| Rough-In a Shower and Tub |
| James learns how to rough-in bathroom plumbing. |
From "Trade School"
episode DTRS-207 |
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In this segment, plumbing apprentice James Tittle helps to give a bathroom a new lease on life, both inside and out (figure A). James' focus will be on getting the new plumbing roughed-in to support a new shower and Roman bathtub (figure B). It's a big assignment that encompasses several trades, but with guidance from master plumber Carl Lopes, James hopes to prove his work will hold water.
Basic Tools:wire brush
pipe cutter
handheld burnishing tool
propane torch
shower valve
copper pipe
paste flux
self-solder copper unions
Before any plumbing is done, the bathroom needs to be gutted. James and Carl get started by removing several fixtures in the bathroom, including the entire bath and shower stall. When James tears off the old tiles and drywall, he finds serious mold growth. It's most likely caused by tiles set directly onto the standard drywall instead of a hardi-backer or cement board in between (figure C). Meanwhile, Carl cuts out a partitioned wall to make room for the new Roman tub. Over a period of several days, the old tub fixture is removed and the area is stripped down to studs and floor joists (figure D). Carl, who has a solid background in carpentry, later constructs a new wall and a bench for the new tub.
With the demolition phase behind them, the rough-in can begin. James makes sure to shut off the main water and bleed the pipes before beginning any plumbing work. James' first order of business is to pipe in a new shower valve that later diverts water between the showerhead and a hand wand accessory (figure E).James starts by stripping the new valve of its delicate inner components and plastic faceplate to prevent them from damage (figure F). He then prepares the remaining valve shell by burnishing the ports with a wire brush (figure G). This treatment helps make a tighter seal during soldering.
James now uses a pipe cutter to free the old shower valve and pipes from the incoming hot and cold lines (figure H). Once the valve is removed, James caps the cut hot and cold lines with self-soldering copper unions to begin building up new pipes.
He starts this by cutting segments from copper pipe stock to extend the hot and cold lines up (figure I). He then burnishes the ends with a handheld burnishing tool (figure J), caps them with elbow unions, and then inserts them into the unions previously installed (figure K). Meanwhile, Carl tends to the valve by fitting and cutting segments of pipe into the hot and cold ports on the valve (figure L). These segments eventually connect to the hot and cold "ins". He also braches off two small segments of pipe for the showerhead and hand wand.
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