Do you need more convincing? Here are some
specifications from the just the Exterior Concrete Slab
section:
".....All
poured concrete sidewalks and patios shall contain concrete that has a
design strength of no less than 4,500 psi. No water can be used on site
to make the concrete more plastic nor can water be used as a finishing
aid.
All
slabs shall be a minimum thickness of 4 inches. A 5-inch thick slab is
preferred.
All
exterior concrete shall contain 1/2-inch diameter steel reinforcing
rods and these shall be placed at 2 foot centers in both directions.
This steel should be in the lower third of the slab with a minimum of 1
and 1/2 inches of concrete between the steel and the compacted
sub-grade. 42# mesh will also suffice for steel reinforcing.
Immediately
after the final finish is complete, apply a clear-drying liquid curing
compound to the fresh concrete.
Control
joints shall be cut in all slabs to prevent random shrinkage cracks.
These joints shall be a minimum depth of 1/4 the thickness of the slab.
They can be saw-cut as soon as the concrete can withstand foot pressure
and the action of the saw without harming the finished surface. Under
no circumstances shall the joints be cut later than 24 hours after the
concrete is hard enough to walk on without harming the finish. ..."
Or how about
these specifications from the Interior Plumbing
section:
".....Rough
in basement bathrooms and utility sinks whenever possible to save
money. Cutting into concrete slabs to create basement bathrooms at a
later date is a very expensive proposition.
Water
supply lines shall be sized to minimize water pressure and volume
losses. Use 3/4 inch minimum pipe size to feed all fixture groups.
Branch off this 3/4 inch pipe to each fixture with its own 1/2 inch
pipe. Never serve two fixtures with a 1/2 inch pipe.
All
shut off valves under all fixtures shall be ball valves.
To
minimize noise in water supply pipes, consider using type L copper if
copper is being used as your water supply pipe. Type L is thicker and
absorbs turbulence much better than thinner type M copper. Larger
diameter pipe sizes help to minimize water noise as the water flows
slower through these pipes to satisfy a given fixture demand.
The
primary water supply line serving the entire house shall be 1-inch
diameter until it passes and serves the water heater and feeds the
first major fixture grouping.
Large
hot tubs or large capacity whirlpool tubs must be served with minimum
3/4 inch supply piping. These fixtures almost always require separate
water heaters to produce the vast amounts of hot water required to fill
these vessels.
Water
hammer is eliminated by using the larger supply piping as mentioned
earlier.
If
copper tubing is used for water supply, all joints must be wiped clean
of excess soldering flux. Wipe pipes with a rag soaked in mineral
spirits until each joint is perfectly clean. Acid flux that is not
cleaned from copper pipe can cause future corrosion that causes leaks.
Investigate
if your area suffers from aggressive water. If so, be sure you use the
correct water supply piping that will not suffer corrosion from the
aggressive water.
If
you plan to have a water softener installed, pipe outdoor hose bibs so
they do not pull water from the water softener. However, one soft water
hose bib should be installed in or near the garage. If you wash your
car and rinse with soft water, water spotting does not happen...."
The Checklist
is available to you as a download once your order
is processed. After completion, you will receive a confirming email. In
the Order Content section of the email, there will
be a download link. Just click on the link and the Checklist will be
downloaded to your computer.
You have
nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you don't feel this product
is worthwhile, just email me and I will issue a credit.
