Throughout the initial layout of the basement, one nagging problem seemed to keep wrecking our plans. In the area designated as the excercise room, a drain pipe from the kitchen cut out about a foot away from the wall.
It seemed that no matter how we layed out the walls on the computer, there was no way to hide that pipe. So we decided to call a plumber, and move it.
We had talked about it for some time. It seemed like such a waste to spend all that money just to move this particular drain pipe less than a foot. But we figured, if we're going to properly finish our basement, we have to hide this pipe.
The plumber we called for an estimate was great. He came out the very next morning - at 5:30 a.m.!!! He eyed up the situation and gave us a good price - although I had to put the cement back in when he was done. He even suggested some decorative drain clean-out plugs that would look nicer mounted to the dry wall. He set a price, a date, and time - at 6:00 a.m. the following Monday! Ugh. Well at least it would be done.
The pictures above show the before and after. Notice in the image on the left, I drew in exactly where the wall would go. You know how much I like drawing with Sharpies... I did this because I knew that the plumber would be moving the pipe while I was at work. I didn't want to come home and find out that it was STILL an inch to far out. It seems like that's what happens if you don't watch these contractors every move. You have to spell it out for them - so that's exactly what I did!
As it turned out, he did a great job - and even took him an hour less than he thought. So he knocked $100 off of the estimated price. From the before and after images to left, you can really see just how far the pipe was moved, and how it will fit nicely into a wall now.
In addition, he turned the drain clean-out around so that the access will be from within our planned storage area - much more convienient than from the finished room. (I didn't even have to spell that out to him). He also did a nice job of hiding the pipes in the above joist (Previously they stuck out a little too far to be easily hiden behind the ceiling tile.).
All in all for $400, I'm glad we did it right. I'm sure that down the road, when the basement is finally complete, we'll be glad we spent the extra money.
While the plumber did do a fine job, he forgot to leave us those decoratge drain clean-out plugs. I guess I should've spelled that out too! I knew I should have been suspicious when he wanted to work so early...
