Adding a spigot to a 200yr old house?

[Slacker]

It is theoretically simple, drill through foundation above ground level and make a simple connection to the water line.

The problem is the drilling, the house has a field stone foundation that is not stacked but looks like the stones were just tossed in with some cement in uneven layers.

It looks quite fragile and I'm worried it will crack or crumble.

Also thinking it would be difficult to drill straight passing through random types of stone

Any good alternatives?

If it comes down to making the hole and repairing damage by patching stone back in I think I would choose to not mess with it.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Typically you want to drill above the foundation, ex: at the rim joists. But that depends on the type of construction I guess, do the stones actually keep going up and also act as the main outside wall?

You'd want to drill where they show the insulation in that pic. The cinder blocks in that pic are the rocks you're talking about, I presume.

Drilling in rock is hard, but they do make drills and drill bits that make it possible. But I would be worried about cracking like you said. You could drill through the mortar then at least the damage is limited and you can just shove some hydraulic cement to fix it. Also, depending on how thick the wall is it may be hard to find a valve that is long enough. Hose valves have a long stem so that when you turn it off outside the actual valve part is inside, on the hot side.

 

[boomerang]

Have you got a bathroom or kitchen with plumbing adjacent to an outside wall? If so, you can tee into one of the lines there. This will mean that the sillcock will be attached to the wall not the foundation. The downside may be that the location won't be where you want it.

I have three sillcocks around the house and one tees in under the kitchen sink. The other two go out through the sill.

 

[shortylickens]

Im going to need pics of that 200 year old house.

 

[NetWareHead]

I wouldnt mess with a rock foundation; too difficult. Find some other place to make your penetration.

 

[Slacker]

There is a recent addition on the back of the house with a block foundation, but I'm not sure if it would be worth the trouble to run a water line from the first floor bathroom across the basement to the addition and then need a 100' hose to reach the front yard.

 

[paperfist]

No rim joists like Red Squirrel pointed out?

Can you go through the joints of the stone?

Not sure where you live, but you also have to be mindful of freezing in the winter.

 

[NetWareHead]

Not sure where you live, but you also have to be mindful of freezing in the winter.

This, purchase a frost free sillcock and make sure you pitch the pipe as directed. You still have to disconnect the hose for proper frost free operation in the winter.

 

[Slacker]

I'll have to take a better look at the transition from stone to wood, but that would present another issue, asbestos shingle siding that I don't want to touch.

 

[lxskllr]

Asbestos siding is pretty stable. A single hole won't distribute much dust. I'd drill the hole(with a mask), then epoxy the edges.

 

[paperfist]

Asbestos siding is pretty stable. A single hole won't distribute much dust. I'd drill the hole(with a mask), then epoxy the edges.

Not sure on siding, but I've heard that keeping it wet makes the dust non existent.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah keeping it wet will help too. I wonder if you could even dip the drill bit in water or even some kind of oil. The dust will mostly just stick to it instead then you can rinse it off.

Overall I would not worry too much, just take some basic precautions to keep dust down and wear a mask.