What is a "rough-in" when talking about construction?

Q:

What is a "rough-in"?

A:

“Rough-in” is a term that refers to plumbing, electrical, structured wiring, vacuum or gas piping installation when it is at its basic and simplest installation. The installation to be considered a rough-in must be without finishing’s on it.

A rough-in is installed when the home is at its bare-bones stage, meaning that it is without wall finishing’s and usually before any insulation has been installed.

A rough-in is installed without finishing’s so that it can survive the construction process that has to happen around it, a rough-in can be installed and then have to survive for months until it can have the finishing’s installed.

A rough-in usually consists of the bare material with an end cap on it to prevent anything from entering the piping or hose such as dirt, dust or debris.

Once the drywall has been installed and the walls have been primed with paint then the tradesmen will come back and add the finishing’s to the rough-in.

When you see a rough-in do not worry if it looks ugly or unfinished, at the end you will never see the rough-in once the finishing’s are installed.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.

What is hot water recirculation?

Q:

What is hot water recirculation?

A:

A hot water recirculation system uses a small pump attached to the hot water line to a home's showers, tubs, and faucets that circulate cold water out of the line to deliver hot water faster thus mitigating the amount of water wasted as you wait for it to heat up (called lag time). Often activated by a switch or button in the kitchen or baths, the system can reduce lag time to a matter of seconds instead of minutes, reducing water use at those locations by 30 percent or more.

The circulation pump is usually placed in the mechanical room or crawlspace of the home near the rest of the components that run a modern home. Circulation pumps are easily installed by a licensed plumber at the time the house is built or after as a retro-fit. The retro-fit is a little more difficult at the switch end up still do-able.

No matter what type of system you have to heat water you will end up with water cooling in the hot water feed lines unless you use your hot water to such an extent that it doesn’t have time to cool. Most people do not have that big of families or that many people lining up to use the water.

So the next time you turn on the tub and you wait for the cold water to stop coming out think about a circulation pump, it might just what you need.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.