How best to deal with F&R passing between floors of different height?

copea · 14 Jul 2016

Hopefully you can offer your opinions on how best to deal with this please?

I'm ripping out an old bathroom to install a fresh one.

I've taken out the old bath and discovered that the heating flow and return currently run above floor level and used to be hidden by the bath panel.

I'm planning to move the bath so it won't be possible to do this with the new setup.

Picture:

The pipes go through the wall 6" above the level of the floorboards, so if I were to notch the joists and take them straight through the wall just under the floorboards, they'd end up in the room below.

I don't really want anything on show unless I absolutely have to, so the best option I can think of is to extend the 22mm pipe slightly, replace the pulled bend with two elbows and chase the pipes into the brickwork.

I know this isn't ideal, but with such a short run, will it cause any problems?

The wall will be finished in plaster at this point, not covered in tiles.

Thanks for any pointers or advice!

Dan Robinson · 14 Jul 2016

Chase the bricks or move the pipes to the corner and box in.

copea · 14 Jul 2016

Thanks Dan. Is chasing the bricks likely to cause any issues with plaster cracking?
And should I put some sort of mechanical protection in place?

Lastly, is it worth 'upsizing' the pipes to 22mm at this point, to counteract the additional restriction caused by the introduction of a 15mm double bend?
The pipework at this point is taking the heat load for five radiators (old Victorian house done in 15mm throughout apart from the section you see in the photo).

Dan Robinson · 14 Jul 2016

Upsizing would probably be worth it on 5 rads, but it depends on heat loss and stuff.
As for cracking, I would lay the pipes in something that separates the tube from the plaster to allow movement - say mini trunking.

copea · 14 Jul 2016

Great, thank you.

Dan Robinson · 14 Jul 2016

@leeroydesouza.... This is how to ask for technical advice.

Polite, informative and with a little thanks at the end. Wishing @copea well with the project.... Post back the finished article.

DaveHerns · 15 Jul 2016

I have noticed quite a lot of posters never say please these days . Manners seem to be out of fashion....
Do I see a few worm holes in copea's floorboards? Hopefully not active

copea · 15 Jul 2016

Dan > Thanks! I've read a couple of threads where you say you hate doing bathrooms, so I'm slightly concerned I'll regret this decision...

Dave > Potentially, but the house has been treated. More likely to be debris from the old plaster I scraped off the walls. The floorboards are coming up and being replaced by ply anyway.

Dan Robinson · 15 Jul 2016

I just find them very stressful for a couple of reasons. Do get a great sense of satisfaction when finished though.

copea · 4 Sep 2017

Thought I'd post back the results... all by my hand, save for the window which was done by a local guy:

Still not entirely finished, but I'm happy with the results so far.

Will try and find some 'in progress' shots at some point, and upload those.

Dan Robinson · 4 Sep 2017

Nicely played sir.

Hot&Cold · 4 Sep 2017

Nice job,now enjoy your efforts

HERTS P&D · 4 Sep 2017

Old&Bold said:
Nice job,now enjoy your efforts

Sh1t, shower and a shave?

Andy

gassymark · 4 Sep 2017

Nice job

dilalio · 4 Sep 2017

All good apart from the brown bath mat... dark green to match the bath panel would be my choice

diynot

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How best to deal with F&R passing between floors of different height?

Hot&Cold

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