Is this a decent job?

veedee · 20 Jan 2022

Getting the 1st fix done for a thermostatic shower bar

The plumber appears to have made a mistake regarding the distance between the two pipes..

To compensate, he has slightly bent the pipe and wedged a piece of wood to hold it in position.

It doesn't seem acceptable to me, but wanted to ask here before asking the plumber to redo the job.

The substrate is masonry brick, with insulated plasterboard on top

Madrab · 20 Jan 2022

Hmmm, not really, if there's a bit of wood in there then the pipe's under a bit of pressure, if it wasn't it wouldn't need a bit of wood to hold it, it is soldered copper so would it cause problems in the future .... it shouldn't. Depends on how mush stress it's under I guess. Why didn't he just use a couple of nail in clips with screws?

You obviously don't think it is otherwise you wouldn't be here asking therefore you could ask that it's remade properly.

veedee · 20 Jan 2022

Madrab said:
Hmmm, not really, if there's a bit of wood in there then the pipe's under a bit of pressure, if it wasn't it wouldn't need a bit of wood to hold it, it is soldered copper so would it cause problems in the future .... it shouldn't. Depends on how mush stress it's under I guess. Why didn't he just use a couple of nail in clips with screws?

You obviously don't think it is otherwise you wouldn't be here asking therefore you could ask that it's remade properly.

I don't want to go in guns blazing when it is not necessary... So thought I'd ask here first.

One other question, if the pipe is plastered over, would it need some sort of protection such as denso tape.. Or is that not really needed in this case.

Eventually, the area will be plastered, then tiled

Exedon · 20 Jan 2022

Not the best needs bit of a pull and clipping to wall.
We always duct tape pipe in that sort of situation.

Madrab · 20 Jan 2022

Wouldn't have taken much for a conscientious installer to have set that out correctly or correct it once they realised it wasn't right. He's made it harder by finishing the install rather than correcting it first and then stuffed a piece of wood in to hold it

Yeah, always best practice to wrap the pipe if it's to be plastered/mortared over.

blup · 20 Jan 2022

Definitely ask him to redo that, he'll be expecting you to given his apology.

Blup

MeldrewsMate · 20 Jan 2022

I wouldn't make a big fuss about this either, but definitely require him to protect the bare copper with denso or PVC tape - plaster will attack the copper. It's good that he feels confident that you won't nail him to the wall for a small, easily corrected, and insignificant departure from perfect. Some plasterboard adhesive can be used to fix the pipework in the correct position before removing the wood!

Deleted member 292770 · 20 Jan 2022

If you ask him to redo it he’ll just make more of a mess of your plasterboard, I also wouldn’t ask him to clip or bond the pipes , If he’s got a problem with something as simple as measuring 150mm centres then the pipework is best left loose until the tiler comes . the tile adhesive will hold them .
Lets hope your tiler is better with a tape measure and spirit level.

veedee · 21 Jan 2022

I have got to say that the tradesman has been brilliant..

He didn't argue, cry or complain..

He said that the piece of wood was simply to hold the pipe in place for when he applies gypson bonding.

However for piece of mind he was happy to clip the pipe

He said that he uses pvc tape before applying the bonding

Thank for the help and advice guys

flameport · 21 Jan 2022

Plasterboard and plaster under tiles in a shower is a very poor choice of materials.

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Is this a decent job?

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