working with plumbers

I build templates for my plumbers.  To help them get the drain location for Wedi showers in the correct location.  The wedi pans come in nominal sizes like 36x72.  And I cut them to fit.  So it ends up being easier for me to just make them a template to avoid confusion as to where I want the drain.  These templates also have the advantage of holding the 2" abs pipe perfectly plumb while they glue 

This is my cnc router.  I use to build cabinets.  Now I use it for fixturing like building drain templates.  It is very good at centering the drain in a space to manufacturer specifications.  

Sometimes the plumbers have the drain pipes roughed in for a traditional shower drain when I show up.  That's not a problem.  I keep a fitting saver on the truck so it can be easily swithched back to a wedi drain.  

This is the fitting saver.  It can cut out the riser from the ptrap clean.  

I use the technical data off of Master Wholesale website to manufacture my wedi templates.  Before that I usulally make a simple cad drawing like this to layout the and drain position in the room. Then client approves before cutting the drain template for the plumbers. 

After the plumber roughs in the drain using my template.....I level the floor.  They leave the riser pipe 2" high.  And I cut it to exact height after my floor leveler is dry.  

It is usually best practices to switch out the behind the wall part of the shower valve before tile goes in.  

You just need to pick the Brand to rough in.  Moen etc.  You don't need to pick the exact finish.

Then the wall gets closed up.  First with waterproof board.  

Then the tile goes in.

Then the trim goes in.  So you do not need to pick the trim finish at first.  People usually do so that it can be coordinated the with other fixtures.  But all you need to do is pick the brand at first.  

So the plubing decisions that need to be made befoer the tile goes in are.... 

1.  brand Moen, American Standard, Grohe etc.  

2.  Features.  Standard or Diverter.  Valve height.  Lower in tub showers than showers.  Shower head height.  And shower head type.  Rain style in wall or ceiling etc. 

3.  Locations

4.  And as per usual starts with a simple cad drawing. 

Here is the job that this drawing was for.  And yes that is my elbow.  It was a small bathroom and I had myself crammed into the corner trying to be far enough away to get a picture. 

The new sinks and faucets need to be on site for the slab installers.  They are the ones that connect the sinks to the slab.  The plumbers come in after to connect the faucets and drains.  But the fixture decisions need to be made at the start.

I made a cad drawing of this counter top for my clients as well.  So they had it for the plumber and slab people.

This job was getting a wall mount sink.  Wall mount sinks need to be bolted to the wall.  So you can see the importance of picking the fixture early.  So I could install the blocking for the plumber and ensure that the pipes weren't in the way.  

Here is that sink installed.  

You can't see it but this job had a backflow prevention valve installed inside of the vanity cabinet.  Because this was a basement my plumbers made sure that their basement wouldn't fill up with sewage if there was a major issue at the street.  

This happened to another client of mine.  

You will want to decide any major floor plan changes early on. 

So floor plan related changes are like.....

1.  Is toilet moving locations in the bathroom?  

2.  Are you changing from a tub shower to only a shower.  

3.  Are walls moving.  

I don't mean things like shower getting 2" wider(but mostly in the same place), or showerhead moving up 6".  Those aren't considered floor plan changes.  

And as per usual this typically all starts with a very simple cad drawing.  

Just to sketch out fixture locations.  

Which ones being replaced, and which being reused.