Chasing in pipework

[MetManMark]

All
We have had a few quotes for the installation of a new central heating system. It is a Listed Building with some nice period features that we are unearthing as we renovate it slowly. It has some suspended floors downstairs and some solid floors. Some of the plumbers have recommended putting radiators in less than ideal positions such that you could do radiators back to back etc to minimise visible pipework - others have suggested just having 'drops' into each room. We had decided on the later (as they will probably be masked by curtains etc, however, the last chap suggested chasing out the walls to run the pipework beneath the paster. My initial concern was wrt leaks but he suggested that they would be using a single pipe to go from above the ceiling to beneath the floorboard so there couldn't be any leaks in the wall.
We have yet to get the cost of any of these options but what are people's thoughts? What are the downsides to having pipe work in the plaster? Presumably there could be issues with expansion or vibration of the pipes causing damage to plasterwork?
Cheers
Mark

 

[markfxy]

Pipework in plaster is OK if you use plastic pipe in pipe system you'll have no problems with expansion

 

[MetManMark]

Thanks for the reply - going for a copper system - so I guess this isn't such a good idea.
Mark

 

[markfxy]

You can go with copper but just use plastic for the chased in drops you wont have any plastic on show that way.

 

[Guest123]

Cover the copper in a plastic sleeve. Conduit works fine or use plastic coated copper.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

or use what is called a 22mm conduit barrier pipe and then sit in the 15mm ! job done

 

[SafeGasInstall]

i personally will recommend back 2 back option ! if that is not suitable then you dont have mach option but to chase in the pipe work

 

[AWheating]

what type of plasterwork do you have?(plaster board, traditional browning and skim)

normally you will only have problems if its installed poorly, i would think its going to cost alot more money for chasing?

 

[MetManMark]

Lime plaster with some horse hair mortar beneath with solid walls beneath. Some internal walls are lath & plaster. I am inclined to have all the pipes on top (rather than inside) the walls.
Mark

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Good call

 

[Gray0689]

Lime plaster with some horse hair mortar beneath with solid walls beneath. Some internal walls are lath & plaster. I am inclined to have all the pipes on top (rather than inside) the walls.
Mark

Don't really like exposed pipework but with lime plaster I'd leave exposed as lime plaster will rot the copper

 

[mikeygas]

If you are having exposed pipe drops then you can fit the pipe into trunking, or box the pipes in and then paint the boxing/trunking. Will make it look more discreet.