Blackbird Rush
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 08:37 AM |
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Plastic or copper?
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.
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thunderace
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 08:53 AM |
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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.
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eznfrank
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:15 AM |
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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
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adam1985
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:19 AM |
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Remember if you use the plastic you must use inserts and make sure you tighten up speedfit
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Mal
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:34 AM |
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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
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Mal
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:34 AM |
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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
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Marcus
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 10:11 AM |
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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 )
Marcus
Because kits are for girls!!
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 11:02 AM |
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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.
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bob tatt
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 11:50 AM |
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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. 
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tegwin
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 12:45 PM |
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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
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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www.verticalhorizonsmedia.tv
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 04:05 PM |
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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.
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BenB
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 07:38 PM |
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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...
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Blackbird Rush
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 08:59 PM |
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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.
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:05 PM |
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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.
It's an insert with a flange on the end. It pushes into the plastic pipe to give extra support to the end.
Barrier pipe prevents oxygen passing into the pipe, reducing corrosion in central heating systems - not important for normal plumbing.
[Edited on 31/5/10 by SteveWalker]
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Blackbird Rush
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| posted on 31/5/10 at 09:15 PM |
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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!
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Liam
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 01:41 PM |
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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.
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richard thomas
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 05:08 PM |
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Copper, seeing that solder flow is theraputic....
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JoelP
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| posted on 1/6/10 at 06:27 PM |
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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.
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