leveling sand?

[legepe]

I think your sand only needs to be flat enough so that the insulation boards lay on it comfortably. Do you have a cheapo laser level?

Move it around with a spade or trowel and then tamp with a piece of timber. Kneel on another board, tamp a foot or so, then move back.

I was doing this but i found it more difficult to get level than I thought it was going to be... I just wondered if there was a specific technique

 

[tomfe]

Does not have to be that level just flat.
You can use a rotary laser or water level and level points on the floor then use these to level.
After you've dampened your sand and wack it down you can go again over the top and fill in lows.
Place one board of insulation and see if it rocks then move this around.

Why on earth would you put heating pipes in unheated spaces when you can easily put them in the heater envelope is mad.

 

[legepe]

Does not have to be that level just flat.
You can use a rotary laser or water level and level points on the floor then use these to level.
After you've dampened your sand and wack it down you can go again over the top and fill in lows.
Place one board of insulation and see if it rocks then move this around.

Why on earth would you put heating pipes in unheated spaces when you can easily put them in the heater envelope is mad.

Dont have the insulation yet but ill give it another go today.. I got the plumber to put pipes into ground to save me cutting the insulation sheets... I cant use a wacker plate either because of pipes below sand.. With hindsight I would have just concreted the floor and had all the pipes laid above floor level... but I guess its too late now... got me worried now what building inspector might say.. he wants to be back before concrete is put down

 

[John D v2.0]

Never mind the building inspector, you'll be the one paying the heating bill not them.
Ours are all within the heated envelope apart from one that was very difficult due to crossing all the joists. It's well insulated now though. Best to not use the standard "economy" thickness but the regs compliant one.
Before the pipes were just floating in the floorf void which was like a radiator outside.

 

[legepe]

Never mind the building inspector, you'll be the one paying the heating bill not them.
Ours are all within the heated envelope apart from one that was very difficult due to crossing all the joists. It's well insulated now though. Best to not use the standard "economy" thickness but the regs compliant one.
Before the pipes were just floating in the floorf void which was like a radiator outside.

This house has been a massive learning curve for me.. "cant see the forest for the trees" so to speak... this included... Obviously, the pipes need to be inside.... should the plumber/gas fitter not have advised me on this...?
ps: fully understand what you have said regarding this.. NOW and with hindsight I would have done things different... better...! I was getting worried that when the building inspector comes he will be having me rip it all up again... so ive just called him and explained... he is absolutely fine with it... so good news in a way...

 

[John D v2.0]

Should have in theory but to some extent they have to say you're the payingpaying cu so it's up to you. The advice and arguments are available for free on here though
To be honest when we bought our place we knew nothing, now after a big extension and a load of DIY we know a lot more, but still not everything! You'll always make mistakes on what you don't know.

 

[^woody^]

Whys that woody..? its a bit late now anyway...? pipes are well insulated...

For maintenance and in case of early settlement or future movement. All internal services should be within the structure for access.

I would expect any installer to know this and not put them in the hardcore - that's a bit bizarre and unexpected.

OK, it may be alright and nothing happens. If it is single sections of pipe and no joints then that would be favourable.
But then again if it does there will be a problem. And if it does and you don't know about it and ground becomes saturated over time, its a bigger one.

 

[^woody^]

I was getting worried that when the building inspector comes he will be having me rip it all up again... so ive just called him and explained... he is absolutely fine with it.

It's not a building regulation issue, it's more to do with other standards and quality.

If it's done know then just be aware of it for the future.

 

[legepe]

Ill have a go at leveling the sand again tomorrow.. got a couple of insulation boards to put down to test before putting down dpm... every days a school day.. live and learn.. mistakes n all....! Thanks for your advice everyone...

 

[endecotp]

I'm wondering whether to advise re-doing the pipes.

Did they pressure-test the pipework? I guess it is not in ducts.

The point is, if you get a leak at any point in the future you will have the most insane amout of work to do to fix it. Plus thr heat loss.

The building inspector may not be bothered because water regs are separate from building regs. What you have is a pretty clear breach of the water regs.

I've no idea about the gas pipe. Amyone else know the rules for that?