Should radiator pipes be chased

[MrGlassHalfFull]

I'm renovating a house for the first time and have had a new central heating system installed.

I got a competitive quote and had the system installed in copper in one day.

I have noticed since that a lot of places have the radiator pipes to the valves chased and hidden into the wall, where as mine come from the floorboards.

My question is, is it a short cut not to have done this, given that the whole house is about to be skimmed anyway. The pipes look really tacky to me, especially as I have really tall victorian skirting. The plumber didn't ask anything about how I wanted them to look. Surely he should have gone through the options with me.

I'm wondering if his cheaper quote was because of this or whether the more expensive quotes would have done it the same way, only chasing if I specifically asked.

What are your thoughts?

Untitled

• MrGlassHalfFull
• 13 Jun 2013
• 1

 

[hansthebear]

This is standard practice, pipes are sometimes chased in when they drop down from above in cases of solid flooring.

 

[MrGlassHalfFull]

This is standard practice, pipes are sometimes chased in when they drop down from above in cases of solid flooring.

Standard practice for the pipes to be on show?

 

[Armo74]

Standard practice?yes.

Unless the customer has requested them not to be.
Seems like a lack of communication I'm afraid.

 

[swbjackson]

It would never occur to me to chase pipe unless specifically requested by the customer. Pipes straight up into the radiator from the floor is standard. The ones with the hidden pipes are normally new build with pipe drops hidden behind the plasterboard.

 

[Dan Robinson]

Champagne ideas. Beer money.

 

[Tom1981]

Looks tidy and neat. You can always paint them, or make show of them and polish the pipes up.

 

[Whitespirit66]

Chasing the pipes would have risked damaging your Victorian skirtings, and significantly added to the time and cost of job.

Once you get some white gloss on the pipes and new carpet down, you won't give them a second thought.

 

[kbdiy]

Or even some of these http://www.screwfix.com/p/talon-snappit-white-200mm-pack-of-10/98443

 

[MrGlassHalfFull]

Thanks for the replies. As long as it doesn't look cowboy/stupid to people to have these on show when I'm about to go through the expense to skim anyway, then I guess I have to live with it.

I would have thought cost of skimming and chasing would be what prevents most people from hiding the pipes, maybe more? So just wondered if it was 'backwards' of me not to go the whole hog.

Anyway glad to hear its standard and not something the fitter did as a shortcut. Still would have been nice to be asked ahead of time.

I've found chrome pipe covers, might try those if it doesn't look too tacky.

 

[ALEC1]

gosh where have you been, what you see is standard practice in the UK..chased in pipes are more common in the the rest of euope due to a different wall structure I beleive..

 

[matt1e]

Anyway glad to hear its standard and not something the fitter did as a shortcut. Still would have been nice to be asked ahead of time.

As said that's a normal standard
It's you that should have been doing the asking I'm afraid

Matt

 

[CBF]

I never chase heating pipes into a solid wall, the expansion will crack the plaster everytime

 

[Dan Robinson]

Have done my new rads with the pipes behind the walls.

It does make a big difference.

 

[CBF]

but you have ufh & your floors look like walls after a few g&t's