Burying copper pipes

[Dean A]

Mornin'

There doesn't seem to be a great deal of information on this one - I am hoping this doesn't mean it can't be done!

I want to chase a small section of the lime/cement render currently on the walls to bury the towel rad 15mm pipes to give a clean finish.

The walls will be tiled with trav over the pipes.

My plan was to chase the walls, then cover pipes with PVC trunking prior to tiling over.

Has anyone buried copper pipes in solid walls, if so, do you have any tips?

 

[faithhealer]

You've covered the important bit Dean, don't let the mortar come into contact with the copper. Tha chasing bit is the hard slog, don't forget mask and glasses!

 

[Dean A]

Thanks Faithhealer. I suppose my only concern is the thermal expansion which could affect the tiles. There will be 1 90 deg bend on the pipe which is where I am stratching my head! I could use a tape of some sort (Duck tape) to wrap the pipe, but this would not protect the adhesive from expansion, where as the PVC trunking would...

:lol:

 

[faithhealer]

Duct tape is fine as is insulation tape would be. Never heard of any concerns with expansion before

 

[mikethetile]

just seal it up so that its not in contact with any cement/lime based materials otherwise it will corode

your on the right track with taping and ducting

 

[wetdec]

Wrap them in insulation tape, no messing with trunking and stuff..........


..

 

[simhopper]

or use plastic coated copper tube

 

[Rob Z]

I've often wondered if copper used to be "better" or more pure, because we have demo'd many old bathrooms (70-80 years old) where the copper pipes for the sink, toilet, etc. were run right through the mud on the floor and the walls, and not a spec of corrosion or damage on the pipes. Nowadays, we do as everyone here suggests, and isolate the copper from the mortar.

There are a lot of problems around the US where newer copper installations (10-20 years old) are developing a lot of leaks, and everyone has a different theory as to why.

 

[lucius]

In Spain nearly all pipework is buried in the wall and secured with plaster of paris it has been proved over the years that this attacks the copper and destroys it i would say that would be the same for all gypsum and maybe lime products we now have plastic sleeve to protect the pipe, blue and red for identification mostlty though i use Hep20 in the wall far easier.
Lucius.

 

[Colour Republic]

I've often wondered if copper used to be "better" or more pure, because we have demo'd many old bathrooms (70-80 years old) where the copper pipes for the sink, toilet, etc. were run right through the mud on the floor and the walls, and not a spec of corrosion or damage on the pipes. Nowadays, we do as everyone here suggests, and isolate the copper from the mortar.

There are a lot of problems around the US where newer copper installations (10-20 years old) are developing a lot of leaks, and everyone has a different theory as to why.

Copper is getting thinner and is also a mix of metals today, I think there are 3 different grades of copper M,L & K? all of varying thickness... I have noticed since the price of copper went through the roof copper is getting thinner... this is why it's sometimres hard to guage price from one supplier to another