.

Cast Iron or Copper for resi over three floors.This is a custom home where there is enough money to pay for the clean work of copper.

Lower budget/knowledge would be fighting in the cast.

[JCsPlumbing]

I thought the OP said that inspections insisted upon metallic for any DWV & was just curious why?

J.C.

[plumbworker]

Nice looking work.

You guys were asking how much to charge per fixture;)

I wouldn't want to have to look at the price of realestate in the neighborhood your puting this in.

They let you drill through that Paralamb in that span?

Nice working on jobs that have money in them.

1)I was asking WHAT..??

2)this job is in pacific heights very rich area of san fran

3)umm no i try to drill as many unseccesary beams as possible

4) i think this job was a 5million dollar remodel

[plumbworker]

I thought the OP said that inspections insisted upon metallic for any DWV & was just curious why?

J.C.

no you can put abs in a 1 bath single story home..but theres not that many of those around.. i've never worked with plastic waste period!! the reason for metallic is because copper and c/i dont burn and put off toxic smoke to fire fighters etc.

[drtyhands]

1)I was asking WHAT..??

2)this job is in pacific heights very rich area of san fran

3)umm no i try to drill as many unseccesary beams as possible

4) i think this job was a 5million dollar remodel

Too bad we aren't face to face.Makes this so much easier.

1)People here a few weeks ago were asking how much do other members on the forum charge per fixture when Tool was talking about projects in his area.It wasn't about you.

3)I asked for a reason....
I can't see where the beam loads.The powers that be may want to know why I didn't use the drop.

[JCsPlumbing]

1) It was me as Tool said it was 2 or 3 g's per fixture. (I think that's the right number)

Yes that's higher than here which is fine as prices & cost of living are all over the place everywhere. I didn't care if it was 10 g's per fixture.

What I didn't understand with Tool's pricing system is that didn't cover labor & materials if I recall. So why have the fixture price at all? Didn't understand what it included and the point of having it. :rolleyes:

J.C.

[plumbworker]

see that upright wye on the 2" thats picking up another island sink and that penetration is the foot vent in order to maintain pitch had to be drilled.

[plumbworker]

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/undersideisland.jpg

[JCsPlumbing]

Is that a relief vent of sorts at the W/M setup or a drain from above?

Thanks.

J.C.

[JCsPlumbing]

And are those wraparounds at the sole plate considered to be fireproofing?

J.C.

[drtyhands]

Plumbworker,
Thanks for the info.Didn't meen to set you on defense;)


The majority of plumbers should be looking at your work in awe and appreciating the fact that your instalation is in itself clean but you also take the neccessary steps to not deface the other trades work.Many others hardly take the time to make their work look presentable let alone caring wether or not they fry the living ---- out of the others.

Nice work.I'm glad you have earned the right to be on projects that pay you to do it so cleanly.I've been on them.

Also to add,another advantage to the DWV is the fact that on remodel up there the new No hub typically won't go back in where old leaded fittings come out so the copper can go in without either hacking out oversize holes or reframing.

ADAM

[drtyhands]

And are those wraparounds at the sole plate considered to be fireproofing?

J.C.
Private residences in my area do not enforce fire caulking.Always in multi-family and non combustable commercial.

Do you guys fire caulk out there J.C.?:p

Your question does make sense.

[plumbworker]

Is that a relief vent of sorts at the W/M setup or a drain from above?

Thanks.

J.C.
it's picking up a lav on the floor above.. i havent been on jobs large enough for relief vents in a long long time...

[drtyhands]

http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq168/plumbworker/undersideisland.jpg

What's holding up these TJI's?
Don't tell me the framer thinks end nailing is going to cut it.
Or are you so good the framer is trying to hurry to stay in front of you that he's going to drop back and put them on while the homeowner spills out her "bag of a hundred changes".That's the other plus of high dollar jobs like this,you can bid low knowing that they are going to double the budget with change orders that can be billed T+M.

[latexia707]

A little bit of burnt paralamb... but i swear... those sweats are near perfection!

i'm no pro by any stretch... just a DIYer... and everytime i look at plubming work... the first thing i go for are the sweats... and most often times... when you see no lead drips... well.. .it's done by a pro... and you my friend... are a pro... in every sense of the word!

hats off!

[plumbworker]

What's holding up these TJI's?
Don't tell me the framer thinks end nailing is going to cut it.
Or are you so good the framer is trying to hurry to stay in front of you that he's going to drop back and put them on while the homeowner spills out her "bag of a hundred changes".That's the other plus of high dollar jobs like this,you can bid low knowing that they are going to double the budget with change orders that can be billed T+M.
you nailed it right on the head my friend!