Continuing our comprehensive series looking at build costs, David Snell provides a detailed receipt breakdown for plumbing and central heating, including advice on first and second fix plumbing, sanitaryware, guttering and downpipes.
As with the electrician, it is quite likely that the plumbing and central heating engineer will work on a supply-and-fix basis, either wholly or in part. Most self-builders will not want to be involved in the purchase of minor items, but may wish to provide major items such as the boiler and underfloor heating for the plumbers to fit on a labour-only basis.
The trade is divided into two stages, first fix (carcassing) and second fix, and payment is often made as each stage is completed.
The first arrival of the plumber on site may be to fix the standpipe for the building water supply. Part of this may be used for the eventual outside tap, but the requirement for non-return and shut-off valves and the need to box in the standpipe itself means that around an extra £100 may have to be allocated.
The next time the plumber comes on site will be just before the roof is tiled in order to set up the soil vent pipes (SVPs). If they are to be responsible for the lead flashing instead of the roofer, they will then stay to attend to that. If they are fitting the guttering and downpipes then they may well fix the guttering from the scaffold before it comes down but leave the downpipes until later.
The plumber will work closely with the electrician in the wiring up of the boiler and control systems, and their testing and firing.
Self builders should only use qualified and registered plumbers who are certified by either ‘Gas Safe’, OFTEC (Oil Firing Technical Association Ltd, oftec.org), NAPIT Certification Ltd (napit.org.uk), or BESCA (Building Engineering Services Competence Accreditation Ltd, besca.org.uk). In practice, most competent plumbers are registered with most or all of these bodies.
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