View ChannelsFeatured: Finance
View ShowroomsFeatured: Radiantec - Radiant Solar Heating

BobVila.com

Home

Installing a New Plumbing Trap

Bob meets Bob Hubbard, the plumber who is cutting into old cast-iron pipe with a snap cutter. The old P-trap is removed because the new tub has been moved to a new location, and therefore the P-trap will have to be moved also. They are replacing the cast-iron drain lines with PVC (polyvinylchloride) pipe which is pretty much the standard now. The plumber demonstrates how to glue or cement PVC fittings together with the proper glue, which sets up almost immediately. They replace the subfloor and are ready for the shower base. The shower base is custom-made to fit manmade marble. Bob installs the drain fitting which will make up to the S-trap that was just installed.

Get Adobe Flash Player to see this content.

Chapters from this episode

Building a Free Floating Deck Now Playing

Building a Free Floating Deck

Saving Money on Installing Windows Now Playing

Saving Money on Installing Windows

Installing a New Plumbing Trap Now Playing

Installing a New Plumbing Trap

Clip Transcript For:

Installing a New Plumbing Trap

computer-generated transcript - may not be 100% accurate

" -Bob Hubbard/Plumber is about to cut the, it broke, the old cast iron. What do you call this, what kind of a trap?"

" -P trap."

" -A P trap. This used to be under the bath tub, right Bob?"

" -Yeah."

" -And why do we have to get rid of it?"

" -We're updating a 5 foot over here close to the edge of the bath tub. Our new shower is being moved over, 10 inches of the weight in the wall."

" -Yeah, and the tool you used to do such a job?"

" -Is a wheeler cutter."

" -A wheeler cutter. Pretty nasty looking thing. Alright, can we get rid of this now?"

" -Sure can."

" -There. And the new work that's coming in is no longer cast iron. It's PVC."

" -Schedule 40 PVC."

" -Yeah. Now, the existing cast iron that you're tying into is in good condition? We don't have to worry about it?"

" -Very good condition."

" -Yeah? Not clogged up or anything?"

" -Not clogged. It's nice and clean."

" -And that goes straight out to the sewer around the street?"

" -Right."

" -Okay."

" -This is a 2 inch no hub coupling which is a legitimate tie ends from plastic to cast iron."

" -Okay."

" -The black thing, is it rubber?"

" -This is rubber, Mike."

" -Yeah."

" -And this is to go right on here."

" -Yeah."

" -The PVC will go on about right up to it."

" -Yeah."

" -And we'll torque it on with a torque wrench."

" -This is a torque wrench."

" -Right."

" -And it so far when it's torqued. Okay."

" -Yeah."

" -Now we're gonna reroute our drain with some plastic fittings. Put a little glue on 'em."

" -Got enough?"

" -There's plenty."

" -Now, this again, it's only gonna take the waste water from the new shower."

" -It only takes the waste water from the new shower. That's all."

" -And that almost instantly bonds, doesn't it Bob?"

" -Yes, once it sets."

" -Once it's set you can't really move it because you're fusing the PVC together. Okay, now we have to trim the top of this pipe box so that it'll clear just the thickness of the plywood and the shower base, right?"

" -Right."

" -And you've already made that measurement."

" -I'm marking it out."

" -Using this as a guide."

" -Right."

" -Okay. How do you cut it?"

" -You cut it with a PVC cutter."

" -What kind of a tool is that?"

" -Put it on."

" -Uh huh."

" -Very unique tool."

" -Looks pretty neat."

" -Cuts PVC very easily."

" -I could cut along there. Much neater than using a hacksaw, huh?"

" -Much neater, nice clean cut."

" -Okay. A little more cement."

" -Now we glue this on. put it in to our trap there which is all set."

" -And we're ready to put the plywood over it."

" -Okay, very good."

" -Alright. Now, we're gonna put some nails on it. Okay. Our shower base was made specifically for the size opening we've got here. And it's man made marble. It's made of marble dust polymer resins and it's finished with a gel coat just like a sailboat. And it's awfully heavy, right Bob?"

" -Right."

" -Okay. You can get it in this color which is antique white as it's called or a whole variety of different colors: pinks and swirls and all sorts of things. I like the real plain finish that you get with an antique white. Can I give you a hand moving it?"

" -Yeah."

" -We've gotta put the drain on it."

" -Okay."

" -There we go."

" -We put drain on. We'll probably use the sealant."

" -Those gaskets are near the frame right?"

" -Yeah."

" -So."

" -It's an old brass, solid brass drain. "

" -It's first class. And then the biggest channel locks in the world. I think it's ready."

" -[unk]"

" -How does it look?"

" -Looks real good! You've done a little [unk]. It's good and snug. And it's ready to plan to the opening."

" -We don't have to put any cocking down or anything like that, right?"

" -I'll say it's right. It's just the way it is."

" -Alright. Perfect."

" -Okay. We're gonna take this rubber and nail paint seal and make the seal off to the top drain. Okay we're gonna take this brass seal, this nut, and put it in there."

" -And then again you'll use the pliers to move it around."

" -Move it around and snug it up."

" -Good."

" -That's about tight around here."

" -That's gonna get it then."

" -And you take you this stainless steel strainer and that sits right over in the unit."

" -Alright! And thanks to Bob Hubbard we've got a shower base and then we still have to wait for the matching panels that will be the surround, right?"

" -That's right."

[-]

More Videos »Related Videos

Bathtub & Surround Repair

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. If your bathtub has seen better days, make sure you know your options before you break out the crowbar. Bathtubs and their surrounding walls are one of the most likely places you ll find water damage. If you see cracked tile or failing grout or caulking, there s almost certain to be water damage of some sort to the wall, the subfloor or even your home s structure. If you know your tub surround has been leaking for a while, you should never just cover it up with a new tub wall and liner. Mold and mildew trapped behind the walls and floors can multiply and continue to damage your home s structure and your family s health even if you can t see it. Serious mold eradication may require the help of a professional to be sure it s completely gone before you renovate. Let s say you remove the old tile and substrate and find no water damage. You can renew your tub or shower area without the expense, effort and environmental cost of junking your old tub. If it s stained or chipped or you don t like the color, having your existing cast-iron tub re-glazed can save you 70 percent over the cost of buying and installing a brand new one. Acrylic or fiberglass tubs can also be repaired and re-coated for a fresh start. If you do decide to replace your tub, there are lots to choose from. Acrylic, fiberglass and porcelain on steel are the least expensive, and cast-iron is very durable and popular. Vintage clawfoot tubs are seeing a revival. If you ve got the space and the budget, you could sink a tiled roman tub into the floor. Or, check out the new designer stand-alone sculptural tubs. With champagne bubbles, hydrotherapy jets and even TV screens, your tub may become your favorite piece of furniture. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

A Vintage Tub for a Child's Bathroom

Bob moves on to the third floor of the Melrose nursery remodeling project to review what has been done in preparation for the baby. The third floor will primarily be a kids' floor and, accordingly, at the top of the staircase a baby safety gate has been installed. Bob reviews the painting work done in the bedroom and then moves on to a room that was previously a home office but is now being renovated to become a child's bathroom. The room has the original beadboard and sits under the eaves of the roof. A small bathtub has been installed in front of the dormer window that has been replaced with a Pella window to prevent cold drafts. Bob reviews the unusual shape of the room. The new, freestanding Vintage bathtub has an antique style. A series of clips shows how the plumber installed the tub and connected the supply and waste lines. Bob then talks with Tara Dick of Vintage Tubs about the bathtub. Dick reviews features of the tub and explains how molds are made from older tubs so that new tubs of the same style can be manufactured. The porcelain finish is made to be one of the most durable in the industry and is capable of resisting cleaning chemicals. The ball-and-claw feet on the tub are made of solid brass with a chrome coating. Fixtures for the tub can be bought from many companies. Dick adds that free-standing tubs offer great flexibility in design and can accomodate any bathroom layout.

Restoring the Vintage Bathtub with Synthetic Porcelain

Bob disucsses the process and chemicals used to clean and restore the home's vintage bathtub. A new finish of synthetic porcelain is applied to the pedestal sink once it has been prepped.

Kohler "Champagne" Bathtub Installation

Up in the master bath a Kohler "champagne" tub has been installed. The tub is designed to be filled to the brim and the framing must support the additional weight of the extra water. The water circulation mechanism produces an action that's more like champagne bubbles than that of a normal spa. Once installed the tub is covered in plywood to protect to during the rest of the construction.