Doing up the bathroom, which PEX pipe brand would you recommend?

[Danez]

Because I can't be arsed with soldering or copper in general I'm going to be using PEX pipe for when I do up my bathroom. But I've noticed there's a few different brands. (JG speedfit, HEP2O etc) So just wondering if there's one that's better than the rest?

The only plumbing I've ever done before is fit a new kitchen sink and taps so this will be a first to me. I'll be swapping the bog and the sink around which means reducing the waste pipe length (both on the same wall). Also I'm wanting to change my electric shower to a proper one which will involve me T'ing off the hot pipe that feeds the bath tap to provide the shower.

Any general advice is more than welcome

I'm going to be getting help with tilling as thats something I've never done before!

 

[Dave-sparks]

What hot water system do you have and what type of shower are you installing?
With some systems a tee from the bath supply may lead to issues.

 

[dobbslc]

I've used JG Speedfit and find it good and easy to get from screwfix.
You need the proper cutter for it though as a rough cut end will damage the seals.

 

[EM1L4]

I like JG speedfit especially with the superseal inserts which are belt and braces (you end up having 2 seals per joint so even if one fails you should be ok.) Having said that the central heating is in hep2o and I’ve not had any issues. Even mixing pipe/fittings up has been fine.

Btw the pushfit equivalent of tiling is tile panels/shower walls. I’ve used them for my main bathroom and they are great quality, fast and work out about the same cost or leas if you get the high quality ones..

 

[Danez]

What hot water system do you have and what type of shower are you installing?
With some systems a tee from the bath supply may lead to issues.

just a combi boiler which is directly below the bathroom. Would sort of issue could that cause?

I've used JG Speedfit and find it good and easy to get from screwfix.
You need the proper cutter for it though as a rough cut end will damage the seals.

Yeah I've read cuts need to be dead square so I'll be getting the proper tools. JG seem to be the most common one as well

I like JG speedfit especially with the superseal inserts which are belt and braces (you end up having 2 seals per joint so even if one fails you should be ok.) Having said that the central heating is in hep2o and I’ve not had any issues. Even mixing pipe/fittings up has been fine.

Btw the pushfit equivalent of tiling is tile panels/shower walls. I’ve used them for my main bathroom and they are great quality, fast and work out about the same cost or leas if you get the high quality ones..

grand that's good to know.

Never considered that tbh I'll have to look into it. I've always thought it was either tiles or that lino stuff we currently have on the bathroom floor.

 

[EM1L4]

Never considered that tbh I'll have to look into it. I've always thought it was either tiles or that lino stuff we currently have on the bathroom floor.

After tiling my en-suite I said I’d never do it again! It was time consuming but more annoyingly even after using high quality grout and sealant I still see mold in a few places. It’s also time consuming making it flat/look good and waterproof. I was concerned the shower panels would look tacky/cheap but they look really classy and come in 8x4 sheets (other sizes available) so very quick with few joints to go moldy. There are tile ones or the more adventurous coloured/textured panels. I’ve gone for white gloss mosaic and oak wood effect from here: https://www.bodleeds.co.uk/tile-effect-wall-panels-3421-c.asp

 

[jenki]

Always stuck with HepO2 myself some of which has been in for 30 years here. Make sure you use the insert my only leak was when i missed one out. I'm not so sure on mixing the brands we had a bloke in work who did his central heating with a mix of whatever he could get was not very succesfull but that may say more about him. You will soon get a feel for the way the joint slides in sort of 2 distinct stages I always use a smear of silicone grease on the pipe.

 

[Danez]

After tiling my en-suite I said I’d never do it again! It was time consuming but more annoyingly even after using high quality grout and sealant I still see mold in a few places. It’s also time consuming making it flat/look good and waterproof. I was concerned the shower panels would look tacky/cheap but they look really classy and come in 8x4 sheets (other sizes available) so very quick with few joints to go moldy. There are tile ones or the more adventurous coloured/textured panels. I’ve gone for white gloss mosaic and oak wood effect from here: https://www.bodleeds.co.uk/tile-effect-wall-panels-3421-c.asp

nice one cheers for the link, looks proper smart those, could even use one as the bath panel? I'll have a gander and see what the mrs reckons

 

[Kayos]

Hep2o

Everything else is just a copy

 

[JimmyS]

Hep and Speedfit are both Polybutylene pipes I think. PEX pipe is not used as much in housing apart from Underfloor Heating by companies like Rehau. I don't think there's much between Hep2O and Speedfit, just need to make sure the fittings are on properly.

We did have issues with Hep a lot of years ago with mice eating the fittings in old houses in countryside where owners wouldn't have it installed due to previous leaks caused by rodents, but I think that must have been resolved by now with the manufacturer. They reckoned there was soya oil or so I was told used in the manufacture but not sure of the truth in that.

If you are ditching the electric shower and getting a thermostatic mixing shower then you need to make sure that its compatible with plumbing ie is it a combi boiler or an unvented cylinder serving the bathroom? hopefully not an open vented system- but you probably know that.

 

[Danez]

Hep and Speedfit are both Polybutylene pipes I think. PEX pipe is not used as much in housing apart from Underfloor Heating by companies like Rehau. I don't think there's much between Hep2O and Speedfit, just need to make sure the fittings are on properly.

We did have issues with Hep a lot of years ago with mice eating the fittings in old houses in countryside where owners wouldn't have it installed due to previous leaks caused by rodents, but I think that must have been resolved by now with the manufacturer. They reckoned there was soya oil or so I was told used in the manufacture but not sure of the truth in that.

If you are ditching the electric shower and getting a thermostatic mixing shower then you need to make sure that its compatible with plumbing ie is it a combi boiler or an unvented cylinder serving the bathroom? hopefully not an open vented system- but you probably know that.

yeah it's just a combi boiler so it should be reyt

 

[Kayos]

Hep and Speedfit are both Polybutylene pipes I think. PEX pipe is not used as much in housing apart from Underfloor Heating by companies like Rehau. I don't think there's much between Hep2O and Speedfit, just need to make sure the fittings are on properly.

We did have issues with Hep a lot of years ago with mice eating the fittings in old houses in countryside where owners wouldn't have it installed due to previous leaks caused by rodents, but I think that must have been resolved by now with the manufacturer. They reckoned there was soya oil or so I was told used in the manufacture but not sure of the truth in that.

If you are ditching the electric shower and getting a thermostatic mixing shower then you need to make sure that its compatible with plumbing ie is it a combi boiler or an unvented cylinder serving the bathroom? hopefully not an open vented system- but you probably know that.

Believe me, pick a piece of Hep up and then a piece of speed fit, you can instantly see and feel the difference

 

[Dave-sparks]

just a combi boiler which is directly below the bathroom. Would sort of issue could that cause?

There's no issues as far as I know if it's a combi boiler.

It is the traditional open-vented systems where problems can occur.

 

[Kayos]

There's no issues as far as I know if it's a combi boiler.

It is the traditional open-vented systems where problems can occur.

If barrier pipe is used the type of system is irrelevant.

Only time you can't use plastic is on a secondary hot water return

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

After tiling my en-suite I said I’d never do it again! It was time consuming but more annoyingly even after using high quality grout and sealant I still see mold in a few places. It’s also time consuming making it flat/look good and waterproof. I was concerned the shower panels would look tacky/cheap but they look really classy and come in 8x4 sheets (other sizes available) so very quick with few joints to go moldy. There are tile ones or the more adventurous coloured/textured panels. I’ve gone for white gloss mosaic and oak wood effect from here: https://www.bodleeds.co.uk/tile-effect-wall-panels-3421-c.asp

Panels work well and look good but I'd still go for tiles In My own place.

But I'm a pretty decent tiler and enjoy the task.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I use plastic quite often for quick work. Not the swaged type but uses a push on sleeve after the tube is shived onto the ridged fitting. Good for 90° and 6 bar.
Doing bigger jobs, I use Aquatherm welded stuff. Lots cheaper than copper, but a bit chunkier. And you need to buy the 'welding' kit.

 

[MCKDAVID]

Panels work well and look good but I'd still go for tiles In My own place.

But I'm a pretty decent tiler and enjoy the task.

don't mind walls, don't do floors any more, knees and back won't put up with it for long......

 

[Dave-sparks]

If barrier pipe is used the type of system is irrelevant.

Only time you can't use plastic is on a secondary hot water return

I think have missed what I was talking about completely. I was not talking about any issue with the type of pipe used.

 

[Kayos]

I think have missed what I was talking about completely. I was not talking about any issue with the type of pipe used.

Not at all, plastic is fine on open vent systems, as long as it barrier.

Non barrier is not suitable for any type of central heating

 

[Danez]

Not at all, plastic is fine on open vent systems, as long as it barrier.

Non barrier is not suitable for any type of central heating

I think what dave was saying is that I may have issues T'ing from my bath tap hot supply if I have an open vent system regardless of the type of pipe used