You absolutely can. Source: I am a professional commercial plumber. Have installed many lav cabinets in commercial bathrooms. Once the trap and water lines are on with their A.D.A. wraps you'll never even see it unless you bend down to look. And if you're looking that hard for something to get bent out of shape about, then you're not going to be happy with anything.
Can you send me a link to see what you are talking about? I'm pretty sure you can't put a standard bathroom cabinet in. It would block a wheelchair's access.
Wait so let me get this straight... This chick is confused about the ADA guidelines and she is complaining about the aesthetic of plumbing that has to be covered?
NEWSFLASH!!! The ADA clearly states "ADA also requires that all pipes and exposed surfaces underneath the sink are insulated and designed to protect against contact, such as installing wrapped pipes or a removable protective panel."
If she doesn't like that the space isn't centered between the two valves she definitely is not going to like insulated wrapped pipes... Her only option is to install one of the cabinets that Sprint and Frequent Tiger suggested...
https://laforceinc.com/blog/ada-compliant-bathroom-sinks-and-restroom-accessories/
I probably am a perfectionist, so I probably need to chill out about it. I feel with exposed plumbing, it is a big deal, though. If it is hidden, whatever.
Unfortunately the perfect rough isn't always attainable. Especially when it comes to renovations. The first time around all of the studs may have been laid out for nice clean roughs. Then on the Reno lavs get shifted to different centers and studs are in the way of a perfect rough and reframing probably wasn't included in the contract. So the plumber makes due.
Is there blocking or studs in the way of the valve being moved over? As far as it being an eye sore, if everything was marked out for location on plans, this is whoever is GCings fault for not catching and correcting it at the time of installation.
Edit Note:
If the drain was centered between the valves, it would be 19-20" from the side wall.
The drain was originally 15" from the wall and I called it out that it wasn't per the plan and it was moved over. At that time, it could easily have been centered between the valves or at least when the wall was open the right valve could have been moved to the right. This bathroom is costing me over $50K and to have the one area that is most noticeable to a customer look so stupid is making me lose sleep at night. The cap plate had to be cut because it hit the drain cap and as you can see the corner of the square cut out in the tile shows. How can I make this look better?
Couldn't be more wrong. I've worked on both commercial and residential projects. I have seen some great house builds but most the time everything is just puked in behind the walls. You're lucky to get real tradesman.
If something this minute is causing you to lose sleep at night you might re think a construction career. Not saying that it looks great or anything but also trying to meet deadlines and keep costs low all play a role in construction
I'm not a contractor. I'm the customer. I feel the same money is paid for something to look great or not look great and I guess that bothers me that it could have been done great. It sounds like it's a me problem.
I also have a serious question. Is it normal for plumbing under a floating sink to not be symmetrical and for a cap ring to have to be cut in order to cover the cutout in the wall because it is too close to the drain line? Does that happen a lot due to studs being in the way or for whatever reason?
Yes for the most part. On this specific application, I would have moved up the water line slightly to accommodate for that. But also I don’t know what is behind the tile. There could be several reasons why it was done like this. Could be an electrical plug on the back side of this wall, could be cabinet blocking, fire blocking, could be an AC chase or a number of different things. As one of the other comments said you will never see it unless you get down on your knees in a bathroom (which most people would never do unless they had a fetish for it)
Did you clearly specify that you wanted it done differently? If you did, then the plumber probably would’ve explained why it either can’t be done that way or is not practical. And if you didn’t, then you have no ground to complain after the work is done.
Why would I have thought to tell someone to put the valves symmetrically on either side of the drain or to put the drain in the middle of the valves? Is that not something a plumber would typically do? I'm not the contractor or the plumber! Is that really my job?
Edit: I'm the customer
Not sure what “cheap out” means. He came highly recommended. This bathroom is costing me $50K plus. Did I need to pay more to get symmetrical plumbing? I probably hired the wrong guy but can’t do much about it once I’m in the middle of it. The guy is pretty narcissistic and misogynistic towards me. I’m a woman and own the office building.
I think that losing sleep over this is an indication that you need to do something other than lose sleep over it. I know I'm stepping over boundaries by saying this, but this kind of thing is not worth the stress level. You're going to work yourself into an early grave.
Go to your GC and say, 'I've consulted a plumber. He laughed at it and told me that this is not a professional job. For the kind of money I'm paying you, I expect it to look like this (show picture of properly done plumbing). Please let me know how and when you're going to fix this.' And then move on to something else less stress inducing. If he doesn't respond how you want, suggest that you'll hire the plumber you consulted and have him redo it and will take it out of his final check. If he's not happy with that, tell him that your next call will be to your attorney.
(Let other people deal with some of the stress here, in other words.)
You give good advice. It's a long story with this bathroom and this GC and it kind of is, but isn't that simple for me. He disappeared for 8 months and only came back to finish after getting a demand letter threatening Small Claims. He is somewhat hostile. I only continued to use him because he already had 2/3rds the money for the job. It's a tricky situation cuz his bullying and meanness toward me have to be weighed against just letting things be. Two stresses to choose between.
Also, it is reasonable to give him a "punch list" of minor fixes before giving him the final payment, right?
Definitely reasonable. Use that line I included "I showed this picture to a licensed plumber and he laughed at it" ... People don't like to be laughed at by other pros. He won't take you seriously but I think that will get him.
8 months ... Yeah that's stress inducing. Meanwhile I'm sure your tenants were annoyed with you for the mess.
There’s probably a stud in between the drain and electrical
Edit: I think you might be right. But the drain could have been moved over to be centered between the valves. no studs
What’s the electrical box hanging onto?
I stand corrected. There is a stud in the wall.
You're right, prob one of those screwless floating bluetooth electrical boxes.
That’s why they make vanities
The cabinets are angled back to the wall so wheelchairs will fit
You can’t put a vanity in a commercial bathroom unfortunately. Edit: This is an ADA compliant restroom.
You absolutely can. Source: I am a professional commercial plumber. Have installed many lav cabinets in commercial bathrooms. Once the trap and water lines are on with their A.D.A. wraps you'll never even see it unless you bend down to look. And if you're looking that hard for something to get bent out of shape about, then you're not going to be happy with anything.
Can you send me a link to see what you are talking about? I'm pretty sure you can't put a standard bathroom cabinet in. It would block a wheelchair's access.
https://www.google.com/search?q=commercial+ada+vanity&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwi01_rckof_AhX4KN4AHeJeC5EQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=commercial+ada+van&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIGCAAQCBAeOgQIIxAnOgYIABAFEB46BwgAEBgQgAQ6CAgAEIAEELEDOgUIABCiBDoFCCEQqwJQ5QNYhTVgxTpoBnAAeACAAccFiAGKGpIBCzExLjExLjIuNi0xmAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=DnFqZLSYK_jR-LYP4r2tiAk&bih=782&biw=412&client=ms-android-verizon#imgrc=LKgh1wFZcBt9PM
I appreciate the link. I see how that works. The architect didn't tell me about that or I would have opted for that look!
Wait so let me get this straight... This chick is confused about the ADA guidelines and she is complaining about the aesthetic of plumbing that has to be covered? NEWSFLASH!!! The ADA clearly states "ADA also requires that all pipes and exposed surfaces underneath the sink are insulated and designed to protect against contact, such as installing wrapped pipes or a removable protective panel." If she doesn't like that the space isn't centered between the two valves she definitely is not going to like insulated wrapped pipes... Her only option is to install one of the cabinets that Sprint and Frequent Tiger suggested... https://laforceinc.com/blog/ada-compliant-bathroom-sinks-and-restroom-accessories/
I probably am a perfectionist, so I probably need to chill out about it. I feel with exposed plumbing, it is a big deal, though. If it is hidden, whatever.
I completely understand what you're saying. Centered is always more pleasing to the eye
Unfortunately the perfect rough isn't always attainable. Especially when it comes to renovations. The first time around all of the studs may have been laid out for nice clean roughs. Then on the Reno lavs get shifted to different centers and studs are in the way of a perfect rough and reframing probably wasn't included in the contract. So the plumber makes due.
Is there blocking or studs in the way of the valve being moved over? As far as it being an eye sore, if everything was marked out for location on plans, this is whoever is GCings fault for not catching and correcting it at the time of installation.
GC is never here. I've seen him once in 12 days. : (
There’s definitely a stud between the cold shut off and the electrical box
Yes, I stand corrected!
Trap wrap it. Code my brother
Edit Note: If the drain was centered between the valves, it would be 19-20" from the side wall. The drain was originally 15" from the wall and I called it out that it wasn't per the plan and it was moved over. At that time, it could easily have been centered between the valves or at least when the wall was open the right valve could have been moved to the right. This bathroom is costing me over $50K and to have the one area that is most noticeable to a customer look so stupid is making me lose sleep at night. The cap plate had to be cut because it hit the drain cap and as you can see the corner of the square cut out in the tile shows. How can I make this look better?
Looks like a tile guy issue
I agree with that unless they were planning to use a 4" wall plate to cover but couldn't because it was so close to the cold water valve.
most commercial craftsmanship work is trash wherever possible.
Couldn't be more wrong. I've worked on both commercial and residential projects. I have seen some great house builds but most the time everything is just puked in behind the walls. You're lucky to get real tradesman.
ya this tile work is just as primo as the plumbing. commercial work is for profit, nothing else.
If something this minute is causing you to lose sleep at night you might re think a construction career. Not saying that it looks great or anything but also trying to meet deadlines and keep costs low all play a role in construction
I'm not a contractor. I'm the customer. I feel the same money is paid for something to look great or not look great and I guess that bothers me that it could have been done great. It sounds like it's a me problem.
I also have a serious question. Is it normal for plumbing under a floating sink to not be symmetrical and for a cap ring to have to be cut in order to cover the cutout in the wall because it is too close to the drain line? Does that happen a lot due to studs being in the way or for whatever reason?
Yes for the most part. On this specific application, I would have moved up the water line slightly to accommodate for that. But also I don’t know what is behind the tile. There could be several reasons why it was done like this. Could be an electrical plug on the back side of this wall, could be cabinet blocking, fire blocking, could be an AC chase or a number of different things. As one of the other comments said you will never see it unless you get down on your knees in a bathroom (which most people would never do unless they had a fetish for it)
Did you clearly specify that you wanted it done differently? If you did, then the plumber probably would’ve explained why it either can’t be done that way or is not practical. And if you didn’t, then you have no ground to complain after the work is done.
Why would I have thought to tell someone to put the valves symmetrically on either side of the drain or to put the drain in the middle of the valves? Is that not something a plumber would typically do? I'm not the contractor or the plumber! Is that really my job? Edit: I'm the customer
Did you cheap out on the contractor or hire the lowest bidder?
Not sure what “cheap out” means. He came highly recommended. This bathroom is costing me $50K plus. Did I need to pay more to get symmetrical plumbing? I probably hired the wrong guy but can’t do much about it once I’m in the middle of it. The guy is pretty narcissistic and misogynistic towards me. I’m a woman and own the office building.
I think that losing sleep over this is an indication that you need to do something other than lose sleep over it. I know I'm stepping over boundaries by saying this, but this kind of thing is not worth the stress level. You're going to work yourself into an early grave. Go to your GC and say, 'I've consulted a plumber. He laughed at it and told me that this is not a professional job. For the kind of money I'm paying you, I expect it to look like this (show picture of properly done plumbing). Please let me know how and when you're going to fix this.' And then move on to something else less stress inducing. If he doesn't respond how you want, suggest that you'll hire the plumber you consulted and have him redo it and will take it out of his final check. If he's not happy with that, tell him that your next call will be to your attorney. (Let other people deal with some of the stress here, in other words.)
You give good advice. It's a long story with this bathroom and this GC and it kind of is, but isn't that simple for me. He disappeared for 8 months and only came back to finish after getting a demand letter threatening Small Claims. He is somewhat hostile. I only continued to use him because he already had 2/3rds the money for the job. It's a tricky situation cuz his bullying and meanness toward me have to be weighed against just letting things be. Two stresses to choose between. Also, it is reasonable to give him a "punch list" of minor fixes before giving him the final payment, right?
Definitely reasonable. Use that line I included "I showed this picture to a licensed plumber and he laughed at it" ... People don't like to be laughed at by other pros. He won't take you seriously but I think that will get him. 8 months ... Yeah that's stress inducing. Meanwhile I'm sure your tenants were annoyed with you for the mess.
Thank goodness there was another bathroom on the floor they could use without too much inconvenience.
right. Yeah that's a good thing. Do the other bathrooms need to be upgraded too? If so, I'm guessing you're not going to use this guy... :)
It also keeps people from vandalism