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It's not just smarthomes. The trend for EVERYTHING to need an app is so annoying. I like the idea of various smart features (never lived in an automated place) but key for me is that it should add things on top, not make things harder. If you can't invite your families oldies and technophobes to stay at your house without them asking how to make something work you are doing something wrong. The basic stuff should work even if the smart stuff is broken and it should all work without the internet.

I agree, I suspect that it might not come across in some of my posts but my thoughts are to try and keep things simple and avoid complexity. - Do do the calculations about how much piping you need to emit enough heat - Build a layout that allows you to output that heat at very low temperature - Within reason try to avoid different length loops and transit areas where pipes group densely (hallways can be heated by the heat from loops traversing the hall way to other areas, doesn't need it's own loops), etc - Minimise crossing movement joints (make sure you follow best practice where crossing happens to allow the pipes to move in the slab) You don't need to design everything to the nth degree, the low temperature nature builds flexibilty so everything doesn't have to be perfect. @Gus Potter I think would suggest to have more shorter loops with some overprovision on the assumption that loops will fail. This is my main disagreement. I think it adds complexity that is detrimental to the chances of a successful install. If you are paying someone to install pipes, rather than paying them to install more than you need and the complexity that comes with that, pay for an independent witness to test the system after it is layed, before slab pouring and after the slab has solidified but not fully hardened. That way you can detect faults and get them fixed at the right time rather than living with a damaged system long term. Edit: Overall, if you are paying people to install the heating system, they should be involved in the UFH design and also be able to be the witness during installation (if they aren't installing the pipes)

I took 50 years as that's what the pipe manufacturers are claiming is the lifetime of their pipes. If you are putting pipes into an insulated raft that is also the foundation you are unlikely to rip that up for the lifetime of the building. Definitely not proposing to spend significant time or effort on it. From my POV, not worrying about precisely where kitchen units go, etc, at UFH design stage just means less dependencies on progress. You can get on with UFH install while still deciding between a couple of kitchen options, etc.

I think that also describes some of my issues with what Gus has said. To me, if you are building in redundancy, you are adding more pipe than needed. If you are adding more pipe than needed you are: 1. Adding more work, materials, cost. 2. Making the installation more complex 3. Reducing the pipe spacing and therefore making bend radii tighter (more chance of kinks, etc) 4. Increasing the number of pipes that have to feed into manifold(s) which increases problems of local heating in the area, and produces installation risk with potential overlapping pipes, pipes closer to the surface than intended, etc. In a low temp system you retain an awful lot of flexibility to increase output just by adjusting the water temp by a degree or two and adjusting flow rates. Adding extra pipes just adds complexity and risk. Though it should be said, in a low temp system with thick slab, flexibility is more limited anyway no matter how many pipes you have due to the response time of the system. In return you get a more efficient system that you can just turn on and leave on and not have to think about.

My reasoning for putting pipes everywhere is that in 50 years rooms get rearranged. Kitchens get moved to entirely different areas. Partitions go up, come down. Assuming you are designing a very low temperature system with a thick slab (one with floor temps targeting 1-2 degress above room temp) then the impact of some units on top of some pipes should be minimal. You can leave small air gaps at the top of the kickstand that won't be visible. I completely understand why you don't want to put pipes under units if you are designing a higher temp/fast response system.

Watching the Restoration Couple on Youtube. I think their ~400m2 floor came to about £37m2 inc dry shake, powerfloated, not polished though. Said the dry shake bags added up to £2k. That is the concern. Keeping it sealed.

It's funny in a way. You see that picture as a warning to avoid and as someone interested in a concrete floor as a finished surface see that as exactly what I'd expect (except if done in a domestic project I'd expect the movement joints to be filled more neatly and would personally have gone for a coloured concrete shake).

@IanR did a poured resin floor that might be an alternative: Microcement exists but isn't cheap. The only other suggestion that comes to mind is exploring commercial concrete contractors rather than 'polished concrete' specialists. I've no real-world experience, just researching for a future build but if you haven't already looked, have a look at https://concria.com/dry-shake-floor/ and their polishing system. Would only work on a large floor area without obstructions, but if thats what you have then might be a lot cheaper than conventional polished concrete.

Concrete can work with the right design. Does need careful thought though and I certainly don't think it's worth a premium price.

Thats the right thing to do. Worked as intended then! Good to know of the problem straight away. Though if it really made an impression on you maybe you had the pressure a bit too high

In a low temp system I'd guess not. My planning around this is to aim to not worry about kitchen cabinets etc. Seems like extra effort to try and route around things and in the event the layout is changed in future might you end up with an area of floor that is a touch cooler than others (I can't see it affecting room temp but might be noticable with feet on the floor).

I thought it was profitable including the satellite launches but could have misunderstood. They are raking in billions a year and thair launch costs are extremely low because of rocket reuse.

Cost wise, Starlink is already profitable so any 5G add on service doesn't have to worry about paying for that. AFAIK the Starlink mobile service is mostly text only where it exists. Voice calls maybe coming but not sure it's going to have much in the way of data. It can be good as fill in in sparsely populated areas but the cells are too big to handle normal usage.

Video showing a bit more of what’s in the ceiling IMG_8617.mov .

Appreciate that, it's why I'm not rushing to do it and asking lots of questions, it's not leaking right now so I can afford to take my time. I think it's approachable in my situation because: 1. There is a ball valve isolator about 10m away from my front door that I know works because I used it yesterday when the fitting was leaking. I can use that for isolation and it's close enough that I can reach it in a hurry if something goes wrong. 2. I am at home most of the time and wouldn't be leaving any new change unattended. Feel free to tell me I'm crazy. I'm not sure it is. I can't see a plasson option for a 90 elbow MDPE->copper so I'd have to take the copper above the plasterboard, 90 there and then convert to MDPE with a straight coupling, while stiff the MDPE pipe still has a bit of flex in it. I'll attach a video showing the space available. IMG_8615.mov If I have to cut the MDPE pipe back anyway from the elbow and attach a straight coupler there then it's the same number of fittings either way. The prices on the pipestock website for the right tools are low enough that the right tools isn't a barrier. Given the access available I think I'd prefer to use a ratcheting plastic pipe cutter than a hacksaw (feel I'd make a right mess of the pipe with a hacksaw). That all sounds fine. I'm home most of the time anyway so this isn't a problem.