New Construction DIY

This DIY contains:

• How To Build Custom Showers

• 3 or 2 Stages of Plumbing Installation

• Plumbing Inspection & Code

How To Build Custom Showers

Step 1- Create A Design & Draw A Layout

You’re not limited to building a traditional square shower enclosure. Consider such customizable options such as walk-in without a door, a shower room instead of a stall and even a completely sealed shower that doubles as a sauna. Websites and shelter magazines are great resources for stirring the imagination. Tape the floor indicating where to install shower walls. Make sure you have enough room for the design considered. If not, take correct and accurate measurements of the space available to draw a better detailed diagram calculating all lengths and heights. Always check your local plumbing codes to make sure your materials and installation meet the necessary codes. Consult with a professional plumber if you are adding or reorienting any of the water sources.

Step 2 – Framing & Installing

Construct your shower walls using traditional procedures including placing studs at 16-inch intervals. Make sure to create reinforced foot rails and head rails if your shower walls do not reach the ceiling. Before finishing the walls with drywall, sheetrock or other cover, install all necessary plumbing and electrical wiring. Allow enough room beneath the shower floor to accommodate drainage piping and a drain trap.

Step 3 – Prep & Form

Your customized shower may include extra features like overhead lighting, multiple shower heads and even placement of radio and, yes, waterproofed television. Custom water delivery systems can also be installed that produce massaging-like streams of water emitted from jet sprays installed throughout the shower space. When using concrete, trowel a shower base with a gentle slope leading from all walls toward the shower drain opening. If you’ve purchase a shower enclosure kit, a preformed base should be one of its components.

Step 4 – Tiling & Finishing

Apply a thin layer of mortar over the waterproof sheetrock hung for wall covering. Once dried, apply a sealing coat before laying tile in whatever pattern you have chosen. If you have the budget, get creative by using natural stone or slate instead of tile. Be sure to follow proper procedures for applying grout to make sure any tile or stone is aid correctly so nothing leaks. Finish your bathroom floor with natural material that provides some traction when the surface is wet.

Step 5 – The Finishing Touches

Once the floor and walls are completed, attach all faucet, hand bars, shower heads, shelves and benches plus any other accessories to complete the project. Inspect all attachments making sure all connections are tight and all shower components function properly.

Stages of Plumbing Installation

Stage 1- Slab

The slab stage is not a part on every home. It is a part on patio and slab homes. These home have the drain system in the dirt below the concrete that is poured for the foundation of the house. The plumber comes out and digs a sloping ditch then lays his drain pipe in the trench, connecting the system together and stubbing up. This is how the drain gets out of these type of homes.

Stage 2 – Rough In

The rough-in stage consists of running the vents up and out, stubbing out the drain, running the water line, and stubbing it out as well. If this weren’t a slab, then the drain would have to be ran underneath in the crawlspace as well on this rough-in.

Stage 3 – Trim

Trim is where the plumber comes and sets toilets, faucets, shower trim, and other things like that. This is the final stage of the plumbing installation process. When he is done, the house will be ready for the resident.

In every new construction job, there Is an inspection that all plumbers have to pass. There are certain codes and requirements that we have to meet. These are in place to ensure that the product we are providing and that the builder is providing is a good product and acceptable to live in.