Replies

1. 
   Stilletto | Jul 12, 2006 12:45am | #1

   My money is on it's tiled over,  under the tub.

   Some tile guys set the tiles where grout lines line up with the access door,  good luck finding where it is. 

   I got lucky one time tapping on the tiles with the plastic end of a screw driver,  when it sounds good and hollow you have probably found an edge. 

   Can't you hear the violin playing your song.

2. 
   DavidxDoud | Jul 12, 2006 12:45am | #2

   access panel on the ceiling in the room underneath?

    

    

   "there's enough for everyone"
3. 
   Matt | Jul 12, 2006 12:48am | #3

   Probably on the right front about 18" to 24" to the right of what looks like the orange sticker.  Check with the manafacturer though.  Electrical code inspection red flag!  All elctrical connections must be accessable.  Based on this and your other pic/thread, is this an owner builder deal?

1. 
   edwardh1 | Jul 12, 2006 12:55am | #4

   NO
   high end arch /with plans that say "the (name) residence.

1. 
   brownbagg | Jul 12, 2006 01:06am | #5

   if they cant get underneight , how do they finish the plumbing, all i see is three holes.

2. 
   Matt | Jul 12, 2006 01:16am | #6

   What is your part in this project?

4. 
   Gunner | Jul 12, 2006 02:28am | #7

       Is there a closet on either side of the tub? There might be an access panel there.

    

    

     Tipi fest 06. The island is gonna bounce, Ese.

1. 
   DougU | Jul 12, 2006 07:01am | #8

   I'm thinking thats what the other pic is.

    

1. 
   Gunner | Jul 12, 2006 06:59pm | #10

     Yea I comprehend now. Exploritory sawzall time. kidding.

    

    

      Tipi fest 06. A nice place to get away with the family and enjoy the lush estate of Cliffordland.

5. 
   woodway | Jul 12, 2006 06:50pm | #9

   Second pic looks like a closet flange set too close to the wall, unless those a 18 inch tile. What about an access door on the exterior of the wall behind the tub? We did one like that but there was a small observation deck on ours, just behind the tub. As was mentioned, there needs to be access for the electrical too. Just my two cents!

1. 
   CapnMac | Jul 12, 2006 09:52pm | #12

   an access door on the exterior of the wall behind the tub?

   I've seen some doozies of those, on 1/3 & 1/2 million house in Austin.  Often in clearly, "oops" situations to cure red tags.  (No lintel in the brick over the plywood panel that just has 4 screws run into the framing behind, with a 4 ton a/c compressor 6" in front of that . . . )Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)

6. 
   CapnMac | Jul 12, 2006 09:32pm | #11

   If the plumbers are really, really lucky--there's a panel on four touch latches that the tile are adhered to (and the grout guy did not know about).  Very slick that way, you push in with both hands and the panel goes in, then pops out to where it can be removed.

   If they are ordinary lucky, the panel is on 4-6 magnetic catches (and the grouter didn't know).  This is less good, you have to have a real thin, flexible, sort of device to reach back behind the u/l to pry the magnets apart.  Plumbers often do not have such fine tools available, and some will pry at the tile rather than the u/l supporting it.

   If the plumbers have not lived a life of humility & charity, they will find that the tile people ran u/l right over the access, tiled & grouted right over all that, too.

   The archy will be gone to Xanadu on vacation when this is dicovered, and an angry GC will demand to know how to get two different trades under the tiled-in-tub, with dire, unveiled, threats of just knocking holes in the oustide wall or the tile, and backcharging everyone in sight.

   Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
7. 
   sully13 | Jul 12, 2006 10:33pm | #13

   We did one exactly like this about 3 months ago, I had to do a double take because it looked very similar.

   On ours, GC said that the access would be through the exterior wall.  It was vinyl sided and easy to strip and remove the piece of plywood, so we put up backer and tile over the entire front skirt with no panel.

   At least the gfi switch was located on the wall next to the toilet. 

   Usually the pump is on the end opposite the drain, or if the drain is in the center of one of the sides, it is usually opposite the tub filler location.

   good luck 

8. 
   JeffBuck | Jul 14, 2006 03:44am | #14

   it's all open from downstairs ...

   what more do U people want from me!

   Jeff

       Buck Construction

    Artistry In Carpentry

        Pittsburgh Pa

9. 
   Matt | Jul 14, 2006 04:59am | #15

   I notice you didn't respond to my previous question as to what your involvment is in the situation.  Another armchair quarterback I assume?  :-) No need to answer...

1. 
   edwardh1 | Jul 14, 2006 05:23am | #16

   Sorry- yes you could call me that .my wife and I walk through a tony new $ 1-2 million dollar/home neo traditional neighborhood (small lots is what that means) and we see lots of building goofs in Architech supervised homes- homes with detailed drawings (plans). Like $1.8 million homes with finger lap (is that the right term) door and window trim that has been stained, 6 double glass french doors across the front, one with a toilet 2 ft (yes 2 feet) behind the door -when the new owners moved in they covered over that door with a drape., stairs to the 2nd floor that chop off about 12 inches of the corner of exterior french doors and on and on. The microwave atop the two double ovens is my post too. I don't think they are trade errors, though things like flex ac ducts almost in 360 degree knots are. I guess I am surprised that no one sees these things at that price range in these particular homes-
   most folks on this forum seem to operate at a fairly high or at least medium standard.
   I spent several summers in high school "bending nails" as a helper on some nice construction jobs and some of this stuff is not right. Don't shoot the messenger please. The tub access thing was maybe a regular tub and someone added the jacuzi (2nd floor exterior wall ) but the motor will fail one day. thanks

   Edited 7/13/2006 10:27 pm ET by edwardh1

1. 
   Gunner | Jul 14, 2006 05:30am | #17

     I'm still curious as to where it actualy is. It's hard to call it a goof if you don't know the real answer. It may be a pretty simple solution.

   I like to see stuff like your talking about. I was in a really high end home last Friday. The homeowner was real nice but picky as hell. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it wasn't normal anywhere that I know of to have quarter round end with a butt cut. His whole house was done that way.

    

    

      Tipi fest 06. A nice place to get away with the family and enjoy the lush estates of Cliffordland. And hang out with the amazing shirtless camper dude from the great white North. Eh

2. 
   Notchman | Jul 14, 2006 07:59am | #18

   Everytime we put in a jetted tub, pump access location is usually a coordinated effort between the electrician, the plumber and myself (hands-on G/C).  Sometimes you have to special order the tub with the pump placed at the drain end.  Fellow local contractor had to install one with the pump shipped seperately and had it plumbed into the unit in the field a couple feet below the tub in a basement utility room.

   I did one last year remarkably similar to the one in your photo and we put the access door in the wall at the foot of the tub and behind what would be the head of a bed.  (the small bedrooms in some of these large houses don't leave much flexibility for furniture arrangement).

   We trimmed out the little door and, even without the bed there, it blended into the wall better than the intercom master the HO put in their kitchen.

   In my locale, at least, I can be assured that both the electrical inspector AND the plumbing inspector will verify the pump access during final.