If you attack the frontage windows to get dual pane, use the Anderson wood frames and not the vinyl plastic stuff - - just ruins the architecture. 

If the property is <30 years old, it is most probably a "plastic" pipe (CPVC, PVC, ABS, etc).

The water dept didn't allow plastic pipe that only would've cost me less that $150.

You may want to spread some plastic and tape on the floor so as not to damage it.

Isolate your work areas: don't work in all the house at one time, if you are going to do the bath then mask it off with plastic and work only in there. 2.

Over time, the synthetic slate products made of different plastics and polymers will begin to fade and look less like real slate and more like real plastic.

I would probably put plastic down to keep moisture in the ground in general.

Side note, the little plastic spacers make the job go much faster by maintaining proper and uniform spacing between the tile.Good luck and I'm sure the tile will look great

Well, last month my wife had to have surgery and now we have "been served" the $20,000 hospital bill with a due date on the bill of this month (no insurance).As I see it, I have a couple options:1.  

In the meantime, I bought a $10 plastic bathroom faucet at Menards, and installed it in the kitchen sink, so I could at least have water.