My New House & Workshop

[Jim Oaks]

My son-in-law first noticed that the floor was getting hot before realizing they had a leak. The spot under this tile was the hottest. This problem has been happening for a while. They've put off fixing it because of the cost. They were shutting the hot water tank off when they weren't using it.

I'm shocked and blessed that it was all confined to this one point.

I got worried when I saw the missing vapor barrier. First thought that was the reason it was the warmest here and the leak could have been somewhere else, but as soon I started digging you could see the water leaking.

I'm wondering if the gap in the vapor barrier allowed concrete to damage the copper pipe over time.

 

[Rick W]

Amazing. Holy cow they are blessed it went so well, and really blessed Dad knew what and how to do…

… and you are blessed with offspring who
look to you, and blessed with talent to help them, blessed with family.

And, oh yeah, you had the idea for this website, so you’re blessed with all the rest of us too!

 

[Jim Oaks]

My daughter asked me if I would help them, and even offered to pay me. I'm not going to take money from my kids for helping them. I told them I'd come over and fix it once I was done replacing my waterline.

Knowing they were counting on me to help them actually started stressing me. Worried that I wouldn't be able to fix it, or it would just snowball into a bigger problem.

My son-in-law and I took turns chiseling away at the concrete. He helped when he could and I explained everything I was doing, so hopefully learned something.

It was kind of divine intervention that it was all in that one tile square and that I was able to fix it. Part of the pipe I cut out was oblong like it had been squeezed from both sides. The copper was slightly bent and I had a hard time sliding the slip coupling back, and then I couldn't get it to slide forward into the other coupling. It wouldn't budge at all. And then it just went. Since I knew some of the pipe was out of round I really didn't expect it to seal. I was actually shocked when he turned the water on and it wasn't leaking. Hopefully I don't jinx it.

I'm just glad it's done. I think it's a relief for them financially, and it's a stress off of me knowing not having to worry about whether or not I'll be able to fix it or fail them.

I don't have a dad to call anymore. He passed about 10 years ago. He helped me with some projects on my first house when I was in my mid 20's.

My son-in-law lost his father 2 years ago.

So now I'm dad doing what my dad would have done to help me with my first house if I needed him.

 

[ericbphoto]

That was a tough one. Congratulations.

 

[Rick W]

My daughter asked me if I would help them, and even offered to pay me. I'm not going to take money from my kids for helping them. I told them I'd come over and fix it once I was done replacing my waterline.

Knowing they were counting on me to help them actually started stressing me. Worried that I wouldn't be able to fix it, or it would just snowball into a bigger problem.

My son-in-law and I took turns chiseling away at the concrete. He helped when he could and I explained everything I was doing, so hopefully learned something.

It was kind of divine intervention that it was all in that one tile square and that I was able to fix it. Part of the pipe I cut out was oblong like it had been squeezed from both sides. The copper was slightly bent and I had a hard time sliding the slip coupling back, and then I couldn't get it to slide forward into the other coupling. It wouldn't budge at all. And then it just went. Since I knew some of the pipe was out of round I really didn't expect it to seal. I was actually shocked when he turned the water on and it wasn't leaking. Hopefully I don't jinx it.

I'm just glad it's done. I think it's a relief for them financially, and it's a stress off of me knowing not having to worry about whether or not I'll be able to fix it or fail them.

I don't have a dad to call anymore. He passed about 10 years ago. He helped me with some projects on my first house when I was in my mid 20's.

My son-in-law lost his father 2 years ago.

So now I'm dad doing what my dad would have done to help me with my first house if I needed him.

You’re a good man Charlie Brown.

Fabulous it worked out with His Blessings. Even if it didn’t work out, it works out in the sense that we have to try, we have to believe we can tackle things. If it didn’t work out, everybody would’ve still learned a bunch, and it would’ve still probably reduced the cost if somebody had to come in after.

It’s great that it worked out, but there’s nothing bad about it either way (other than a little frustration).

Edit, afterthought. I’ll bet if the contractor painted that pipe with Rustoleum it would still be in good shape.

 

[Jazzer]

Underslab copper is usually soft copper and is out of round as it's unrolled. I usually get it back to round with judicious plier use then hammering a coupling over it.

Hopefully you never have to use this knowledge again.

 

[Roert42]

This is the only reason I would consider building a house with a basement. Access to the plumbing when it eventually needs repaired.

 

[pjtoledo]

This is the only reason I would consider building a house with a basement. Access to the plumbing when it eventually needs repaired.

"imagine the possibilities"
the other side is just as bad.

 

[Rick W]

"imagine the possibilities"
the other side is just as bad.View attachment 108061

Are you kidding? That’s clean and tidy!

I can see the concrete floor right here clear as day!

But I understand. If you put a little Vaseline on your hips, it’s easier to slide in and out.

And I think the window curtain is very fashionable, understated, let’s the light in, perfect choice!

 

[pjtoledo]

Are you kidding? That’s clean and tidy!

View attachment 108063

I can see the concrete floor right here clear as day!

But I understand. If you put a little Vaseline on your hips, it’s easier to slide in and out.

And I think the window curtain is very fashionable, understated, let’s the light in, perfect choice!

that curtain (all of them) was here when we moved in, July 1985.
was made by the previous owner.
has excellent patina, and a few spider webs.

 

[Rick W]

that curtain (all of them) was here when we moved in, July 1985.
was made by the previous owner.
has excellent patina, and a few spider webs.

Honestly, I was trying to be nice. I suspected you didn’t have that level of interior decorating sense, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt

 

[pjtoledo]

Honestly, I was trying to be nice. I suspected you didn’t have that level of interior decorating sense, but I wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt

sounds like something a wife would say

 

[Jim Oaks]

This is the only reason I would consider building a house with a basement. Access to the plumbing when it eventually needs repaired.

I miss having a house with a basement. I wish this house had one. Basements are extremely rare in Texas. I haven't seen one in the 8-years I've lived here.

 

[Roert42]

I miss having a house with a basement. I wish this house had one. Basements are extremely rare in Texas. I haven't seen one in the 8-years I've lived here.

I've heard that.


I personally don't like basements. They just get full of water, and always have narrow steps to carry heavy stuff up and down. Rather just have more space on the first level.

But, you can get at your plumbing.

 

[sgtsandman]

I've heard that.


I personally don't like basements. They just get full of water, and always have narrow steps to carry heavy stuff up and down. Rather just have more space on the first level.

But, you can get at your plumbing.

Where the house is located partially dictates if you can have a basement or not. Places where the water table is high generally prohibit basement building. New Orleans would be an example. The water table is so high, I don't think they are even allowed to bury people in the ground, if I remember correctly.

Of course, a basement costs more than a slab. So there is that.

The compromise is a crawl space. Though that invites different problems as well.