What's Your Basement Plumbing Project?

Basements are often the area that's developed at a later date. They can hold a variety of rooms and usually you will find a bedroom and laundry facilities downstairs. What's your basement plumbing project going to be?

One thing is for certain plumbing under slab can be quite difficult to work with when you are remodeling. It's common for the plumbing to be buried at least 4 inches under the concrete which makes it a real chore. Even when it isn't buried that deep it can still be tough.

Usually the drains and vents for a bathroom in the basement have been roughed in when the house was built. That however doesn't mean that's where you want to put the bathroom so you still may have some concrete breaking to do.

A couple of things before you start. First be sure you pull any permits you may be required to have by law. Second make sure you work safely. Wear proper ear, eye, foot, and hand protection at all times.

First of all, the cleanouts, shut offs, mechanical joints, and valves should all be easy to access. Any cleanouts that are concealed should be large enough to be able to remove the plug and rod the system.

Whether you are installing a laundry room, an extra sink, a bathroom, perhaps a kitchen for a suite, the basics remain the same. Here are some tips for installing a variety of fixtures.

1. Washers Normally washers and dryers are installed into a laundry room, however sometimes they live in a hall or other location. Where they are installed really doesn't matter. What's important is that you install the correct type of drain complete with trap and overflow. 2. Showers It is very common to install a shower in the basement. Whether you install a basic tin shower or a more expensive higher quality shower the install is exactly the same. You will need a water source for hot and cold and you will need a drain. Install a water conservation shower head with a flow rate that is not over 2 gallons a minute and your hot temperature shouldn't be more than 120F. 3. Bathtub You need to consider if you actually need to install a bathtub downstairs. Often a stand up shower is sufficient and it's much easier and cheaper to install. However if you decide to install a tub you will have to determine how much space you have to work with and what style of tub you want to install. Corner tubs take up less space but provide a more luxurious soak - something to think about. While whirlpool tubs are very popular and provide the ultimate in relaxation. 4. Bathroom Sinks So what style of sink will it be? How about one of those fabulous pedestal sinks or one of the funky wall mounts. With the correct faucet it will look perfect. You'll need a hot and cold water source as well as a tie into the drain system. 5. Toilets Today you can get many toilets that are very good at conserving water. This makes good sense for your pocket book and your environment. There are a variety of styles of toilets

Basement plumbing is identical to main floor plumbing with the exception that you are dealing with concrete which can be a real workout if you need to make major changes.