11. Mechanical Roughs

Rough mechanicals includes your plumbing top-out, your electrical rough, your a/c rough and all of your low voltage wiring. As we discussed before their is a logical sequence as to the order of things. I have seen things get out of sequence and things never seemed to operate correctly in that house. The first thing your builder will do is get the plumber started. The plumber will run all of his water lines, drain lines and vent pipes. He will have to drill through some studs and top plates. He should never over drill holes for his pipes. You need to remember that drain lines work by gravity some there will be enough room in his bores for the pipe to 'fall'. During this phase your plumber might have to adjust some of his in slab plumbing lines and/or drains. To make these adjustments they will have to use a chipping hammer. A chipping hammer is a small jack hammer. All water lines that run in exterior walls or in the attic should be insulated at this time. Depending on the size and how your plumber is organized he might and he might not install his tubs and shower pans at this time. Your HVAC contractor can start the same day as the plumber if the home is large enough for both crews. If the home can only handle one at a time, let the HVAC guy go first. He will probably be in and out in half a day. Why do you let HVAC go first? Well the plumber needs to hook up your primary A/C drain and you want your A/C duct work and return airs run with the fewest restrictions as possible and the easiest way to ensure that is to have it installed first. All other contractors need to go around them. The only thing to check is the space for the water heater in the attic or the utility closet. the plumber can take any where from one day to almost a week depending on what is required of him. The electrical contractor should not even get started until the plumber is complete. He needs to ensure that none of his wires are touching any of the plumbers water lines. He also needs to be able to identify water areas for the placement of his GFCI's. His wiring should be bundled together and not run wildly through your studs and joist. All light fixtures should have boxes and be secured for fixture installation. Smoke detectors are placed in required locations. Weather proof boxes are installed where required. Ceiling fans are blocked and wired. This is the time to add separate switches for light kit and fan operation. Appliances should be determined by now so the proper wiring can be installed. Your furnaces are installed and A/C locations determined because your roughs are complete so the proper wiring can be run to them. Breaker box locations should have been identified prior to the electrician getting started. Don't forget to add a switch for your dishwasher. There is nothing like a two or three year old pushing buttons on the front of them. When your electrician is done you can have your low voltage wiring installed. I like to have them start on the last day when the electrician is stripping and rolling his wires in the boxes for inspection. Low voltage wiring includes; security, intercom, speaker wiring, any and all computer wiring, and/or any type of home entertainment centers. On 'Q' is also considered low voltage. Low voltage wiring is not as thick as electrical wiring and you want to make sure it does not get damaged. Just in case you need an extra electrical outlet you want the electrical contractor on the job, that is why you get your low voltage guys going on the last day he is in the home. If your plumber has not installed your tubs and shower pans, now is the time. Now you are ready to have the framer and cornice man come back and finish their punch for inspection. Seal holes in sheathing, check for bowed studs, see if anything has been knocked loose. Maybe a few studs need to added, there might be some extra blocking needed. Something bracing gets beat around or even knocked out. You need to check you soffits if you had Christmas plugs installed in them. At this point you should get the home primed and painted, if you live in a windy climate or have an all siding home. If you live in a climate where the painters are competent at 'Top Coating' after the masonry is complete - wait. Once the paint is done (to the extent that it is going to be completed) you should get the home shingled. Once the shingles are complete stage three is complete. Your home is ready for inspections.