DIY Network

Wet Bar Rough-In Get the plumbing ready for a new wet bar. From "Wasted Spaces" episode DWSP-302

Flexible tubing makes this installation a snap.

You can't have a wet bar without water – and that means venturing down into the crawlspace for some plumbing work. Karl takes Chad down below to run the water and drain lines, then cuts the holes to bring them up to the cabinet location. Also in this episode, Karl shows Chad how to give the completed cabinets a striking antique finish.

Since this project involves tapping into water and drain lines, it's essential to consult a professional before getting started. He or she will need to actually make the connections to the household systems – and can run the lines if you'd rather not crawl around under the house.

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Wet Bar Rough-In

Tools: tape measure safety glasses marker, pencils hole saw PVC pipe cutters flashlight

Materials: PVC pipe and connectors T connectors sink faucet shut-off valves supply lines

• Check out the crawlspace. Go into the crawlspace under the house and find the area underneath the proposed wet bar. Pull away the insulation and mark this spot on the underside of the floor so it will be easy to find again later.

  Tip: Karl followed the ductwork under the house to find the right spot on the underside of the floor. It can be helpful to have someone inside the house knock on the floor at the right spot to help pinpoint the area.

  Safety Alert: Crawlspaces aren't very welcoming to humans – but they can be great havens for rodents, insects, snakes and even raccoons and possums. Bring a strong flashlight and take a good look around to make sure nothing hazardous is lurking nearby. If a pest control service has applied chemicals in the crawlspace, check with a qualified professional before entering the space.
  

  	Figure A
  	Figure B
  	Figure C

• Get help from a pro. Have a professional tap into the home's hot and cold water lines underneath the house (figure A). For this project, Karl (a licensed contractor), replaced straight pipe connectors with special T connectors that include shutoff valves. These connectors are designed to work with the easy-connect flexible tubing used in this project.

• Run flexible water lines. Attach flexible tubing to the T-connectors and run the tubes to the marked location for the wet bar. Karl used red tubing for the hot water and blue for cold.

• Check and drill. Double-check the location for the wet bar and drill three pilot holes up through the floor – one for the two water lines, and one for a drain line. It's important to drill up from below to avoid hitting any water or electrical lines hidden under the floor; drill pilot holes instead of full-size holes to avoid damaging the floor above.

  Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection and use caution when using a power drill or other power tools.

• Drill down from above. Up inside the house, use hole saw to drill through the floor for the drain line, using the pilot hole as a guide. Use a spade bit to drill through the pilot holes for the water lines.

• Run the lines. Back in the crawlspace, run the red and blue tubing up through the holes (figure B). Head back up to the room and pull the tubing up through the floor (figure C)

• Deal with the drain. Have a professional plumber install the drain pipe, connect it to the household drainage system and install a removable cap on the pipe. The cap will prevent sewer gases from entering the house.

With the plumbing rough-in complete, it's time to install and plumb the new wet bar.