Plumb Perfect: The Dream Bathroom Challenge
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Presented by
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Over six weeks,
students will design and plumb a bathroom based on provided architectural plans. With hands-on mentoring from professionals and virtual meetings with a major contractor, you’ll receive expert guidance through the weekly modules, learning to install fixtures and bring your design to life.
Each team will be connected to a mentor that guides
the students through the four modules:
students will design and plumb a bathroom based on provided architectural plans. With hands-on mentoring from professionals and virtual meetings with a major contractor, you’ll receive expert guidance through the weekly modules, learning to install fixtures and bring your design to life.
Each team will be connected to a mentor that guides
the students through the four modules:
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MODULE 1: Design your Bathroom
You have been provided a blueprint of a bathroom, including spacing and placement of the fixtures. The first step a contractor does when creating the bathroom is choosing the fixtures. Your first step is to choose your fixtures:
Once you choose your fixtures, download the spec sheet. You will need to submit these for this part of the challenge, and you will need them when it comes time to run the water and sewer lines. Make sure you save the fixtures so you can use them in the future. You will also need to understand fittings for proper installation. To learn about fittings please watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UL46mZnYxg Toilets: to set a toilet in the bathroom using the measurements on the spec sheet and your bathroom schematic https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aO8n9Nz4J_A MODULE 2: Plumbing the Bathroom
You need to plumb your bathroom before you can install the fixtures. Toilet drainpipe You will run the toilet drainpipe from the end of the wall across the bathroom to the exit under the shower. Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7ZP2RVUm2Q The ideal slope for a toilet drainpipe is ¼ inch per foot. This means that for every foot the pipe runs horizontally, it should drop ¼ inch vertically. Explanation
Slope = (Vertical Drop) / (Horizontal Run) Essentially meaning you divide the difference in elevation (how much the pipe drops) by the horizontal distance the pipe travels; often expressed as “inches per foot” when calculating drainpipe slope. MODULE 3: Venting and Water Lines
Running water lines Now that we have the drainpipes installed, we need to run the water lines that will bring the water to the faucets. We will be using PEX pipe for our water lines. Our bathroom has no water lines from the floor but does have water lines into the house and to each of the bathroom fixtures under the flooring. You will be installing PEX from 1" under the floor to the fixtures. For most residential bathroom fixtures, 3/8-inch PEX tubing is typically sufficient for sinks, showers, and toilets. However, most houses use a 1/2-inch PEX tubing. Here’s a more detailed breakdown: • Sinks, Showers, and Toilets: 1/2-inch or 3/8-inch PEX is generally sufficient for these fixtures, providing adequate water pressure. • Bathtubs: 1/2-inch PEX is recommended for bathtubs to ensure a quick fill time. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jx03J3MMzc&t=30s To better understand the math behind the required size of PEX pipes, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=GaIjYGmwTr0 Your water lines have been run from the water heater to 1" under the floor, you only need to decide the length of PEX to the fixtures. You will need to review your fixture spec sheets to determine the water inlet heights. Watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEIvjvy6I1I Determine how much you are going to use of 1/2" PEX pipe, provide the total length needed for all fixtures. MODULE 4: The Finishing Touches
You have all the hard work done, you have properly installed your fixtures, run your water and waste lines, and vented your system. Submit a picture of what your finished bathroom would look like. Choose a picture that best represents the quality of work you would want to show in a finished bathroom. Explain all the steps you went through, and in what order to create your finished bathroom. You are now a plumbing apprentice, and it’s time to get your apprentice card from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, the regulatory agency for all plumbers in the state. Your work here will apply towards your new apprentice registration! Complete the form attached and mail it back to the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners. |
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Compete for amazing prizes and statewide recognition
Master slopes, p-traps, and drain lines Work alongside professional plumbing contractors |
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The Inaugural 2025 Plumb Perfect Schools that Participated:
7 SCHOOLS | 19 TEAMS | 9 MENTORS | 2 JUDGES
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"...Provides the students with a lot of information regarding the why we design and build bathrooms." 1st PLACE |
