Kitchen Construction 101: How to Expose Pipes or Conceal Them

One of the longest and most arduous tasks during home construction is installing the plumbing system. You’ll need to choose between hidden and open plumbing, as well as the material for the pipes themselves.

Considering that most of us immediately assume that concealed plumbing is the way to go, you could opt to cover up and conceal all the plumbing. In spite of this, there are a few hard-and-fast reasons why a house’s plumbing should not be concealed.

Given that arriving at a well-informed judgment is dependent on a number of factors, we have compiled a list of the most important considerations to keep in mind while picking between concealed and visible plumbing.

Whether you choose to have your plumbing on display or concealed within the walls, you should give some thought to several factors, including ease of repair, aesthetics, and more. Exposed pipes are considered less pleasing, but the fact is, they can completely change the look when done the right way.  That’s why it’s best not to try DIY methods but to hire an expert plumbing service provider.

Let’s talk about the deciding factors.

 

Appeal To The Sense Of Style

In a cramped apartment, exposed pipes can be an eyesore. Bathrooms with exposed pipes can look untidy.

There is beauty in both hidden and open plumbing. If done properly, exposing some pipes in your bathroom may make it look quite exquisite, while concealed plumbing gives you a sleek, sophisticated, and clean aesthetic.

Typically, this task is accomplished with copper pipes because of how well they blend in with the contemporary decor. However, thin, few-in-number exposed pipes are the sole acceptable style.

According to research, the majority of people who remodel their existing washrooms want to change the layout. It becomes important for them to know that both kinds of piping can look good if planned well.

A bathroom’s aesthetics will suffer if unsightly sewage pipes protrude from the ceiling and tunnel through the walls. The best option here is to use piping that is hidden from view.
Danger Of Damage

They feel safer with the pipes hidden in the wall. This implies they are safe from harm so long as the wall is not severely impacted. However, exposed pipework is more likely to be damaged by accidental bumps and leaks as a result of impacts of sufficient force. Furthermore, without a coating of concrete shielding them from external climatic fluctuations, exposed pipes are more prone to weather damage and wear and tear over time.

Ease Of Access

Exposed pipes can be repaired without tearing down the wall.

With the pipes on display, plumbing maintenance is easier to perform. Research found that 55% of people want to upgrade to rainfall showers in the US.

This means increasing the pressure level and, in turn, changing the pipe. Bearing in mind the increasing trend of rainfall showers and general maintenance, ease of accessing the pipe becomes very important.

Hygiene Worries

Exposed plumbing is less of a help if you like to clean the walls once a month, as the pipes may obstruct your path to the wall beyond, making it much more difficult to clean. Also, unlike exposed pipework, which may require periodic wiping down to prevent the buildup of a layer of dust, concealed plumbing is present inside the walls and never sees the light of day, so it never needs to be cleaned.

Spotting Damage And Making Repairs

The only downside to concealed plumbing happens that it can leak and soak your walls. Detecting the origin of a leak is a Herculean task in systems where the pipes are concealed.

Pipes that are exposed make repairs simpler, but they also make it simpler to spot when repairs have been made. The source of a puddle in the bathroom, for instance, could be a source of mystery. There’s not much you can learn from a damp spot on the wall about the extent of the damage or leak. On the other hand, if you can locate the source of the leak, you can temporarily halt it while you wait for aid to arrive.

Property Sector

Think about the room you’re remodeling or building before deciding whether you want hidden or exposed pipes. Your plumbing should be hidden in the walls of every room except the bathroom and the space immediately under the kitchen sink.

There should be unfettered access to the piping in all high-risk zones in case of sudden pipe failure. If you want to cash in on the increasing property prices and sell yours, it becomes important to take care of the quality as well as aesthetics.

It’s more expensive and time-consuming to fix plumbing that’s hidden from view.

Plumbing will need to break through the wall. Alterations using underground plumbing. Your home’s plumbing has developed a leak, and you know it needs to be corrected.

In this case, having the pipes on display facilitates and expedites the repair process, as the technician just needs to attend to the recognized leak’s origin. In contrast, if your plumbing is hidden, you may have to tear out a large section of the wall before you can pinpoint the source of the leak and begin repairs.

There will be an increase in labor costs associated with tearing down the wall, locating and treating the leak, re-enclosing the pipes within the wall, and finally restoring the wall, which may require painting or tiling.

As you can see, both concealed and exposed plumbing have their advantages, and the choice between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference.