Rough plumbing inspected and approved

Our log house, with its limits on where plumbing lines can be run and its tendency to settle over time, has been a challenge and a learning experience for Troy Taulman, a recently-ordained master plumber.  It’s also been uncomfortable. How he wished for an apprentice when he had to slither into the narrow space under the shed dormer’s roof, where we had decided to put the waste vent.

The things a plumber has to do! That white material is a cross-section of the structural insulated panels (SIPs) that provide 12 inches of foam insulation as well as the roof structure itself.

At least it doesn't have cobwebs yet!

Today Doug from the Regional Building Department came to inspect the rough plumbing. An affable guy, he told stories from his own plumbing career and gave Troy tips for future work. Only a couple of minor things needed correction. A couple of drain pipes containing slip joints (to allow for possible log settling) needed some blocking to make sure they’d slip down straight. The two-way cleanout located just outside the house needed to be replaced with double one-way cleanouts or eliminated in favor of cleanouts already installed inside the house. No big deal, these are easy fixes.

Doug (left) and Troy.

Although Troy didn’t get the “atta boy” he wanted from Doug, just an “okay!”, I could tell by Doug’s cheerfulness that he likes Troy and thinks he’s doing a good job. Best of all, he signed off on the work. He’ll be back another day when we get the hot water heat put in.

Those people and their cameras! Doug grins as he signs off on the rough plumbing. The permit is kept in one of those real estate "take one" boxes while a set of plans is stored in the capped blue pipe.

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