Plumbing project? ? ?

While copper is good, you might also look into flexible PEX lines if
it will make installation easier.

And even if we assume that you're 40 feet above the water inlet, that
will represent only about a 17 psi pressure drop from elevation
change.  It's not a huge issue unless water pressure is already weak.

Are you doing the work yourself?

Does the rest of the building have the same original pipes that are on
the 4th floor?  Why do you assume the disconnected sections are now
bad if the original is not bad?

Most, maybe all, of the original pipes on the first three floors have been
replaced with copper.

"jamesgangnc"  wrote in message


Does the rest of the building have the same original pipes that are on
the 4th floor?  Why do you assume the disconnected sections are now
bad if the original is not bad?

Then I woul dgo ahead and replace the 4th floor with copper as well.
Or cpvc.

"mike"  wrote in message

While copper is good, you might also look into flexible PEX lines if
it will make installation easier.

And even if we assume that you're 40 feet above the water inlet, that
will represent only about a 17 psi pressure drop from elevation
change.  It's not a huge issue unless water pressure is already weak.

Are you doing the work yourself?

--------------------------------

Good grief no! It's 'way above my pay grade!!!!

Location of building?  LA? NYC?  Chicago?

Too many unkowns & questions to handle via NG conversation....... too
much typing.

this is "phone call" topic, at 'til its narrrowed down

restoration is easily possible (even on a DIY basis) on a temporary
trial (with appropirate valving") just o "give it a try".
Could be be done in a few hours to a day's worth of "qucik & dirty"

cheers
Bob

If you hire a license contractor that knows what he or she is doing
then the new EPA lead laws are going to cost you a bundle because it=92s
going to involve making holes in the walls both on the third and
fourth floors. You might want to do the demolition yourself to save
money but make sure you know where to demolish before you do.
You can extend the pipes as long as you=92re not extending off a ½94 lin=
e
which would be too small to branch out from. If you do then more than
one person using the water isn=92t going to get enough pressure.
Branching off of a ¾94 line is probably going to be O.K. but I wouldn’
t
bet my life on it.

Also if you have tenants or plan on having tenants they can sue you
for not abiding by the EPA lead laws.

Rent to illegal aliens and al you need is a cold water tap and a bucket.

If the OP said "The old pipes all remain in place" why do you assume
that "it=92s going to involve making holes in the walls both on the
third and fourth floors."?

If the pipes are still serviceable then all that may be involved is to
cut/sweat off the cap and use a junction to connect any extensions
that are needed.

The OP said this:

"The old pipes all remain in place, but I'm sure they are so corroded
and rusted inside that replacement with copper would be essential. "

That and the fact that the place was built in 1922 suggest that the
existing pipe is probably galvanized steel.   But you have a point, we
don't know for sure what kind of pipe it is.  It's impossible to be of
much help on this kind of thing, as there are way too many variables
involved.

PEX run from the existing baths might be a solution, but we don't know
the pipe sizes and if they can support a second bath.

=94 line

re: "but we don't know  the pipe sizes and if they can support a
second bath."

I prefer that all of my baths be supported by floor joists of the
proper size.

IMHO, supporting a bath with the pipes is just asking for trouble.

I believe trad used "support" in the sense of making sure there was
enough water available.  That's how I read it, anyway.  ;)

cavedweller wrote the following:

educated

servant

of

converted

the

blindfold.

I believe DerbyDad03 left off the smiley.

--

Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
In the original Orange County. Est. 1683
To email, remove the double zeroes after @

DerbyDad03 didn't think he needed a smiley in this instance.

He should have known better.

On Fri, 5 Nov 2010 13:44:30 -0700 (PDT), DerbyDad03

He knew better. When you go fishing, do you attach a sign saying
"bait" next the hook?

Edward

Does anybody check to see who posted what in this NG?

buffalo ny:
hire a local architect for a consultation, and hire him to determine:
1.  legal "use" permit including zoning compliance from your town for
the change in use in your licensed multiple dwelling or whatever is
its present legal use.  it is possible that fourth floor was
decommissioned for a legal use change in 1950 for compliance with
minimum building code /fire/health requirements as a six unit multiple
dwelling of only the first three three stories in height and you have
no legal permitted use for habitable space at that level today or in
the future within reasonable cost within your budget.  if this is a
wood frame building you may have upcoming fire separation improvement
requirements. (think fire rated drywall.)
2.  plumbing permit from a master plumber and his estimate for
updating the plumbing. make sure of the water pressure and volume and
main water line is 1" or bigger and has succicient city pressure to
get to that altitude.
3.  safe fire egress stairwells or fire escapes needed to comply with
current code.
4.  architect will oversee contractors and plumbing after submitting
plans for approval.  if you don't have plans in your hand, start
praying that a copy exists: go to town hall and start digging as they
were filed in 1922. architects have to sign them out and make working
copies for you and your architect.
5.  if co-op means you live in an upper and want to blast thru the
third floor ceiling to make a connecting loft with a stairway into
level 4, make sure your architect knows your complete goal as there
are load and support issues.
6.  if a roof deck, pool, or garden is part of your dream, make sure
approvals and plans include it and plumbing and electricity and
drainage and deck materials as well since you're already improving the
fourth level don't just stop there while you have the government and
architect and contractors all in motion.
7.  if there is no way to get this approved or the cost is too much,
have architect draw an outside 3d view of your dream roof garden and
the building for the future owner to drool over as a beautiful dream
in his future.
-b