We are having a house built and the plumber ran the water lines up through the floor rather than through the wall. I have never seen this before. Is this common? I am concerned that the lines will not have the strength to support a shutoff valve? Are there any codes related to this issue?

Thanks,

Mike

Hi Mike,

Do you mean he's running the 1/4" supplies up through the cabinets or is he running the 1/2" branches up the walls? Either way is not acceptable You will take up floor space in the cabinet and run the risk of hitting them and causing a flood. If he's running the 1/2" branches up the wall This will be the first time I've ever heard of it and I'v been in the trade for over fifty years.
Code callsfor all water pipes to be strapped and secured. Good luck, Tom

He is running them up through the cabinets about 3 inches from the wall.

When I was a kid, all of the pipes including the drain pipe came up through the floor. Not sure when they switched. I always thought it was a better place for supply pipes than in an outside wall where they can freeze. The drain is another matter. It can't turn and go back down after the trap without a vent or you have an ''S'' trap, long banned. I would call the local building inspector.

When the bathroom and then the kitchen were renovated in our 110 year-old house, I had them put the water lines through the floor rather than up the exterior wall. The wall insulation cavity is only about 3" deep and that was not enough to prevent freeze-ups when the Boston temperature dropped to near zero. We've had no problems since the relocation and both setups passed inspection.

Labman posts," When I was a kid, all of the pipes including the drain pipe came up through the floor. Not sure when they switched. I always thought it was a better place for supply pipes than in an outside wall where they can freeze."

Lab, when we were kids we were lucky to have inside plumbing, LOL.
But seriously folks! Back then, the supplies coming up out of the floor were 1/2" galvanized pipes you could smack with a hammer and not faze them. Todays supplies are 1/4" chrome over soft copper that can be dented, crimped, and easily damaged. As for the freezing part, back then homes weren't as well insulated, (if at all) as they are today.
I still say, "This is is not acceptable, You will take up floor space in the cabinet and run the risk of hitting them and causing a flood."
The best way is how we supply fixtures at the present time. Not through the floor but concealed in the walls and protected by insulation. Cheers, Tom