Plumbing Guides
Plumbing Materials Checklist for a New House
A room-by-room plumbing materials checklist for new houses in Nigeria — supply, waste, valves, water storage and finishing — so nothing is forgotten on site.
Quick answer
A new house needs water source and storage equipment, main supply lines, valves, waste and soil pipes, floor drains, and the fittings for every bathroom, kitchen, laundry and outside point. Pressure-test the pipes before plastering and tiling, while they are still easy to reach.
Key things to know
- Work room by room so nothing is forgotten on site.
- Plan valves so each area can be shut off for repairs.
- Always state sizes and pipe types on your list — “½" PPR elbow”, not just “elbow”.
- Send your list or BOQ for one price and delivery to site.
On a new building, plumbing happens in stages over many months — and every forgotten fitting means another trip to the market and another day lost on site. Use this checklist with your plumber to plan the full list from the start.
1. Water source and storage
- Borehole pump or well pump, and its pipes and cable
- Surface pumping machine (tank to overhead tank or pressure line)
- Underground and overhead tank connections
- Float valve for the overhead tank
- Gate or ball valves on the main outlet and inlet
- Non-return (check) valve on the pump line
- Water filter on the main supply, especially with borehole water
2. Main supply lines
- PVC pressure pipes for outside and underground cold water mains
- PPR pipes from the tank down into the house
- Reducers, tees, elbows and unions
- Pipe clips and fixings
3. Bathroom points (per bathroom)
- PPR hot and cold supply to basin, shower, WC and shattaf
- In-wall stopcock
- Angle valves for WC and basin
- Hidden shower valve (if used) or rain column connections
- PVC waste pipes, WC connector and floor drain with trap
- Hot water pipes and safety valve for the water heater
4. Kitchen and laundry
- Hot and cold supply to the sink
- Angle valves under the sink
- Sink waste, trap and waste pipe
- Washing machine point with valve and waste
- Floor drain in the kitchen or laundry
5. Outside
- Bib taps for the compound, garden and car-wash point
- PVC roof gutters and down pipes
- Soil and waste lines to the septic tank or sewer, with inspection chambers
- Sewer flap valve to stop backflow
6. Consumables and tools
- Tangit gum (PVC solvent cement)
- Thread tape
- Pressure test pump
- PPR welding machine (for your plumber)
Materials by stage
| Stage | What goes in |
|---|---|
| Sub-structure | Underground drains, soil lines, sleeves through foundations |
| Super-structure (first fix) | Supply pipes, waste pipes, valves, hidden cisterns and shower valves |
| Before plastering | Pressure test every line |
| Second fix | WCs, basins, mixers, showers, sinks, heaters, floor drain grates |
| Handover | Pump, tank connections, final tests |
Always pressure-test the lines before plastering and tiling. Finding a leak while the wall is open costs almost nothing; finding it after tiling costs a lot.
How to estimate quantities
Your plumber will measure runs on site, but you can prepare a good first list by counting points. For each bathroom, count the WC, basin, shower, shattaf and heater. For the kitchen, count the sink and any dishwasher or washing machine point. Then add outside taps, the pump line and the tank connections. Share the count and the building drawings with your plumber so they can estimate pipe lengths and fittings.
Common plumbing mistakes on new buildings
- Using cold-water PVC for hot water lines — hot water needs PPR.
- No valves to isolate each bathroom, so the whole house must be shut off for one repair.
- Waste pipes laid without enough fall, causing slow drains and blockages.
- No inspection points on soil lines.
- Skipping the non-return valve on the pump line.
Turn this checklist into a price
Share this list with your plumber, fill in the quantities, and send it to us on WhatsApp or through the BOQ upload page. We will price everything together and plan delivery to your site. See also plumbing materials in Lagos and how much plumbing materials cost.
Get advice
Not sure what to buy? Ask us.
Send your photos, measurements or list on WhatsApp — or call — and we’ll recommend the right product with today’s price and delivery to your area.
Written by
Ecemeahara Global Ventures
A registered building materials dealer (OBMDA Reg. No. 1292) at Odun-Ade Building Materials Market, Badagry Expressway, Lagos. We write about the questions our customers ask us every day. About us · Our founder
What Ecemeahara supplies
Everything in this guide, in our showroom.
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