You never know what you'll encounter during a remodel, so you have to be prepared to work around problems when they inevitably arise. In Remodel Plumbing, third-generation master plumber Rex Cauldwell provides real-world problems and solutions that you can use to figure out problems on your own jobs.

This book covers the full range of pipe types you'll likely encounter on a remodel job, including steel, copper, PB, CPVC, and PEX. You won't just learn how to install them, but how to tie them into existing systems. This complete guide explains:

The water supply system

Tapping into supply lines

Adding/running drains and vents

Remodeling kitchens and baths

Installing a dishwasher

Plumbing in an icemaker

Converting a tub-only faucet to a tub/shower

Installing a toilet in a basement

Introduction

Part 1: The WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM
How Water Gets Routed through a House
Improving Water Pressure
Water Noise and Water Hammer
Cutting through Walls or Floors

Part 2: TAPPING INTO THE SUPPLY LINES
Turning Off the Main
Draining the Lines
Which Pipe to Use
Working with Copper
Working with CPVC
Working with PEX
Working with Galvanized Pipe
Working with PB
Working with PVC
Running Pipes

Part 3: ADDING/RUNNING DRAIN AND VENT LINES
Commonsense rules
Bringing Outside Air into the Pipes
Choosing Fixture Location
Installing a Toilet Flange
Fittings and Methods
Cutting into the Lines
Hanging the Pipe

Part 4: REMODELING THE KITCHEN
The Kitchen Sink
Installing a Dishwasher in an Existing Cabinet
Plumbing in an Ice-Maker Line
Adding a Garbage Disposal

Part 5: BATHROOM REMODELING
Boring to Unique Showerheads
Converting a Tub-Only Faucet to a Tub/Shower
Tub Surrounds
Framing In
Picking a Toilet
Pulling a Toilet
Installing a Toilet
Bathroom Sinks
Installing the Stops
Grab Bars

Part 6: THE UTILITY ROOM AND BASEMENT
Installing a Cartridge Water Filter
Installing a Booster Pump
Boosting Your Hot Water Supply
Installing a Basement Toilet

Part 7: TOOL KNOWLEDGE
Pipe Wrenches
Right-Angle Drills
Basin Wrench Alternatives
Multimeter
Cordless Drills
Extension Cords
Adjustable Wrenches
Levels and Plumb Bobs
Ladders

Index

I am a third-generation plumber. I learned the trade from my uncle Bud, who in turn was taught by his father. I remember Uncle Bud telling me that I should be paying him for all the experience I was getting (at that time I was making 25¢ cents an hour). And he was right.

Remodeling work requires a special kind of thinking. When I was working with Uncle Bud, he taught me to think ahead and figure out what problems he was going to encounter so that I could have a specific tool waiting for him when he needed it. I was to plop the tool in his hand without him asking for it. Though I didn't know it then, such thinking was to become an invaluable aid when I became a master plumber doing my own remodeling work.

In remodeling work, there is no straight-line thinking. Simply put, things normally do not work out as originally planned. You never know what you will come across, and you have to be able to work around problems. Throughout this book, I've presented problems and then given solutions so help you can create, within yourself, a logical thinking procedure that can pull you through when you come across a tricky situation.

Many books cover only copper or just plastic. Not so here. This book treats the complete range of water supply lines you will likely encounter on a remodel job: galvanized, copper, PB, CPVC, and PEX. You will learn not just how to install them but how to tie them into an existing system.

Many times I am asked which pipe is best. I will not tell you which is best because, if installed properly, any pipe system will work just fine. Instead, I list all the advantages and disadvantages of each type so you can make up your own mind. I also show you how to work with these types of pipes, illustrating shortcuts and tools you may not know about. And then I show you how to interface the pipe into different sorts of plumbing pipe systems. I cover drain lines extensively, showing you how to install new lines and tie into old systems.

Once you've digested all there is to know about pipe and fittings, I focus on actual remodel jobs. These are not projects created in a showroom or just for a photo shoot. These are actual plumbing remodel projects. From these real-life work situations, you'll gain knowledge and experience that you can take to your job to get it done faster and better.

Who needs this book? Anyone, pro or novice, who does plumbing work. If you are doing a plumbing job, whether brand new or a simple add-on, it is always a good idea to know all about the different types of pipe, their advantages and disadvantages, and to have a stockpile of a variety of solutions that have come down the pike. And this book doesn't provide just my own solutions and knowledge but that from two generations previous, passed along from my uncle and grandfather. Take this information, add to it, and share it with me in an e-mail (ltmtnele@yahoo.com). I would love to hear from you.