Apartment project that I am working on - Plumbing Forum

**phishfood** · 01-25-2012, 12:09 AM

Since I have joined this forum, I have been on quite a few different jobsites.

The company that I work for specializes in apartments, hotels, repetetive stuff like that where you are building the same bathroom or kitchen over and over again.

Anyway, today was my first day on a new project, and I snapped a few pictures to share. But unfortunately, one of them didn't turn out, and I managed to loose another one in email world.

So here is a picture of a ditch.

**phishfood** · 01-25-2012, 12:16 AM

Pretty ditch, isn't it?

Anyway, this will be the underground plumbing for the clubhouse/leasing office. Maybe some more pictures tomorrow.

**havasu** · 01-25-2012, 12:22 AM

With that picture posted sideways, I thought you were into rappelling!

**johnjh2o** · 01-25-2012, 01:29 AM

How deep is that phishfood? Looks like some shoring may be in order.

John

**Chris** · 01-25-2012, 05:00 PM

Nice looking trench Phish. Whats the string used for?

Looks about 36" max. I wish I could get work in flat Florida.

I am about to start a sewer lateral job next week, my tie in is 11 foot deep and the building is up on top of a slope about ten foot higher then road level.

**phishfood** · 01-26-2012, 12:06 AM

Thanks, Chris! I was operating, with a guy and shovel grading. The grade wasn't so hot, we had to do some more shovel work today before piping that section. It is 36" below finished floor level, minus~ 4" for below finished floor to the dirt. So the ditch is about 32" deep.

The string is used to mark where a wall will be once the building is framed. We will either bring piping up inside of the string, or use the string to pull a measurement off of. Getting the layout of the strings and the dimensions of the piping off of the strings is critical, otherwise it is jackhammer and PO'ed superintendant time.

Today's pictures:

**phishfood** · 01-26-2012, 12:15 AM

The shot on the left is of a floor drain and the kitchen sink drain that is also the vent for the floor drain. I installed this today, after I finished the digging, and before I worked out the dimensions for the AC chases in this building.

The center picture is of a back to back pool bathroom, women's bath on the left and men's bath on the right. The two green pipes sticking up are AC chases. During the building rough in phase, the AC contractor will utilize these to puch the refrigerant copper lines through between the air handler and condensing units.

The last one is of Jose on the mini excavator with Cladio in the ditch. They are digging out for the last two AC chases. The excavator is a Caterpillar 302.5, one of the small machines with rubber tracks. Not the best picture, but the sky sure is pretty.

**Chris** · 01-26-2012, 02:39 AM

Nice work, I like that mini-ex it's a pricy one I use a Bobcat 331 when I need one but would love to get one of those.

**Chris** · 01-26-2012, 02:43 AM

Also don't know how much you operate but a little trick to keeping a clean trench line is to curl your bucket and use the smooth side along the top edge of the trench on both sides to knock all the loose dirt into the trench as you go along if that makes any sense.

**phishfood** · 01-26-2012, 02:51 AM

Yes it does. When the guy grading the ditch is having trouble keeping up with me, I will often do just exactly that. If I am having to hustle to stay ahead of him, I don't usually take the time.

I used to love the Bobcats, they broke down alot, but there was nothing that moved nearly as fast. The Cats have definitely gotten faster, though.

Do you mostly rent, or do you own most of your equipment?