Plumbing issue in new house

Chipboard

I would appreciate some views on the following;

We viewed a new house in Carrick on Shannon a few days ago and were happy with it except that I noticed that there was a rough patch of cement around the pipes leading into (and out of) all of the radiators on the ground floor. The patch is around 6" - 8" in diameter around most pipes but in a couple of places it runs away from the pipe for 2 or 3 ft. I also noticed these patches in around 3 spots in the downstairs WC and shower.

I asked the auctioneer why and he said that it is the way they do them and he has seen several more done this way. He claims that the builders lay the sub-floor, then the pipes go in and then they lay the actual floor, and when they want to do the second fix they jackhammer up where the pipes are and only then bring the pipe overground. I told him I needed an explanation why it was done this way (as I haven't seen it done this way before) and he reverted to say that the builder told him he did it this way so the builders wouldn't be going around kicking the pipes.

I told him that I couldn't accept this as I have worked on building sites (years ago admittedly) and I couldn't believe that anyone would go to this bother for no good reason (as I would just tell the builders to keep the f*ck away from the pipes) and that I need to know the real reason for it - good or bad. He said he would get the builder to email me but I said I wanted his phone number; I haven't heard from him since.

I'm figuring that it was one of two things;

1. the floor was poured before the pipes were insulated and the plumber went back, jackhammered up around the pipes and stuck on a few inches of insulation to make it look right, hence the rough patching job (it was done by the plumber who would have been seriously on the back foot at this stage)

or

2. he somehow placed the pipes the wrong distance apart and had to move them.

Any suggestions?

cheapskate

Oohh! not happy with this at all mate,

Of course there could be a genuine reason for this but I doubt if it's any of the one's you've been given.

What if there had been a leak and the real reason the floor was broke into was so that the plumber could mend the leak, of course maybe he did a good job and it's perfect or maybe not!

I wouldn't be happy with the excuses you were offered and tbh I'd trust your gut instinct, like you said you worked on sites as I have and neither of us have seen such practices.

It's up to you mate, but I wouldn't believe the Lord's prayer coming from an auctioneer or a builder (desperate to sell) Why couldn't they just be honest with you and if the auctioneer didn't know just say I'll find out that for you!

Best of luck, CS

cwboy

the plumber would lay the pipes before the floor was poured. he would leave sand bags over the end of the pipes where the rads would go in future. After when the house is built and rads are ready to be installed he would tap into the floor where the sand is, connect to the pipes here and fill back in the hole with fresh cement.

Outkast_IRE

Exactly the pipes are laid and a sandbag put on the end , once the floor is poured etc the sandbags are found and dug up and piped to radiator. This is common practice in new builds. A lot of plumbers would use ducted pipe in this situation so its probably all in ducting or else insulated . The reason some patches are bigger are the pipes were laid slightly wrong or they had trouble finding the sandbag afterwards.
If patched neatly it should be fine and you will be putting carpet tile or wood down so it will not affect you in anyway as long as it was patched neat enough

ART6

Presumably it was a fairly new house which CH installed right from the beginning? If it wasn't and the CH was added later, maybe that's the explanation?

Builderfromhell

I have used several plumbers and they all have their own way around protecting pipes.
One lays the pipes over the floor insulation and leaves a piece of insulation where the pipes are to come through the floor. This insulation is typically thinner than the finished floor so we can lay a nice smooth floor. Later he looks for this insulation and breaks it open. Never had a problem.

I think your anxiety stems from your Auctioneer not just admitting s/he didn't know why floor was rough. S/he should have just admitted they didn't know. I wouldn't expect an Auctioneer to know everything about building.

Good luck.

Carlow52

Builderfromhell wrote: »

I wouldn't expect an Auctioneer to know everything about building.

Good luck.

Anything would be a start.

Clarelassie

We are just after laying the floor in our raft build and all the pipes got layed on the insualtion under the floor level - they brought the pipes up to the floor level with spare squares of insulation so that they can work on it for second fix. All the pipes are lagged and they all go back to one central manifold where all the joins will exist - no joins under the floor. This was probably done in your case, don't like the sound of a jack hammer going near pipes!!!

I would follow up with the builder and ask for the plumbers number off him too to confirm what exactly was done. You don't want plumbing issues down the line!!

Good luck with it!

Outkast_IRE

Clarelassie wrote: »

We are just after laying the floor in our raft build and all the pipes got layed on the insualtion under the floor level - they brought the pipes up to the floor level with spare squares of insulation so that they can work on it for second fix. All the pipes are lagged and they all go back to one central manifold where all the joins will exist - no joins under the floor. This was probably done in your case, don't like the sound of a jack hammer going near pipes!!!

I would follow up with the builder and ask for the plumbers number off him too to confirm what exactly was done. You don't want plumbing issues down the line!!

Good luck with it!

The idea of doing it properly is a jack hammer doesnt have to be used the sandbag is slightly coverd and you can find it easily jackhammer only used when they have trouble finding them