New Construction Plumbing in Roswell, GA

Owners who build a house they intend to stay in for the long haul often think about wider doors and a first-floor bedroom, and forget that many of the most useful accessibility features are plumbing. A curbless shower, a handheld spray within reach of a seat, a sink someone can sit at and an anti-scald valve all depend on decisions made during new construction plumbing, mostly before the framing is closed. On a new Roswell home, adding them at rough-in costs a fraction of retrofitting them later.

A shower without a curb

A zero-threshold shower lets someone walk or roll in without stepping over anything, but the floor still has to slope to a drain. That means the shower area must sit lower than the bathroom floor: on a slab, the concrete is recessed in that spot when it is poured; on a framed floor, the joists are dropped or notched as the structure allows. A linear drain along one edge simplifies the slope and keeps water in the shower. None of this can be added once the slab is cured or the subfloor is down, so it belongs in the plans from the start.

Valves and sprays where hands can reach them

• Place the shower valve near the entry, so water can be started and adjusted before stepping into the spray.
• Use a handheld shower on a slide bar alongside or instead of a fixed head, reachable from a seated position.
• Choose pressure-balancing or thermostatic valves, which limit sudden swings in water temperature.
• Pick lever or touch controls, which are easier on arthritic hands than round knobs.

Valve bodies go in at rough-in, so the trim style needs to be chosen before then. Should a cartridge wear out or a handle stiffen years later, it is routine faucet and valve repair.

Toilets, sinks and the space around them

Comfort-height toilets make standing easier, and a wall-hung toilet can be mounted at whatever height suits the owner, provided its in-wall carrier is installed during rough-in. Leave clear floor space beside the toilet and plan blocking in the walls for future grab bars, coordinating with the carpenter so blocking does not land where supply lines run. A sink with open space underneath lets someone sit while using it. That calls for a drain set back toward the wall and pipes that are insulated or covered, so knees do not touch hot lines.

Thinking about the whole house

A primary suite and laundry on the main floor keep daily routines off the stairs. Keeping the water heater close to that suite shortens the wait for warm water, and setting it at a moderate temperature helps prevent scalding. Shutoff valves should be easy to reach and turn, not buried behind a vanity or at the back of a deep cabinet.

The sewer connection before move-in

Accessibility planning sits inside the normal permit path. Plumbing work in Roswell, from a new installation to a repair or replacement, is permitted through the city's Building Division. Where the house ties into Fulton County sewer, the county's connection flowchart has the plumber connect at the existing tap and leave it uncovered for a county inspection; the county then sends its connection authorization to the city's permitting department ahead of the certificate of occupancy. Under Fulton County's lateral connection requirements, the plumber must also call the county inspector at least three days before a lateral goes in. If that lateral ever has to be dug up later, it becomes sewer excavation work, so a well-bedded line pays off for decades.

Aging-in-place plumbing questions in Roswell

What does a curbless shower need from the plumbing?

A recessed floor and a drain placed to suit the slope. On a slab, the concrete is poured lower in the shower area; on a framed floor, the structure is lowered as the engineer or framer allows. A linear drain often works best. The plumber needs the final shower size and drain type before the underground or floor framing stage.

Who can pull the plumbing permit for a new home in Roswell?

Generally the plumbing contractor. Roswell issues permits to contractors holding a license or to an owner who lives in the home, and on a new house the contractor normally applies and handles the inspections, which keeps the permit, the work and the inspection calls with one party.

Does an anti-scald valve replace a lower water heater setting?

No, the two work together. A pressure-balancing or thermostatic shower valve limits sudden temperature swings at that fixture, while a moderate water heater setting lowers the risk at every sink and tub. A thermostatic mixing valve at the heater is another option when the tank is kept hotter to stretch its capacity.

Build it once, for the long run

Planning a Roswell home you hope never to leave? Call Alpha at (404) 409-4448 before the slab is formed, and we will work the accessible features into the new construction plumbing layout from the start.