So I’m replacing the laminate floor in a brand new 3 story condo on the bottom unit so the wheelchair bound owner can get around easier. I hoped to use the pad from the old floor under my new Pergo and save a few bucks and time to place the padding.. but after getting 13 boxes installed over the old pad, I can tell I’m in trouble, it feels different when you go over the transition area, and also its too spongy. Gotta de-install the floor and replace the pad. Sigh.
But here’s where it gets interesting. As I pull the padding and 6mil plastic in the kitchen and entryway, I find a huge puddle underneath on the concrete. I mean, not just damp, there’s enough water you could suck it up with a straw if you wanted to. Oh boy, where’s that coming from? I notify the building construction manager (the complex is 95% done, so they are still on site) and he looks and says “hmm. we’re gonna have to open that wall up.”
And they did. And found that the guys installing the microwave had drilled a 3/4″ hole right through the 2″ ABS drain line in that wall, and put their toggle bolt INTO the hole. Once the new tenants upstairs started using that line, the water would fall down the pipe, hit the toggle and splash/run out the hole and down the outside of the pipe.
So it’s hard to find fault with the microwave installers, but perhaps they were a little too eager with that 3/4″ drill? Or was it just an honest mistake?
Here’s a picture of the piece of pipe the plumber cut out.
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So, I guess they should have used a different anchor? Maybe one of those epoxy jobs?
;-)
Forrest
With the microwave mounts, you can put anchors nearly anywhere on that bottom strip. The real sad part is that this wall has studs about every foot so there was no real need for toggles at all, they had plenty of backing. I'm thinking they don't work real hard to find backing, just grab the drill and throw the toggles in. If you hit wood, THEN use a screw.
And if they had drilled 3" to the right, they would have hit the range power. That would'a got their attention.
Wow!!!!
I often wonder how many electrical wires get nails/screws driven into them and how many fires are waiting to happen!
http://grungefm.com
so it wasnt the old pad after all?
The old pad was an issue, and I'm glad it's gone. It was one of those times where that little voice in your head tells you the right thing to do but you ignore it, and wind up paying for it later.
sh!t happens
I still remember the time when I was installing some kitchen cabinets and the electrician (bosses son actually, somehowthat makes this story better) was installing the hood vent. he was running a screw into the wall and managed to hit the range power supply. The flash and huge puff of smoke that ensued was spectacular enough for me to dub him "Flash". A nickname that he carried for quite a while after that.