Pipework can be set into almost any material in flooring or walls. Having the plumbing on the outside and visible is not always the best thing to see in a home. Therefore concealment is a great idea. Brockley Plumbers provide a professional plumbing service.

Some Typical Domestic Structures:

Wooden Floors:
When locating pipework in flooring one of the most important things to think about you must not cut out too much wood from the joist as it will cause a weakness that leads to an unsafe floor. The limit for such a cut is 1/8th of the depth of the joist. You need to make sure that any notch cut into the joist is positioned as close as possible to a wall. Ensure that the pipes don’t touch. Do this with the use of felt pads if required which will reduce noise and allows the pipes to expand and contract.

Pipes Running Under The Floor:
All pipework that is laid underneath a floor must allow for expansion and contraction. This can be done by either putting the pipe in some thin insulating material or running in a small floor duct covered with a plate. You can run pipework in concrete by using a larger pipe as a conduit. Plumbing work carried out by a Brockley Plumber is guaranteed.

Timber Walls:
In timber walls there is a great risk of a resonance being created by the water flowing through the pipework. This can be cured by fixing the pipes onto rubber or felt mountings with pipe clips and adding more insulating material. The pipework needs to be checked for leaks before they are sealed. If pipes are inaccessible, their joints should be kept to a minimum as these are deemed to be weak points. Fit an access panel so that future access can be gained.

Masonry Walls:
Pipes can be concealed in walls is done by channeling out the wall, fitting the pipework and then filling and finishing with plaster. The pipes need to be isolated in case of an emergency. The maximum depth of a channel or groove is 1/3rd the thickness of the wall.