Having worked in the plumbing and heating merchant industry for the past 25 years i would like to pass on my experience on what i think is the best products. I also will give you a few tips on where and how to buy these products...
Buying cheap can be a disaster, i get people in every day with products bought at sheds that don't fit, or need other parts to make them work...
Use local merchants, you will usually get a better product and staff with more knowledge...
Merchants prefer trade business, but will not turn away cash...
If you are doing a large job list out all the materials and ask a couple of local merchants for their best price. They will probably give you a good trade price.
The following are the products i would recommend :
Boilers :
Avoid cheap brands. I know a guy who fits Biasi, he calls them his disposable range. The following brands all have a proven track record and are backed up with service engineers in most large towns.
Alpha - Their new range fitted with a jig will give you a 5year no quibble warranty...
Worcester - More expensive, but german engineering and very reliable...(What i have in my own house)
Vokera - Cheaper option, had problems in past but new boilers seem very good...
Radiators :
Purmo/Myson/Stelrad or Quinn - Not much between these makes, quinn is what i sell most of now. Mainly due to a more forgiving bracket system and higher outputs on doubles, meaning smaller rads and a cost saving...
Heating Controls :
Danfoss/Grundfos/Honeywell/ACL - All quality brands...
Bathrooms :
Stick to well known brands - Twyfords, Ideal Standard, Armitage Shanks - If anything goes wrong in the future you are more likely to be able to get replacement products.
Showers :
You just cant beat Mira, in the past they have been very expensive but have came out with fantastic new affordable ranges... Spares will never be a problem either... Grohe are also very good and are very reliable.
Shower Enclosures :
I always say you get what you pay for with enclosures. I currently sell Manhattan mainly. Thay cover all ranges with there M1, M2 AND M3 enclosures. Roman are also very good. For top range you cant beat Showerlux, Matki and Daryl...
Brassware :
Again stick to well known brands - Bristan, Deva, Ideal etc, and remember to keep a note of what make and model they are incase you need replacement parts in the future... If the ceramic disks go on a cheaper unknown brand mixer you will probably end up having to change the whole mixer...
Plastic plumbing systems :
There are many on the market but I would recommend Hep2o, it has been on the market the longest and they have learned by their mistakes.
I hope the above info is of interest, if anyone thinks of anything else they would like covered please leave a reply...
Buying cheap can be a disaster, i get people in every day with products bought at sheds that don't fit, or need other parts to make them work...
Use local merchants, you will usually get a better product and staff with more knowledge...
Merchants prefer trade business, but will not turn away cash...
If you are doing a large job list out all the materials and ask a couple of local merchants for their best price. They will probably give you a good trade price.
The following are the products i would recommend :
Boilers :
Avoid cheap brands. I know a guy who fits Biasi, he calls them his disposable range. The following brands all have a proven track record and are backed up with service engineers in most large towns.
Alpha - Their new range fitted with a jig will give you a 5year no quibble warranty...
Worcester - More expensive, but german engineering and very reliable...(What i have in my own house)
Vokera - Cheaper option, had problems in past but new boilers seem very good...
Radiators :
Purmo/Myson/Stelrad or Quinn - Not much between these makes, quinn is what i sell most of now. Mainly due to a more forgiving bracket system and higher outputs on doubles, meaning smaller rads and a cost saving...
Heating Controls :
Danfoss/Grundfos/Honeywell/ACL - All quality brands...
Bathrooms :
Stick to well known brands - Twyfords, Ideal Standard, Armitage Shanks - If anything goes wrong in the future you are more likely to be able to get replacement products.
Showers :
You just cant beat Mira, in the past they have been very expensive but have came out with fantastic new affordable ranges... Spares will never be a problem either... Grohe are also very good and are very reliable.
Shower Enclosures :
I always say you get what you pay for with enclosures. I currently sell Manhattan mainly. Thay cover all ranges with there M1, M2 AND M3 enclosures. Roman are also very good. For top range you cant beat Showerlux, Matki and Daryl...
Brassware :
Again stick to well known brands - Bristan, Deva, Ideal etc, and remember to keep a note of what make and model they are incase you need replacement parts in the future... If the ceramic disks go on a cheaper unknown brand mixer you will probably end up having to change the whole mixer...
Plastic plumbing systems :
There are many on the market but I would recommend Hep2o, it has been on the market the longest and they have learned by their mistakes.
I hope the above info is of interest, if anyone thinks of anything else they would like covered please leave a reply...
