Doing up the bathroom and will be fitting a new suite, floor etc... new layout is different to the current to the pipework needs to be redone, as i'm going to effectivly seal off the floor with tiles whats the best material to use for pipes nowadays, plastic or copper?

Had an extension done a few years ago and the plumber ran plastic pipe under the floor to the new loo which i thought was a lot less fuss & bother than copper...

Any pitfalls for plastic?

Cheers

Ash.

plastic is very fast and easy to fit but costs a lot more .
i only use plastic now as it saves me loads of time.i buy all my fitings from ebay and screwfix .
JOHN GUEST speedfit is very good.

I did my bathroom and kitchen using polyplumb it's just like lego, quick and easy. One piece of advice use the top hat inserts or make sure the ends of the pipe are really smooth or you can get leaks. Also don't re-use the joints too many times. And re-instate any earths

Remember if you use the plastic you must use inserts and make sure you tighten up speedfit

I have found this online company to be a good supplier of plumbing fittings, including Speedfit.

http://www.bes.co.uk/?ref=google-BP-Main-Original-Keywords&kw=plumbing&match-type=phrase&gclid=CMb5ms6I_KECFclr4wodfGAmEA

I have found this online company to be a good supplier of plumbing fittings, including Speedfit.

http://www.bes.co.uk/?ref=google-BP-Main-Original-Keywords&kw=plumbing&match-type=phrase&gclid=CMb5ms6I_KECFclr4wodfGAmEA

OK, I'm biassed, but I'd use Polyplumb too. Very simple to install, no need to tighten the fitting once inserted and guaranteed for 25 years
(right I confess, I work for Polypipe )

I use poly pipe with compression fittings and inserts. Bought in bags of ten they are a loads cheaper and make a good mechanical joint. Push ons are good but well over priced.
As for copper its a stupid price and suffers badly in frozen pipe situations.

OK, I'm biassed, but I'd use Polyplumb too. Very simple to install, no need to tighten the fitting once inserted and guaranteed for 25 years
(right I confess, I work for Polypipe )

any chance of a discount i use tons of the pipe and fittings every year, do loads of underfloor with the poly pipe system as well so staff rates on that would be good as well.

I tried plastic piping when I fitted a vanity unit into a bedroom.. hated it... I just couldnt get it to "look right".... I guess I am used to having copper tubing bent into the right shape to do the job....

When I then installed a shower pump some months later I went straight for the copper... I would not use plastic again

I guess copper requires you to have a little more knowledge... soldering/bending etc... but IMHO its the best solutuion for a "pro" job

My preference is for copper, but if you are tiling the floor and won't be able to get under there afterwards and both ends of the pipe will be clear of the floor, I'd go for the plastic, so that there are no joints under the floor.

The price of copper nowadays is so high plastics cheaper and easier.

I tend to use copper for under floorboards and places where I can't get to it to replace it and plastic above ground but where it can't be seen (it sags, it's not straight and you can't polish it shiny ), any visable stuff is copper.

Then again, plastic is rated for 25 years, most copper fittings for 50 years. Does it really matter? In 25 years I'll have moved on. Sadly my autistic tendencies mean to me, yes it does matter.... Do it once do it properly...

Thanks for the advice, i'll prob opt for plastic as although i'm a bit fussy and like things to be neat, but as i cant see the pipes i wont loose too much sleep if they are a bit wonky...

Whats a top hat / insert? used speedfit before but just pushfit onto copper pipes.

Also, looking at coils of pipe, some are described as barrier coil, whats this mean?

Ash.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Blackbird Rush
Thanks for the advice, i'll prob opt for plastic as although i'm a bit fussy and like things to be neat, but as i cant see the pipes i wont loose too much sleep if they are a bit wonky...

Whats a top hat / insert? used speedfit before but just pushfit onto copper pipes.

Also, looking at coils of pipe, some are described as barrier coil, whats this mean?

Ash.

---

I see thanks that explains it.

Now to make a list of all the bits i need then find the cheapest place to get them!

When renovating my house, did the whole lot central heating and plumbing in Hep2o. Great stuff to work with and I much preferd it to speedfit. Polyplumb looks practically identical to Hep2o. No joints anywhere under the floor. Radiator rises dont look as straight as with copper, but i dont go round looking at my radiator rises.

Copper, seeing that solder flow is theraputic....

plastic can bulid up to bloody expensive if you have a lot of fittings. Was on a job today where there were about 20 plastic fittings in the kitchen, and about half of them 22mm. Must've cost a fortune!

Eg a 15mm equal tee is 30p in endfeed or over £2 in pushfit.