Custom home builders in the Hamilton and Niagara regions refer to the rough-in stage of the building process as the time when all of the basic framing is completed. The electrical and plumbing installations are made, but the walls and ceilings are not yet closed off.
What is a Plumbing Rough In?
A plumbing rough-in means that all the pipes – both for the water supply and drainage – have been run through holes in the studs. All pipe connections have been completed, but fixtures such as sinks and faucets have yet to be installed.
And although rough-in plumbing is essential to all builds, there are some unique considerations that make it particularly important during the building of a custom home.
Rough-in plumbing is essential to the permit and inspection process
Once the walls and ceilings go up in a custom home, you will no longer be able to see the majority of the home’s plumbing system. So before any drywall goes up, a building inspector must come in and approve (or fail) the rough-ins. If the building inspector does not give the rough-ins a passing grade, then the work must be corrected before the building project can continue.
What is the main problem that inspectors find with plumbing rough-ins?
When installing a custom home’s plumbing, the plumber must cut holes in the timber frames to run the pipes through. This can lead to major problems with the frame’s integrity if the holes are too big, in the wrong places, or if there are too many holes. A poorly done plumbing rough-in can mean that other work must be halted while the frames are being reinforced.
Why only an experienced plumber should do rough-ins for custom homes?
Plumbing rough-ins for custom homes can be more challenging then production homes. This is because the home is … well … custom. With a production home, a plumber will be installing the same rough-ins over and over again.
Custom homes, on the other hand, are unique. They may have different or upgraded features. This requires the plumber to have more knowledge and experience as they may have to work out different solutions for each custom home.
Time and cost-effective solutions for custom home plumbing rough-ins
Plumbers who do not have experience with custom home rough-ins may charge less per hour, but that lack of experience can end up costing you more time and money in the long run. Rough ins may take longer to complete by someone who does not have sufficient experience. Furthermore, if the rough-in fails inspection, it will cause a delay in construction, meaning that the overall price will go up.
If you are investing in or building a custom home, it is far better to hire the most competent contractors – including plumbers – as it is these experts who are likely to save you the most time and money over the duration of the project.
Contact Wentworth Plumbing today
If you are building a custom home in the Hamilton, Halton, or Niagara region, you need to work with a new construction plumber who understands the importance of plumbing rough-ins in a custom home and how to do them properly. Contact Wentworth Plumbing today to learn how we can help you.