What's upsetting you today? - Page 184

lookout123 · 10-22-2008, 04:41 PM

95% of the houses here are slabhomes. We don't have crawlspaces and few homes have basements. That makes fixing the problem a pretty big ordeal.

The burst pipe situation doesn't come up here as often as it does in the midwest because we don't get that cold very often but we do range from 35 degrees to 125 degrees every year so the expansion and contraction still causes things to get loose.

dar512 · 10-22-2008, 04:46 PM

That's tough, lookout. Is there any other alternative to digging this up?

Now that you've had a leak in one spot, you can count on others developing later.

glatt · 10-22-2008, 04:50 PM

You should consider stipulating that the replacement line be made of PEX.

It is much less likely to burst when frozen, and is much more flexible than most other water lines. In fact, if they are ripping up the floor, you could consider having them put in a conduit and run the PEX in that, so if there is ever a problem in the future, they can just pull new PEX through the conduit without tearing anything up.

dar512 · 10-22-2008, 04:53 PM

That sounds like a good approach, glatt.

lookout123 · 10-22-2008, 05:34 PM

I'll have to look into it. or I might just burn the house down and be done with it.

Pie · 10-22-2008, 05:51 PM

Be sure to collect the insurance money.

lookout123 · 10-22-2008, 06:08 PM

Who me? Nah, but now that I think about it I have been storing all my diamonds, gold, and other valuables there...

HungLikeJesus · 10-22-2008, 06:14 PM

I'll phone the sheriff with an anonymous tip that you have a body buried under the floor. Then they'll come dig it up for free.

This would be fine, except that they might find the bodies that you really do have buried under the floor.

classicman · 10-22-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

I might just burn the house down and be done with it.

Something like this?

Aliantha · 10-22-2008, 06:50 PM

That's a big problem with the burst pipe. After reading the comments it seems like it's common practice to put pipes under the slab. That doesn't happen too much over here though. Mostly the pipes are on the exterior of the house running around the base of the walls etc or under garden beds so they're accessable (in case they burst).

Is it still common practice to put pipes under the slab over there or is it mainly in older constructions?

lookout123 · 10-22-2008, 11:30 PM

around here exposed piping wouldn't last long. theft, vandalism, or just plain old sun exposure would destroy it pretty quickly. Most importantly, it would be unsightly.

xoxoxoBruce · 10-23-2008, 12:47 AM

Concrete eats copper, aluminum, galvanized steel, and even some plastics.

Aliantha · 10-23-2008, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

around here exposed piping wouldn't last long. theft, vandalism, or just plain old sun exposure would destroy it pretty quickly. Most importantly, it would be unsightly.

We have pretty harsh weather here which doesn't seem to destroy domestic plumbing. I've never heard of anyone having their pipes stolen from their house other than those under construction, and even then it's more often tools left onsite. As far as unsightly goes, I suppose it's what you're used to, but I think there are some very beautiful homes in Australia and they all have pipes exposed externally.

Sundae · 10-23-2008, 05:51 AM

I believe you, just because all the photos I've seen from friends & family in Aus have looked great. But for the record, could you post an example?

glatt · 10-23-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aliantha

As far as unsightly goes, I suppose it's what you're used to, but I think there are some very beautiful homes in Australia and they all have pipes exposed externally.

It's absolutely what you are used to. In much of the U.S., we have utility poles with wires strung from them. They are just about the most ugly thing you have ever seen, and they are virtually everywhere in some regions. But the locals don't even see them any more.

10-22-2008, 04:41 PM	#2746
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	95% of the houses here are slabhomes. We don't have crawlspaces and few homes have basements. That makes fixing the problem a pretty big ordeal. The burst pipe situation doesn't come up here as often as it does in the midwest because we don't get that cold very often but we do range from 35 degrees to 125 degrees every year so the expansion and contraction still causes things to get loose. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

10-22-2008, 04:46 PM	#2747
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	That's tough, lookout. Is there any other alternative to digging this up? Now that you've had a leak in one spot, you can count on others developing later. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

10-22-2008, 04:53 PM	#2749
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	That sounds like a good approach, glatt. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

10-22-2008, 05:34 PM	#2750
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I'll have to look into it. or I might just burn the house down and be done with it. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

10-22-2008, 05:51 PM	#2751
Pie Gone and done Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 4,808	Be sure to collect the insurance money. __________________ per·son \ˈpər-sən\ (noun) - an ephemeral collection of small, irrational decisions The fun thing about evolution (and science in general) is that it happens whether you believe in it or not.

10-22-2008, 04:50 PM	#2748
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	You should consider stipulating that the replacement line be made of PEX. It is much less likely to burst when frozen, and is much more flexible than most other water lines. In fact, if they are ripping up the floor, you could consider having them put in a conduit and run the PEX in that, so if there is ever a problem in the future, they can just pull new PEX through the conduit without tearing anything up.

10-22-2008, 06:08 PM	#2752
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Who me? Nah, but now that I think about it I have been storing all my diamonds, gold, and other valuables there... __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

10-22-2008, 06:14 PM	#2753
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I'll phone the sheriff with an anonymous tip that you have a body buried under the floor. Then they'll come dig it up for free. This would be fine, except that they might find the bodies that you really do have buried under the floor. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

10-22-2008, 06:50 PM	#2755
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	That's a big problem with the burst pipe. After reading the comments it seems like it's common practice to put pipes under the slab. That doesn't happen too much over here though. Mostly the pipes are on the exterior of the house running around the base of the walls etc or under garden beds so they're accessable (in case they burst). Is it still common practice to put pipes under the slab over there or is it mainly in older constructions? __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

10-22-2008, 11:30 PM	#2756
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	around here exposed piping wouldn't last long. theft, vandalism, or just plain old sun exposure would destroy it pretty quickly. Most importantly, it would be unsightly. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

10-23-2008, 12:47 AM	#2757
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Concrete eats copper, aluminum, galvanized steel, and even some plastics. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

10-23-2008, 05:51 AM	#2759
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I believe you, just because all the photos I've seen from friends & family in Aus have looked great. But for the record, could you post an example? __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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