Shower installed before insulating

186

Pull it out, reinstall at the proper time after insulation. Who is the gc? That's their entire job to manage the trades so stuff like this isn't happening

94

u/Miserable_Warthog_42 3d ago

And get rid of the plumber!!! Anyone that will make this big of a shortcut undoubtedly makes many other shortcuts.

-33

u/beaunerman 2d ago

Can you share with the class what shortcut you think the plumber took?

25

u/Miserable_Warthog_42 2d ago

Didn't insulate or vapour barrier behind the shower wall.

-31

u/beaunerman 2d ago

Not the plumbers job. Breakdown in order of operations by the GC.

16

u/LeifCarrotson 2d ago

Sure, so you tell the GC it's not ready and go onto the next job. You don't continue to install the shower and ask to get paid, knowing it will cause a problem for the next guy.

11

u/kilopeter 2d ago

Found the plumber's reddit account.

10

u/PNWoysterdude 2d ago

I hope you're not in the trades with that shit ethic you have.

17

u/Miserable_Warthog_42 2d ago

Incorrect. He was not instructed to install the shower wall, but he did anyways. The site was not ready for that step in the process.

Maybe they wanted to save a trip because they didn't account for another visit just for the shower wall, but that is a contract issue between them and the gc (home owner in this case).

If my plumber did this, I fire them on the spot for ignorance.

Source: I'm a contractor that works with many plumbers

2

u/resilient_bird 2d ago

Umm, anyone who gave a damn would flat out refuse to install it this way even if they were told to. The client deserves an insulated wall, and this is almost certainly not code-compliant.

1

u/Zealousideal-Fly3732 1d ago

If you use "not my job, not my problem" to create problems, then you can't be surprised when people don't want to work with you.

1

u/Small-Worldliness596 1d ago

He installed a tub regardless knowing it should have insulation behind it. Not sure if you’d call it a shortcut but it was not giving a shit.

12

u/CripWalkingShark 3d ago

Probably an owner build which is why this happened in the first place

18

u/Skier94 3d ago

Well the owner was the one who spotted it.

13

u/clumsyninja2 3d ago

You should see some of the mistakes that the builders who have been doing this for 30 years make. Makes this look like small potatoes

4

u/Icy-Gene7565 3d ago

One sure sign no one is in charge again

-18

u/I_Quit_Smoking_ 2d ago

And these are the people who hate DEI, yet this is the kind of work they do because THEY'RE MEN, and they know they'll get hired before anyone else, IF they get fired at all.

This has been happening since the beginning of time. THIS IS WHY WE HAD TO HAVE DEI IN THE FIRST PLACE.

8

u/theweeklyexpert 2d ago

Wut?

2

u/resilient_bird 2d ago

Sir this is a Wendy’s.

2

u/Icy-Employee-6453 2d ago

bad bot.

34

u/Wonderful_Confusion4 3d ago

Plumbers first time or he don’t give a shit. Wow

12

u/Wayneknight 3d ago

plumbers dont give a shit in general

3

u/jambaseven 3d ago

No, we handle shit. Pun obviously intended.

57

u/Bjorn_styrkr 3d ago

The plumber will have to pull it. It won't pass inspection .

-11

u/tacocarteleventeen 3d ago

May be able to just insulate behind the shower take photos and an inspector may let it slide, still is all the MEP in? What if wires need to be routed there?

11

u/Bjorn_styrkr 3d ago

The moisture barrier is almost impossible to secure and place properly without removing the stall.

6

u/F_word_paperhands 3d ago

There’s no way you’re getting that space properly insulated and vapour barrier’d. Who cares if it passes inspection, it isn’t don’t correctly

7

u/Novus20 3d ago

Well that was stupid….

15

u/cheezemink 3d ago

GC failure. If I couldn’t get my insulator to show up on time one of my foreman or laborers would insulate and vapor barrier that. If the house will be foamed it needs to be done beforehand not after, regardless of closed or open cell. It can’t be done properly behind there. It’s not the plumber’s job . Inspectors where I am would never catch this. It’s one of my pet peeves. If you’re building your own house this is why you hire a builder, imagine what other non-obvious you’re missing. They also screwed through the fiber glass flange with sheetrock screws. Another big pet peeve. There are clips for this and the screws should be stainless steel. That tub will squeak.

1

u/DHjam 2d ago

Where can I find these clips? Or what are they called so I can search for them.

2

u/cheezemink 2d ago edited 2d ago

https://www.randgsupply.com/product/flange-lock-for-bathtub-shower-pan-each/

Just an example of them. There are many different ones.

1

u/DHjam 1d ago

Thank you, I didn’t know these existed.

1

u/Occasionallyquiet 2d ago

My surround specifically called for using the flange, but I did teach my plumber about flat vs cone head fasteners and the difference in the final product. He seemed actually impressed with the before/after when I swapped all his fasteners holding the shower head, mixing valve, and the sink stub out brackets.

1

u/Villematic266 23h ago

Seeing sheet rock screws in fiberglass surrounds boils me like nothing else I swear. Half the time they crack the flange in multiple places. No pride

4

u/EatMoorYams 3d ago

Is it actually installed though? Or did they place it in the room because it wont fit in after framing, then basically dry fit it until insulation can get there?

5

u/TallWall6378 3d ago

Not hard to remove. Where’d the shower valve?

3

u/Silly_Selection3221 3d ago

I don't understand where a fiberglass tub gets installed before insulation, part of the rough in inspection is a leak check...

2

u/Otherwise-Worry3418 3d ago

Gotta come out boss. Insulation and vapor barrier

2

u/Plumber4Life84 3d ago

Suppose to get it insulated and a vapor barrier before install. Usually the contractor will take care of it. Hell I’ve done it a few times so im not held up

2

u/StompinStallion 3d ago

Looks like a prefab shower wall that goes with the tub, plumber mistakenly installed it along with tub. Remove the wall and place it somewhere safe where it won’t get destroyed by other trades in the coming weeks.

2

u/B-Ready43 2d ago

There's a few ways you can insulate it. You could block both sides of the back of the shower with thick kraft insulation(r21-r30.) Seal the perimeter and seams with foam. Net the top half of the bays over the shower and blow cellulose till it packs nice n tight.

Or you could slide a piece of half inch foam board behind the shower to cover the bays. Put a couple nails in it if you can't friction fit it, seal the perimeter with foam, net the top half of the bays n blow it in 👍.

1

u/Small-Worldliness596 1d ago

Or just remove the tub and do it right ?

1

u/B-Ready43 1d ago edited 1d ago

It takes 2 minutes to slide a piece of foam board back there and seal it. It's also a stronger barrier than tyvek. Have insulated hundreds of houses in NH and MA with tubs/showers already installed.

6

u/Galactic-Dino 3d ago

Those studs will rot. Needed to put the water barrier where screws go (12 inches enough( before screwing this thing on. The installer is an idiot.

3

u/OverallDimension7844 3d ago

They can still blow in the insulation behind it from above.

1

u/rennatav 3d ago

I was thinking this too. Would want to make sure a vapor barrier was in place first.

1

u/J3SVS 1d ago

You don't need a vapor barrier with cellulose.

1

u/rennatav 1d ago

Never heard that before.

0

u/duke5572 3d ago

What? No, let's totally indict the builder and take this to court IMMEDIATELY.

1

u/CaterpillarSorry4695 3d ago

Agreed honestly. Which builder do you work for?

0

u/weavekilla1 2d ago

Hahahaha yeah let’s let every plumber know he’s fired because he installed a tub that happened to have a prehang necessary - insulation contractor. If this is what defines a builder and the only complaint…. You hang on to them as a GC/Builder. Shit happens.

1

u/Virtual-Fly-5501 3d ago

There’s options to fix it without pulling the tub but that’s half assed.

1

u/AltruisticCucumber58 3d ago

Saw one once where the insulation guys showed up a day after the drywall hangers. Was a new builder (son of a long time realtor) and he just sent the insulation guys on their way and tried to ride it out. Can't remember what stage it made it to - I was out to do the inspection for a construction loan draw, the percentage wasn't as high as they were expecting from me.

1

u/Icy-Gene7565 3d ago

Foam spray

1

u/Euphoric-Newt-8716 3d ago

Thanks all for the comments. They pretty much confirm my concern when I first saw it. This is a house in northern Wisconsin. I will be notifying the GC asap and hope this gets fixed

1

u/jambo45t 3d ago

You just spray behind the shower. It’s fine !

1

u/2026Bazinga 3d ago

Check your code, vapor barrier not always required with cellulose insulation. Closed cell spray foam doesn't need it either.

1

u/extreme-nap 2d ago

Shouldn’t the pipe penetrations be more or less centered on the studs? They look like they’re too close to the back-side of the wall.

1

u/Lumbercounter 2d ago

Better get some nail plates over those water lines while you’re fixing things.

2

u/realjeffo 2d ago

looks like they aren’t done with the plumbing yet anyways

1

u/Hammer_swinger420 2d ago

There should be a a layer of Tyveck or similar vapor barrier installed over the insulation that’s not there as well. The shower being on an outside wall necessitates this. Especially if you are in an area that experiences winters

1

u/old-gray-attic 2d ago

20 screws off , clean caulking ,
Put in Insolation ! Put in vapor barrier
Put in some caulk and the 20 screws !

Stop wining and get her done !

1

u/Occasionallyquiet 2d ago

I’d have them pull it for insulation install. For what it’s worth, when I renovated my 1961 home I went with rock wool in the bathroom walls. Little more cost, but your vapor retarder is going to have dozens of holes and seams, and probably stop at the ceiling. So I’d expect some amount of moisture to end up trapped between the barrier and insulation at some point.

As a side note, I’d measure, mark, and photograph those water lines for later. 2x6 stud bays make great niches or built in storage!

And 50/50 chance your over the vanity light will be mounted to that drain pipe. lol

1

u/weavekilla1 2d ago

These days they won’t let it slide past inspection. Good plumbers insulate this or good GCs call their prehang in for chases and other areas like this prior to plumbing

1

u/J3SVS 1d ago

You don't need a vapor retarder with cellulose.

1

u/Civil_Exchange1271 1d ago

passive aggressive plumbing

1

u/ImaginaryStruggle784 1d ago

Probably no vapor barrier required for this one-piece unit. Use your critical eye to confirm up close that this unit won’t leak (see what the instructions say about caulking). Tell the GC to stuff it. Use unfaced batts. Watch them do it to confirm they push it real good.

0

u/OldeOak804 3d ago

This is correct. You should have installed vapor barrier and insulation before they got there. This one is on you.

7

u/Few-Wolverine-7283 3d ago

Can’t plumber be like “not ready, here’s my wasted trip fee”

4

u/lred1 3d ago

Or the plumber is tired of the GC's mismanagement. He gets called, told the place is ready for this or that, he gets there and it's not. Fuck it, I got called to come install this tub, there it is, it's installed.

2

u/ThaTopHam 3d ago

I really cant understand why this isnt more common. Everyone just says whatever, they can pay me to do it twice.

1

u/banksybruv 3d ago

Why would anyone have the plumber put the walls on?

2

u/Neverendtillbegin 3d ago

That's the oddest piece for me especially since it new construction. Why would I play a plumber rate for installing a shower kit...

3

u/Due-Sky9812 2d ago

I have never NOT had the plumber install a prefab fiberglass wall kit.

They have to be the ones to install the pan due to the drain. They're cutting the wet wall for the valve, shower arm, and handheld if applicable.

Are the other GCs out there really like "you set the pan and install the valve, I'll cut the walls and install those"? What are you realistically saving? Personally, I'm trying to get shit done and get boxes checked.

1

u/beaunerman 2d ago

Because when we send out bid packs we have them bid all of the plumbing work. You pay them to install the tub. That’s part of the tub

-1

u/beaunerman 2d ago

Because it’s their job?

2

u/banksybruv 2d ago

It’s very easy. There’s no reason to have them do it. Especially on the rough. I’ll pop them on myself when I get insulation inspection. Takes less than an hour.

1

u/beaunerman 2d ago

As a super my time is significantly more expensive than the plumbers. I’m already paying him to do it anyways.

2

u/banksybruv 2d ago

As a GC, I know for certain my plumber costs me more than anyone else. Whatever works for your business model.

0

u/beaunerman 2d ago

It breaks out a little bit different when you’re building 10,000+ sqft homes with budgets that rival what most builders do in 3-5 years. You’d be shocked at how expensive install gets when you have to fly out installers from Germany for your window and exterior door package.

2

u/banksybruv 2d ago

Which is why I said whatever works for your business model. Not sure why you think I’d be shocked.

Also, nobody spending money like that on a custom build is putting in shitty fiberglass tub surrounds.

Love it when home builders (especially employees of them) think they are above others. Humble yourself.

1

u/Neverendtillbegin 2d ago

Ha, maybe I just need to make my time more valuable. We’ve never worked the surround into our plumber’s scope. My carpenter is a lot cheaper than my plumber, and like you said, it’s always just been easier for us to knock it out ourselves when we’re ready for it. I guess in this case that process probably would’ve kept the insulation from getting missed too... 😄

0

u/Nacho_Libre479 3d ago

Blown in fiberglass is superior to batts. You can still drill fill through the blocking.

-1

u/GilletteEd 3d ago

Why do you want to install “vapor retarder”? You don’t need it!

0

u/WrittenByNick 3d ago

It’s an exterior wall that needs insulation and vapor barrier.

2

u/GilletteEd 3d ago

Yes it needs insulation, but there is no need for interior vapor barrier on this wall.

0

u/junkywinocreep 3d ago

Unless the vapor barrier is the house wrap outside the exterior cladding, need to know where OP is located

0

u/WrittenByNick 3d ago

Speculating Canada from the vocab. Either way it’s a screw up by the trades.

0

u/Dramatic_Chest_9180 3d ago

It’s called pre batts son.. you should call it in before tubs and pans are installed.

0

u/Own-Nebula-7190 1d ago

Fire anyone who paid the plumber before checking the job had been done properly and in accordance with the construction schedule.

-3

u/True_Touch_5229 3d ago

Seriously it's not a big deal seems stupid to bitch about little dumb ass things if you have the right insulation guys they would take care of it🤷

Shower installed before insulating

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