Pipe work in plaster is discolouring paint work

[jackpot]

Moved into new house a while ago and looking at renovating kitchen. Cupboards themselves are in good order so hopefully i can get away with new worktops, floor, tiling etc.

One problem is that there is some copper pipework embedded in the external wall (dot and dab). You can see a slight rough bit where they have been plastered over to blend in with existing wall. The pipes lead upstairs for the bath.

When the bath taps are on you can feel the wall get colder and the paint has slightly discoloured. Im assuming this is from the condensation from the pipework penetrating the plaster. Also if I rub my fingers on the area I get paint residue on my fingers.

I would like this fixed but how difficult would it be. Would access be need be needed behind the kitchen cupboards. Ie. Would they need to be removed? Also would any access to the bathroom be needed to get alter pipework. This would mean ceramic tiles coming up.

Just wondering how big of a job it will be. Thanks

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

The pipework should not be bedded into plaster unless it is sleeved or some kind of prevention against expansion and contraction of pipework is in place. As this will lead to plaster cracking and the change of temp could be causing discolouring or you may have a leak.

 

[jackpot]

Thanks. I understand what you are saying. It's not a leak as you can actually see the plaster is different to around it and you an follow the temperature on the wall. The same is in another room where the wall gets hot and again you can see raised plaster where a smooth finish must have been impossible due to pipes being in the way. I dont think they have been sleeved to be honest as there is slight cracks. Up to now they are hard to see and have done no harm.

Im asking how big of a job it is to fix. knock plaster out, re chase and put further back into wall? Would this mean re alligning pipework or could a section be cut out and welded back on once new chase cut out of wall. Dont want to demolish kitchen if i can help it.

 

[PrenticeBoyofDerry]

Hard to say, it my be possible to splice both pipes top and bottom and insert a coupler, which allow a deeper chase. But there regulations on chase depths and the pipe wants sleeving. Regs are for vertical runs no greater than 1/3rd of the depth of the skin/leaf of the wall. This does not include total depth of cavity walls, just the skin/leaf of one side of the cavity.