House for my Parents

Bird · Dec 18, 2012

My father has his gas grill plummed to run ng (had to get a ng grill).

That's something we rarely, if ever, see around here now, but it used to be common. We bought an older, small house in 1968 that had a small natural gas grill at the edge of the patio. It also had a gaslight in the front yard and one in the backyard. In 1972, we bought a new house and I had the local gas company install the biggest grill they had, including a rotisserie, and gaslights front and back. Lone Star Gas sold grills in those days. In 1977, we bought another new house and had them install a new grill, but no gaslights, and we kept the rotisserie from the other grill. I haven't seen any gaslights in a long time either.

Incidentally, when the Lone Star Gas Company installed those natural gas grills and gaslights in the '70s, they ran flexible copper lines underground. In later years, copper became a no no for natural gas.

EddieWalker · Dec 19, 2012

I wasn't very clear. The gas company is running a two inch gas line into the land. he will create a "hub" to distribute it to different locations in my front pasture. From there, he is running a line to the house and setting a meeter. This way, I can bring gas to other areas as the RV Park moves forward.

My concern was from the meter, up the wall, through that attic and then down to each location. I wasn't aware of the lightning issues, or the lawsuites. I also didn't know about needing a class or training to install the stainless lines. It's what I see in all the new houses that I've worked on and I thought it might be better. In this case, I'm rethinking that and going to agree with my dad and use black pipe.

I have a pipe threader and dies for half and 3/4 inch pipe. I've don a fair amount of this back in CA and here in TX in older homes. It's not hard, just labor intensive. But after reading everyones replies, I feel a lot more comfortable sticking with black pipe.

Thank you,
Eddie

Robert_in_NY · Dec 19, 2012

Eddie, I would still look at taking the training class for it anyway. It is simple and may help you on other projects in the future. Plus once your trained you won't be scared of using it. It really is great, like going from copper water lines to pex. So much faster and simpler.

sld · Dec 19, 2012

Here is Kansas we have the rigid black pipe throughout except for a small piece that connects the appliance to the hard pipe.

This does simplify hook ups.

tommu56 · Dec 22, 2012

The reason I couldn't use it was I didn't have a business they wont train individual users.
You have a business so i would look in to it.

EddieWalker · Dec 22, 2012

We went with black pipe and my dad has been busy installing it.

Yesterday evening I rented a 30 foot towable bom lift to build the back porch. Peak of the truss is 16 feet and the truss is made up of three layers of PT 2x12's. Some of those boards are too heavy to mess with on a ladder. It cost $260 for 8 hours of usage over the weekend. We're at less then half that after one day. The meter only runs when the lift is runnig, so most of the time I'm just standing on it.

Eddie

Obed · Dec 23, 2012

EddieWalker said:
Yesterday evening I rented a 30 foot towable bom lift to build the back porch. Peak of the truss is 16 feet and the truss is made up of three layers of PT 2x12's. Some of those boards are too heavy to mess with on a ladder.
Eddie

Eddie,
Why use pressure treated wood for the porch roof truss?
Obed

EddieWalker · Dec 23, 2012

It is going to be exposed to the elements. The roof will extend 16 inches past the truss, but not enough to protect it. Cedar would have been another option, but very expensive. My mom wants to paint it, so PT made the most sense. The way it's built, every board overlaps a seam, so it's very tight. There is about a case of Liquid Nails on it to hold it together and add strength. Kind of a home made laminate beam.

Eddie

EddieWalker · Dec 23, 2012

The rental for the lift was for 8 hours over the course of the weekend. I didn't use half of that!!!! The meter only runs when the lift if running, so once you are up in the air, the meter isn't running.

I was able to get everything I wanted to do, and not have to rush or stress over time. It really worked out great.

The back porch is 16 feet deep and 25 feet wide. The rafters are 16 foot 2x8 on 24 inch centers. I'll block and brace them later. The metal plates on the truss are 1/4 inch steel that I had laying around from another project. Dad cut them with a metal blade in a circular saw. It was slow going, but doable. Then he driled the half inch holes at my brothers place with his drill press. I went with stainless steel bolts and plastic lock washers from McMaster Carr.

Overall, it's HUGE and I think it will be a great space.