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Dual tap to mixer tap - job for a plumber?

Hey folks,

I'm mid-way through a bathroom reno and I managed to pick up a used vanity with tap, so would like to be able to use it all if possible.

The old taps were individual hot & cold taps and the 'new' one is a mixer - I'm not shy about tackling a plumbing job, but to get these all to talk to each other should I leave this to a pro, or is it DIY-able?

Thanks hugely in advance! (This is an awesome community, learning a lot from the old posts as well as my own so thanks everyone!).

New_tap_•_rus_danny_gmail_com.png

Taps_•_rus_danny_gmail_com.png

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ProjectPete

Fair advice you've received @dannyrus

From a DIY perspective, the ends of the flex hoses you've pictured get attached to the copper piping at the base of where the taps currently connect to the copper piping coming out the wall. You'll notice the other end of those flex hoses have a small thread which screws into the underside of the mixer.

A challenge you'll often face in these scenarios is the existing copper piping being in a position which interferes with the new basin and/or prevents the flex hoses to sit comfortably without kinks (you can buy different lengths to address this in some cases). This is when the pipes will often need to be cut and while it is DIY-able (from a complexoty perspective) it's definitely when you should be calling a plumber.

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BIM_Engineer

That's a tough one, DIY/Components that requires licencing and those that don't?
Here's my spin...... Black, grey and white
Strict Licensing
Structural Engineering, Electrical trades, Fire Engineering Gas Plumbing,
Grey Licensing
Domestic Water Plumbings, Carpentry, Brick laying, Concreting,etc

There should exist provisions for compliance checking and easier certification if competent DIYers undertake this work
No licensing
Painting, Architecture

Problems arise when people put up photos without data and proofs, where the works are non compliant and others copy it
hth

Jason

Thanks for joining in the discussion @dannyrus.

Perhaps you might consider engaging a friendly professional and working beside him/her so you learn yourself for next time? And I’m sure the friendly Workshop community would also be happy to provide tips and advice along the way.

Jason

dannyrus

That's a really good breakdown @BIM_Engineer and good point about the photos, thanks for that - I've seen a discussion in another thread on here about cases where insurance won't cover plumbing work if it hasn't been completed by a licenced plumber - so I reckon based on that, I'll take your suggestion @Jason and get a pro out here. If they don't mind me observing, I might watch out of interest.

Thanks a mill guys!

ProjectPete

Fair advice you've received @dannyrus

dannyrus

Thanks for the help everyone - ended up getting a licensed plumber in who was brilliant... and when I saw the work he did I was glad I called him. He replaced/refitted the piping with individual hot & cold isolator taps, installed new hoses etc, so it's done the way it should be now. I know 100% I wouldn't have gone to that effort if I had DIY'd it (more from a lack of knowledge than a lack of will).

Thanks again for all the advice - good to know if anything goes wrong now, at the very least it's all insurance-friendly.

ProjectPete

Good outcome @dannyrus and definitely better to get a pro in sometimes

Jason

Great result @dannyrus, many thanks for sharing.

How's your bathroom reno progressing?

Looking forward to reading about the next project that you're tackling - feel free to post anytime you need a hand.

Jason

Old-gal24

How very true. The more info the better.

But is there a reply that can be of help? I would like to know the answer to this one myself.

Cheers

Jenn

BIM_Engineer

Here Read This

Licensed or Unlicensed...Damned if you do ...Damned if you don't

NSW couple left out of pocket after tradies botched renovations — twice

The take home message is

1.Do your own research

2.Check to see if there are National Codes and Australian Standards

3.Alternate solutions need to be certified

4.Ask for data and proofs on 3. above

5.Consider what's the worst thing that can happen if things go terribly wrong ie, cracked tiles->building collapse?

6.If the work requires proper licensing & certified documentation then get Detailed instructions and specifications

7.Make sure the expert certifying the completed work is trusted, licensed and competent.

8.Don't rely on insurance policies, Professional Building Surveyors that certify building compliance, eg waterproofing are now becoming an uninsurable risk

Massive PI insurance hikes have claimed their first victim as Protek shuts doors

hth

Old-gal24

Thank you for your informative reply @BIM_Engineer much appreciated.

I find being a disabled older female that tradesmen either don't turn up, turn up or do half the job and I must chase and chase to get them to come back of they just don't what small jobs and don't return my calls. I find it very frustrating, so I have a go at what I can. No way I would take on jobs that law dictates I must have a licensed tradesperson. e.g. Electricians and major plumbing jobs.

I recently moved to the Dubbo area and have found tradesmen are so busy with so much work on that they pick and choose the jobs they take on. It took me 4 months to get plumbing work done and then it took him 4 trips to do a few hours work as he kept getting called away on what he said was emergency work. 🙁

Then you have the added - charging like a wounded bull.

Sometimes I think I have sucker tattooed on my head.

I try to do what I can more out of saving money and self saticfaction than anything else.

Cheers Jenn

BIM_Engineer

Hi @Jenn
The whole process of undertaking Renos/Build projects from start to finish has become a major concern for battlers and punters
to the point, where they don't know what projects and who to believe.

The internet, advertising and fake projects has also blurred the boundaries further.

here's my2c
1.Always get proper Plans (designs), Details and Specifications..check qualifications
2.Get a breakdown of materials, Quantities and costs, most of the 3D BIM Design software will do this automatically

3.Use the Quantities, Costs and data to check Quotes, get at least 3 quotes to check
4.Plan your project ie DIY, DI4Me, DIL8er, there are now apps to help you do that
5.Have the critical stages properly inspected/Certified by licensed professionals, these generally occur once
6.Home owners & OBs will inspect their project 3 times a week on average

7. Check the construction/engineering details and specifications against what is being built

8. On 5 & 6 above using the Right Tools, data & Information Compare, measure, take photos and send the data/info to an expert

... you won't believe how quickly and how far the technology is advancing in this area.

9.The time to fix mistakes, non compliance, variations,etc, is while the trades are on site after they leave the job it's too late and prior to payment.

“The secret is to check and fix things before issues are covered up, concreted, bricked in and completed.”

More info here on

DIY Bathroom Reno

Thanks for your honesty

Cheers

Chris

michaelhenny

Hey dannyrus, do you mind telling me how much it cost you to get the plumber to do all that? I need to do something similar for kitchen and laundry room.

dannyrus

Hey @michaelhenny

It's hard to say actually, the plumber did do an itemised quote for a few jobs on the day, but the invoice I have now is for all the work completed which is just shy of $900 total. This was for an investment property and was a work day for me, so I figured while he was there I'd get him to do a few other things and I could keep working 😀 As well as cutting/fixing the pipes, he ended up installing the vanity itself, mounting a cabinet to the wall etc. So my invoice included all of that.

So I don't know exactly how much the pipe component cost, though I think I recall the quote for "vanity" being about 3/4 the bill. He did a great job though, the vanity required a bit of cutting and levelling to make the pipes from the wall fit correctly (exactly as @ProjectPete anticipated might happen) so it's worth getting a quote. Not sure if all plumbers/tradies do this, but they were happy to quote free and scheduled it at a time where they could complete the work if you accepted the quote on the spot, or come back and complete the work later if you needed time.

Hope that helps!

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