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Thanks for reply, is there a recommended distance between pipes based on pipe diameter ?

Hi, Having wet underfloor heating put in and been doing some reading, think pipe spacing is going to be 200 but read somewhere 100 from walls & sliding doors/bi-folds - is that correct ? What distance would people recommend from kitchen units ? I have a run against one wall and then a 1200 gap to island, could go 200 spacing from units and have 5 pipes or 100 from the units and 6 pipe loops ? Many thanks, Lawrence

This is kind of where I am with it as everything is a bit of a bodge now but can pretty much guarantee I’ll be paying anything above the minimum necessary to put it right and in for a battle for builder to accept anything wrong based on previous experience. The SE mentioned cutting sister joists tight to wall but read that any expansion could knock a block out - what do people think should there be a gap at end of sister joist and wall ? The reducing of the joists looks a hack job and so I can imagine the boards not completely flush although walking on it today didn’t notice any creaking - is that something that would develop in time ? So frustrating as a pilot hole which suggested a number of times would have been so easy. Many thanks, Lawrence

Yes that's exactly what they did, rather than measure correctly or knock a pilot hole through they did some half baked measurement and got floor level wrong and then took 4.5cm to correct their error when they knocked through and realised. Lawrence

Many thanks for all the replies, just had a very good chat with structural engineer on phone, all previous meetings had been on site with builder present, he ran the measurements and fails the deflection check, he recommended removing the noggins, then screwing/bolting another 170 joist to existing joist cut tight to wall and then putting back trimmed noggins - seems a good solution as doesn't need any block work just additional timber and labour that I will inevitably pay for somewhere else in the build. Can't picture the other end on the steel as not there at moment and can't remember if joists rest directly on steel, think there is at least one layer of bricks , now have SE on my side can approach builder and see where we go. Great forum, Many thanks, Lawrence

Thanks for reply, did forget to mention that the span is 3.8m inside the room and they have gone block width apart rather than 400mm, I just know the builder will convince SE and Buiding Inspector it is fine as has happened with other things on the build but was after a feeling if I need to stand my ground on this one as such a big job to put right or if actually is okay. Many thanks, Lawrence

Thanks for quick replies, problem I have is builder is very friendly with structural engineer and the building inspector so guess was after some thoughts before approaching both as likely the builder will convince them they were over specified and is fine, a look at a joist calculator says not. Many thanks, Lawrence

Having a 2 storey extension done, builders haphazardly measured the floor level and despite saying better to come in under as better to make up height when they knocked through new floor level was good chunk higher - why they didn't knock a pilot hole through despite suggesting it is a mystery. The second storey and roof is now on and last week whilst I was away they laid new floor, didn't realise just how much higher the new joists were. The structural engineer had specified 44x195 C24 ceiling joists @ 400mm c/c. Looks like they have used 8 inch joists a block width apart, to get the floor lower they have cut about 4.5 cm off the joists so the remaining joists are about 17 cm, obviously going to be a nightmare to rectify now, looking at span charts online they are too small. There is an ensuite and main bedroom going in that room. Here are some pictures : Would have been so easy to have come one small brick lower had they measured correctly, very frustrating, what would people recommend in this situation ? Many thanks, Lawrence

I think the water runs hotter but the surface temp on the tiles is around 25 degrees to keep the room at a comfortable temperature so 25 degrees doesn't seem too bad given a small gap at bottom between everything although not sure if that is healthy for everything to be just above 25 degree heat source for prolonged periods, toying with just stopping 60cm shot of wall and as sitting couple of meters further back shouldn't notice it but worried creating some kind of weird cold sport against a north facing wall although the floor is well insulated (75mm) underneath the screed. Lawrence

Thanks for reply, doesn't seem much info on this particular topic out there, some say floor temp will be no hotter than a warm summers day but just cant help feeling with not much gap there would be a fair bit of warming which normally isn't good for electrics, there is small air gap under both cabinet and speakers/sub, mmm bit torn now.

Hi, Finally going to have a tv setup with a refurb project and have opted for wet under floor heating under porcelain tiles, one end of the room is going to have sub woofer, two floor standing speakers and a large cabinet with various AV boxes, the tv is going on the wall above it. Is there any harm in running the under floor heating under that lot or would it be advisable to come off the wall 50cm (depth of cabinet is 50cm - width 175cm) for any reason - plumber said they normally come off about 25cm, guess just worried would heat cabinet up (has very small feet so not directly on floor) and the boxes in cabinet and speakers/sub ? Many thanks, Lawrence

Thanks for all the replies, my worry is lack of compaction, sand laid, levelled and then insulation board laid on top, as far as I can tell no compaction been done other than walking on Insulation board, just seems of all the solutions this seems most risky, tempted to ask for either thicker board, more screed or a different mixture as suggested, Many thanks, Lawrence

Cheers, guess as board is laid on top whatever I get them to do now involves them undoing what they did today and probably annoying them as they said twice is okay but really worried about problem further down the line, Many thanks, Lawrence

Questioned it twice today so going to really annoy them to get them to pull board up and remove sand and go for thicker insulation or maybe extra screed on top, Many thanks, Lawrence

Hi, Builder has poured two separate concrete floors either side of a wall, the wall has now come down as going to be open plan area, and turns out floors are at different levels. The next step was going to be insulation board and then pipework on top for under floor heating and a liquid screed poured on top and then the long wait before porcelain tiles to finish. So today there was discussion on how to get floors to same level before putting the insulation board on top, the solution they came up with was to use sand they had on site to bring the lower floor up, don't think there is much difference in levels - about 20mm. Is this an acceptable/regular solution ? The kitchen with island is going on top of what is the lower floor raised with sand, guess will be quite compacted but concerned about movement or compression of floor over time. Area is about 4m by 4.5m. Any thoughts greatly appreciated, Lawrence

Thanks for reply, looks like there is place I can dispose of once up, really relieved as last night thought whole house was swimming in fibres but seems very difficult to actually release any from tiles, Lawrence

Thanks for reply, is looking like of all the things to have chyrsolite vinyl floor tiles is not the worst, and worrying less now as speaking to people some of them wouldn't either bother with mask when getting a sample which seems pushing it a bit far but does suggest they believe chance of fibre release very minimal, good news as last night was thinking contaminated the whole house ! Lawrence

Hi, Thanks for everyone who took time to reply, broke some pieces off with a wall paper scraper as advised by testing company and had them tested this morning (£48 for same day) and the mastic/adhesive was clear but the tiles contained chrysolite asbestos, the company seemed pretty relaxed about it whereas I was concerned had released fibres breaking the tile to get samples (I was in proper mask and gloves) - they said almost impossible to release the fibres from breaking them as so well bonded (unlike cement board where apparently more easily released) and this was backed up by removal company that spoke to who just said stick mask on and pull them up (going to chop the floorboards and lift them that way) and don't worry if break. What is weird if you go online there everything points to breaking them releasing fibres, no idea who is right, asked if should get air reassurance test done and they said would be waste of money. So guess what is done is done and will wipe area down and get on with rest of renovation and hope more doesn't show up anywhere unexpected. Lawrence

Thanks for all quick replies, looks like the tiles are still there, they are very thin or could be just the remnants after tile been removed and somehow left the coloring as they are wafer thin, have contacted local company about best way to proceed, guess getting some tested is looking like sensible route, guess now more worried about if I released any fibres when I pulled the carpet back, hasn't been lifted in all the time I havde been here (10 years) and was gently stuck in some places as underside of carpet had black in places, teach me not to wear a decent mask when messing with old carpet and underlay but just wander if some would have been released into the house and is floating around ?

Hi, Wasn't sure which forum to best post this in, just in middle of renovation and lifted carpet in the airing cupboard today ahead of tank being removed and new system being put in so floor boards all need lifting and discovered some thin vinyl like tiles on black type adhesive. Had a recent asbestos cement board incident and when reading about that saw some info on vinyl floor tiles, here are some images, what do people reckon - guess they could be asbestos ones - also bit worried about having lifted the carpet that hasn't been moved in years and wandering if could have released anything lying dormant in there ? They are very thin, less than 1mm, Many thanks, Lawrence

Well I could keep on worrying but realise that is not healthy ! In case anyone following or find thread by google I spoke to couple of firms today about dealing with the rest of it in a safe way and both times got a really experienced person who asked about my potential risk. Both said given distance from the jig saw (ground level 10m away from cut on roof) and then subsequent throwing into dumper and breakage (5m away) that the chances of any particles landing on my clothing very unlikely given the distance and outdoors and that was cement bonded white asbestos. If it were indoors or brown/blue then would be a bit more concerned, added to that I then was outside quite a bit after and walking around/getting kids from school so every opportunity to shed any fibres - do appreciate they tend to cling to clothing. Also both said even if some landed on me then at that level of exposure the kids could easily be exposed to the same at school over their lifetime and also walking passed other building sites/weathered garage roofs. I did quite a bit of reading on the cancer side. There does seem to be conflicting info on the amount needed but one thing seemed fairly consistent in that genetics seem to play a part as does being a smoker on top of that. The type of asbestos seemed also to consistently say the brown or blue are thinner sharper and tend to lend themselves to cancer more than the white. This side seems very inclusive and guess the most tragic as there are stories of children/wives getting it from partners clothing who work in asbestos environments but also seems to be some outliers that get it after a very small exposure. Thanks to everyone who has taken time to reply especially as mine seems a small/non existent exposure compared to what others have encountered and the outcomes some people have had. I am going to try and move on from it based on the above info and as a few people said not a lot I can do about it and worrying isn't going to be any good, I do tend to worry about stuff that never happens. Also during my reading now aware can exist in other places in house/products so going to be very careful checking well ahead of rest of renovation work where as before was unaware. Thanks all again, Lawrence

Thanks for all your replies, pretty happy now from replies none would have got in through window, what still really bugs me and I can not forgive myself for is that after being outside talking to builders whilst it was all going on - was about 5 m away from when they dropped it in dumper and dust came up is that at no point did I consider changing clothes, wish it was windy that day to blow the dust away quickly, it was only that night after putting both kids to bed with loads of hugs that suddenly thought oh no it could be on my clothes - have read quite a bit about it getting stuck in clothing, just hope I was far enough way and not being the one to actually cut it that none got as far as me but really can't be sure and it is eating me up. Appreciate nothing can do and need to move on but keep coming back to that aspect of what happened. Lawrence

Thanks for reply, I think I might need a lottery win to pay for the build ! There wasn't much wind on the day but guess the stuff isn't looking to get into windows and would have just settled for wind to take it away later, we haven't opened the windows since. I am starting to think I am looking for things to worry about but do have an irrational fear of asbestos, going to try and enjoy rest of build and stop worrying about every step so good advice, much appreciated. Also having been over on the cancer research site as lots of asbestos chats on there have realised just what some people are going through and puts things very much into perspective, I have also vowed when get more time to start giving back on some of the forums, probably not much help on a build one but also realise I have posted a lot mainly about build worries without really giving back and forums rely on people replying so a big thanks to everyone who has taken to reply, Lawrence

Thanks for reply, just praying nothing got in as kids are so young, have wiped surfaces down with wet kitchen towel, we are going to move out for next phase where they deal with the softfits, just so annoyed they cut them whilst still here next to the windows, really suffering anxiety issues for first ever time with this, anyone with industry knowledge would be great to know just what u p against and chances of stuff having entered the house. Thanks, Lawrence

Many thanks to everyone who took time to respond to my previous post on asbestos exposure, some re-assuring posts and some worrying ones but have reconciled fact that nothing can do about the exposure and due to distances hoping not to many fibres got on me, I will never understand why I didn't change clothes before dealing with kids but was stressed with everything. Can honestly say have never been so worried about anything in my life. Have been reading quite a bit and wanted to get view from people on something else to do with what happened. The builders cut through the softfit in two places with jig saw, the board was about 7mm thick and since has tested and contained Chrysotile asbestos, been reading that jig sawing releases 2-10 fibres/ cm3 - I'll be honest not sure what that really means but is higher than other things that can be done to board. Also not sure if this means those fibres that are released are not bound to the cement anymore and so are microscopic. What is worrying me now is did any get in the house, the cut was made outside my childrens bedroom window which was closed but they are old wooden windows and the seals aren't the best, the top of the windows end at the softfit that was cut. Here is picture through the window where cut can just be seen : Here is picture of window seal on side was cut: We have these windows all over the house and some have visible gaps in the seals but fortunately not this one, they are a sort of flexible plastic rather than rubber and a few mm across. I am stressing out that some microscopic fibres have got into their room, they are only little and worried sick. Should i be getting them out of the room ? I have wiped around the frames with wet kitchen towel and was dusty but there is normally dust there especially as been on open settings at times during the build. Really not sure what to do, would it be worth getting someone round to test air, incident occurred on Thursday, not sure if too late now or if anything can do to re-assure ourselves as really affecting our mental health, I so wish they hadn't just cut the boards and paused for a moment. Any thoughts greatly appreciated, Lawrence