Although many folks start with the design of the bathroom, an essential element in a bath remodel or new construction is the plumbing. Existing plumbing in a remodel may or may not allow the design you wish to achieve. Are you able to replumb, or will you have to design to the existing plumbing? It is relatively easy to move, rearrange and add to existing plumbing.
Instructions
1. Measure your bathroom space. If your walls are torn out to the studs, be sure to allow for finished walls.
2. Determine which and how many fixtures you wish to install. Will you have two sinks, or one? A shower or just a tub? Or is this a half bath with only a sink and toilet?
3. Either on graph paper or a computer program, draw your bathroom layout to a scale and add the fixtures you have chosen, noting where the plumbing is needed. This step ensures that all fixtures will fit in the space, that you have adequate room between the fixtures to walk and meet code and that you will have all the necessary plumbing available to each fixture.
4. After you have chosen where each fixture goes, it is easy to determine your incoming plumbing needs. Sinks and tubs need a supply of both hot and cold, but the toilet needs only cold. Plumbing codes will determine the placement of water inlets. To avert compliance problems, install inlets at the proper height.
5. Next, the waste, or drain, system must be calculated. Each fixture needs a waste pipe that leads to your sewer connection or septic tank. There are many variables, such as size of pipe and how many fixtures are attached to a pipe. Plumbing codes regulate the size of the waste pipes, so use the proper size.
6. Each waste line also must be vented to make sure toxic sewer gases do not enter your living space. Vent pipe size is based on the size and number of waste pipes, as well as how far away the waste pipe is from the vent pipe. This can get extremely complicated. If you are not sure properly vent after accessing available resources, consult a professional.
Tags: existing plumbing, have chosen, , Plumbing codes, waste pipe, waste pipes