Where Do I Start?

JamesNLA

So I need to write up a bid for a GC on this house overlooking the ocean. HO bought a tankless heater, wants me to install it, because he knows better.

It involves a 150' run of gas line, which is the main part of the install. Copper work is simple to relocate outdoors so no venting will be needed and can free up valuable space in the kitchen for the HO. Electrical is a breeze, so it's just the gas line.

Meter is out at the street, need to dig it out and tie in....no prob
Than it's a 20' saw cut accross the driveway AND put it back together....bid also includes hammering out and dispose of old crete (ok...I can deal with that). Than it's about 20' of dirt trenching...no prob, THAN...Oh lord.....now, I am no expert in landscaping or the terms it's called, but he has a brick walkway, that are very tightly installed...no morter and I imaging on a bed of compacted sand. That is about 50' long, I need to remove about 15" to trench, after that, it's another 60 or so feet of trenching in a planter box to the house, at which I will stub up and go steel up the side of the house into the attic, over accross using CSST and out and down into the heater...sigh....

So do I call a landscaper to remove and put back those bricks or a mason? There is a patteren to it all and I really don't even want to touch it. GC said it's all me from start to finish, except for having to replant out by the street meter....thanks guy.....

This would be a good filler job for me inbetween large jobs, but I don't want to get into things that I don't do or know much about. Now, him being the GC I asked if he would take care of this, he smiled and said nope. So, mason or landscaper? Thx

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"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

j_builder

I am no expert in landscaping or the terms it's called, but he has a brick walkway, that are very tightly installed...no morter and I imaging on a bed of compacted sand.

Sounds to me that you're talking paver's/paver brick (right)? If yes then just take a pic of the lay-out of the paver's before you remove them (if the pattern is that much different than the existing pattern).

Back to your questions now... Either a landscaper/mason/handyman that does have the know how to set them back in place (leveling ground,apply plastic/poly,compacting sand base,level paver's, more compacting and sand,broom off excess sand, work done TA DA).

Why are you running a new gas line from the street for a tankless waterheater?

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JamesNLA

I had a feeling it was going to be a PITA....

Umm, new gas line is because the unit will be a 250KBTU heater. The existing 1" gas line will not come close to PROPERLY supplying the house and the existing load, plus an additional 250K load. I will also be adding a terminal for another 200KBTU tankless unit for a later date to be installed....gotta build the building first. This is paramount in a sucessfull installation.

Thanks for the tips....My neighbor is a landscaper, I may have him go bid it for me as I want nothing to do with it, and I refuse to be on the same job where there is a "handyman" on my payroll.

Thx

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

22rifle

Wait...

Can you get a 2 pound set on your meter? If so, consider converting that main feed line to 2 pounds of pressure. Bingo, no excavating. You can either regulate it back down at the point of entry, or at each appliance. Find out what your code requires for venting those regulators.

But really, do look into the 2 pound set. And if they brush you off, don't back down until you get a firm no from an engineer.

Here's what I see. If you can take this approach you will spend less time dealing with non-plumbing crap (trenching through existing infrastructure), and more time dealing with pure plumbing (modifying gas lines). Less risk for you, tons less hassle, much lower cost for the HO, and if you do this right, a higher profit margin for you. No, not higher income, but please make sure you charge a premium for your knowledge and brilliant solution.

Of course, if a 2 pound set cannot be done, none of this matters.

Holler are me at (my user name on here)@gmail.com if you need any help.

Best of luck to you.

JamesNLA

Not in CA bud....

half pound only. I think there are a few places in AZ and MO that allow this, but not here. I tried that approach years ago when I needed to run a gas line under a newly poured driveway.

__________________
"....And then we all switch places when I ring the bell"
-Adrock

j_builder

Umm, new gas line is because the unit will be a 250KBTU heater. The existing 1" gas line will not come close to PROPERLY supplying the house and the existing load, plus an additional 250K load. I will also be adding a terminal for another 200KBTU tankless unit for a later date to be installed....gotta build the building first. This is paramount in a sucessfull installation.

WOW

Sounds like a nice upgrade to the gas system to the new gas line, I was just thinking that you could probably get away with running a new 2" plus size from the main to the new tankless then down size line accordantly...I've had good luck with the Takagi T-M1 and the T-3 for multiple applications.

Good Luck with the build James

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