Modern bathroom installations – What products to use and how to hide pipework

Clean, sleek and modern bathrooms are becoming more commonplace in new builds and home renovations. But concealing pipework and plumbing fittings in these tight-spaces to deliver aesthetics can be a logistical nightmare for installers. In this blog, we will discuss how our range of pipes, valves and fittings can help to hide pipework in bathrooms and simplifying these installation.

Space comes at a premium in most bathroom installations, be it new builds or renovations. This makes squeezing in the plumbing essentials even harder. This is especially the case with Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs) that became a legal requirement for all domestic new builds in 2010.

TMVs offer protection against scalding while enabling the hot water system to maintain disinfection temperature of above 60°C to restrict Legionella growth. Considering the seriousness of risks around the usage of hot water in households, it is best practice to also install them while carrying out retrofit projects as well.

However, most TMVs available in the market are targeted at commercial applications and are quite bulky in size. And fitting these valves in tight spaces such as underneath the bath presents a major challenge.

Ideal for hiding pipework in bathrooms, the ultra-compact and lightweight Easifit TMV from Reliance Valves can simplify these jobs. Being the smallest TMV in the market it can be fitted in much tighter spaces, and it’s flat-faced union connection makes the installation and future maintenance a lot easier and faster. The Easifit TMV is also designed to run at exceptionally low flow rates, helping homeowners conserve water.

Exposed pipework is often a no-no in all modern bathrooms, especially when the emphasis is on aesthetics. So all pipes connecting to bath, shower and basin need to be hidden behind walls, under the floor or beneath freestanding fixtures.

To hide pipework in bathrooms with speed and ease, you’ll need long flexible pipes that can easily be cabled through joists, behind walls or fixtures. And JG’s Layflat Pipe is the perfect solution for these jobs.

Able to bend and flex around tight spaces, the JG Layflat pipe is ideal for out-of-sight installations and removes the need for joints. The pipe is available in all common domestic sizes, including 10mm, 15mm, 22mm and 28mm, and the coils are available in lengths ranging from 25m, 50m, 85m, 100m, 120m, 150m to 300m.

Hiding pipework in vanity units or behind pedestals can be a bit of a nightmare, particularly if you are using rigid pipework, which can take a lot of effort and time to install. In fact, installers often find that second fix installations are even trickier. Making the final connections from the first fix pipework to the outlets is often done blind and in awkward spots where it is difficult to manoeuvre tools.

To prevent this issue, you should consider JG Speedfit’s push-fit flexi hoses. Made from braided metal or white PVC, they’re flexible and can bend around any existing pipework or obstacles, without compromising the connection. The seal is created with one easy push, and on average, using a flexi hose can save you up to 40% on installation time.

Also available with built-in service valves, our flexi hoses remove the need for installing an additional valve for water isolation to carry out future repairs and maintenance work. With nearly 50 different combinations of size, end connections and lengths, JG Speedfit’s Flexi hoses range can be used on both hot and cold water supply.

While many are choosing to hide their pipes, there is still some appetite for exposed pipework as a design feature in luxury bathroom projects. We’re seeing a trend in copper and brass fittings being used with the shiny copper pipework, often paired with deep blacks and brilliant whites to give a striking feel to contemporary bathrooms.

Achieving this look is made easier with SharkBite’s brass push-fit fittings, that are easy to install in awkward spaces without the need for tools, flux and solder.

Also, if your customer has aged, rusting fittings on display in their bathroom, you can always replace them with shiny, more compact brass push-fit fittings. By doing this, you’ll also be eliminating the risk of pipes leaking due to ageing soldered joints.

The classic phrase is to work smarter, not harder, and by using the right products and materials from the outset, you can simply achieve this. And doing so becomes even more crucial when working in compact spaces.

Delivering a contemporary bathroom finish is easier when you work with a smarter selection of products, such as push-fit pipes, valves and fittings. Whether it’s a minimalistic aesthetic, or you’re using exposed pipework as design features, solutions such as the JG Layflat pipe, JG Speedfit flexi hoses, Easifit TMV and SharkBite fittings will make the job faster, safer and hassle-free.