Plumbing Materials
Copper pipe, pushfit fittings, soil pipe, waste traps, and stop valves are the materials your plumber will use, along with what to check on delivery and at building control inspections.
Compression Fittings: How They Work, How to Use Them, and When to Choose Them Over Push-Fit
The complete UK guide to compression fittings for copper pipe: types, sizes, installation technique, the PTFE debate, prices from £1-7, and when to use them instead of push-fit.
15mm Copper Pipe: Sizes, Joining Methods, and What to Buy
The complete UK guide to 15mm copper pipe for domestic plumbing. Joining methods, imperial vs metric, how to cut and deburr, current prices from ~£13-14 per 3m length.
22mm Copper Pipe: When You Need It, How to Work With It, and What It Costs
The complete UK guide to 22mm copper pipe: when to use it over 15mm, joining methods, bending, clip spacing, current prices from £26-30 per 3m length, and common mistakes.
28mm Copper Pipe: When You Need It, How It Joins, and What It Costs
Complete UK guide to 28mm copper pipe: when your plumber specifies it over 22mm, joining methods at this size, current prices from major merchants, and the imperial/metric trap in older houses.
22mm Gas Supply Pipe: What Homeowners Need to Know When Overseeing Gas Safe Work
A homeowner's guide to 22mm domestic gas pipework: BS 6891 sizing, the 1m copper rule, push-fit prohibition, tightness testing, and the questions to ask your Gas Safe engineer.
Hemp and Jointing Compound: The Narrow Modern Use Case for a Traditional Sealing Method
UK guide to plumber's hemp and jointing compound: when it's still appropriate, why it's banned on potable water, the right compound (Boss White, Hawk White, Water Hawk), and Loctite 55 as the modern alternative.
Plumber's Jointing Compound: Which One for Potable Water, Heating, or Gas (and Why It Matters)
The UK guide to plumber's jointing compound: WRAS approval explained, the Boss White vs Water Hawk vs Hawk White decision, gas-rated paste, application technique, and the £8-£19 price range.
Push-Fit Fittings: How They Work, What to Buy, and How to Avoid Leaks
The complete UK guide to push-fit plumbing fittings: Speedfit vs Hep2O, plastic vs brass, how to install them properly, and what costs £2-6 per fitting.
15mm Push-Fit Pipe: Speedfit, Hep2O, and How to Get Leak-Free Joints
The complete UK guide to 15mm push-fit pipe - Speedfit vs Hep2O, barrier vs standard, how to cut and connect, and current prices from £5-8 per 3m length.
22mm Push-Fit Pipe: When to Use It, What to Buy, and How to Avoid Leaks
The complete UK guide to 22mm push-fit pipe for heating and hot water: barrier vs non-barrier, Speedfit vs Hep2O, correct installation, prices from around £8-12 per 3m length, and the mistakes that cause leaks.
110mm Soil Pipe: The Pipe That Carries Everything You'd Rather Not Think About
Complete UK guide to 110mm soil pipe (SVP): push-fit vs solvent weld, building regs, fire stopping, air testing, AAVs, fittings, and prices from £20 per 3m length.
Solvent-Weld Fittings: The Permanent Joint System for Concealed Waste Pipework
UK guide to solvent-weld waste fittings: types, sizing, ABS vs PVC-U cement compatibility, the application sequence, common mistakes, and prices from £1 per fitting.
Solvent-Weld Waste Pipe: Sizes, Gradients, and How to Get Joints Right First Time
Complete UK guide to solvent-weld waste pipe: 32mm vs 40mm sizing, Building Regs gradients, jointing technique, and prices from around £5.50 per 3m length.
Stop Valves and Isolation Valves: Which Type, Where, and What to Buy
The complete UK guide to stop valves, isolation valves, gate valves, and ball valves for domestic plumbing. Types explained, where to install, brands worth buying, and prices from £3-18.
UFH Pipe: 16mm PEX-a and PERT-AL-PERT for Wet Underfloor Heating, Plain English
The UK guide to 16mm UFH pipe: PEX-a vs PERT-AL-PERT, why the EVOH oxygen barrier matters, pipe centres, 100m loop limit, pressure testing, and how much you need.
Waste Traps: Which Type, What Size, and Why They Stop Your House Smelling Like a Drain
Complete UK guide to waste traps: P-traps, bottle traps, S-traps, bath and shower traps. Sizes, seal depths, building regs, prices from £5-15, and the brands plumbers actually trust.