Enough’s Enough

Indoor plumbing is one of the great advances of modern civilization, which people think of as a convenience but has been part of a widespread improvement in public health and quality of life. I want to state, unequivocally, that I am in favor of pluming. That said, what the hell?

I’m seeing five new holes through the concrete slab for drain pipes, and at least four old holes that have not been properly repaired. (Two of the old holes are big enough that they may each encompass multiple old plumbing locations.) The floor slab above (we’re looking up at its underside) has been turned into swiss cheese. That slab is cinder-concrete, draped mesh, which relies entirely on the continuity of the wires in the mesh for its strength; multiple wires have been cut and others have lost their concrete cover and so are no protected against fire. The boards hung from above appear to be acting as forms for insulation to be placed filling the holes, which may provide some sound deadening, but does nothing to restore the strength or fire-rating of the slabs.

Don’t do this.

Re the title: some 35 years ago, Calvin Trillin said something along the lines of “You know you’re a parent when you realize that ‘Enough’s enough’ is a complete sentence.”