Sometimes I think previous owners must’ve had their own “creative” solutions and just hoped nobody would notice.
That’s the story of my 1920s bungalow. Every time I open a wall, it’s like plumbing archeology—galvanized, copper, even a random bit of PEX. I once found a lead drain line capped off with a wine cork. Honestly, I don’t think “weekend job” has ever meant just one weekend unless you’re lucky or everything’s been redone recently. I’ve learned to expect at least one “why did they do this?” moment every project.
WEEKEND JOBS ALWAYS SPILL OVER...
Totally get this. My place is from the ‘40s, and every “quick” plumbing fix turns into a full-on puzzle. Last time, I found a section of drain pipe patched with what looked like duct tape and an old license plate. Guess that was their version of sustainable building? It’s wild—nothing ever lines up with what you expect, and one weird discovery always leads to three more. At this point, I just assume it’ll take twice as long and plan for a few surprises along the way.
WHEN DOES A "WEEKEND PLUMBING JOB" EVER ACTUALLY TAKE A WEEKEND?
I get the frustration, but honestly, I think half the fun is in those curveballs. Every time I open up a wall or crawl under a sink, I’m hoping for something weird—old newspapers, random fixes, you name it. Sure, it slows things down, but that’s where you get to be creative and actually improve on what’s there. If everything went as planned, it’d just be boring assembly work. I say embrace the chaos... it’s where the real value (and stories) come from.
WHEN DOES A "WEEKEND PLUMBING JOB" EVER ACTUALLY TAKE A WEEKEND?
I hear you on the curveballs, but I’d trade a little less “adventure” for a job that actually wraps up on time. Last time I tried to swap out a faucet, I ended up discovering three different types of pipe fittings—none of which matched anything at the hardware store. That quick Saturday project turned into a week of showering at the gym and brushing my teeth in the kitchen sink.
Don’t get me wrong, finding weird stuff behind walls is always good for a laugh (once you’re done cursing), but sometimes I just want to finish a project without having to invent new swear words. Maybe that’s just me being impatient, but honestly, I’d rather save my creative energy for picking tile patterns than figuring out why someone used duct tape as a permanent plumbing solution...
WHEN DOES A "WEEKEND PLUMBING JOB" EVER ACTUALLY TAKE A WEEKEND?
That duct tape “fix” behind the wall is a classic. I swear, every time I open up a wall, I find something that makes me question humanity’s collective decision-making skills. Last time I tried to replace a leaky shutoff valve, I found a literal garden hose clamp holding two copper pipes together. Not even kidding. What’s wild is, I went in thinking it’d be a two-hour job—max. Ended up spending most of my Saturday driving around to three different hardware stores, just trying to match the old fittings with something remotely compatible (and not made for a lawn sprinkler).
I’ve started making a checklist before any “quick” plumbing project, but even then, there’s always some curveball. Like, who knew there were so many thread types? Or that galvanized and copper don’t play nice together? I try to keep things as eco-friendly as possible, so I’m always hunting for lead-free, low-impact materials, but half the time I’m just trying to find *anything* that fits.
Has anyone actually managed to finish one of these weekend jobs in a weekend without running into some weird previous-owner hack? Or is that just a myth? Maybe the trick is to budget for surprises—like, add an extra day for “unexpected discoveries” and another for “hardware store scavenger hunt.” I’m curious if anyone’s got a step-by-step approach that actually works for these projects, or if we’re all just winging it and hoping for the best.
And honestly, does anyone else get tempted to just rip everything out and start from scratch, or is that just me being dramatic?
