Q: What is a "rough-in"?

A: "Rough-in" is a construction term that refers to the infrastructure or "guts" of a particular system in a house. This can include the pipes for the plumbing fixtures or the ducts for the heating and cooling equipment. Some rough-ins may be left "capped" (or "stubbed") behind a finished wall or ceiling for the homeowner to add a product later, as the budget allows or as part of a planned expansion project.