Clueless about kitchen pipes

Nedpoleon

I've just moved into my first flat and I'm about to have the extremely small kitchen redone. It's a galley layout – basically a corridor with three units on each side and a wall at the end. At the moment the sink is the last unit on the LEFT. I want to put a dishwasher in its place, and move the sink to the other side of the galley so it's the last unit on the RIGHT instead. (I would post a picture but the forum isn't letting me.)

The issue with this is the water and waste pipes that will have to connect the new sink to the existing plumbing. They will have to run about 70 cm, right to left, along the end wall of the galley.

Is there any good way of doing this? It seems like my options are:

1. Box them in along the wall. But I think that will block the dishwasher from opening.
2. Hide them in the skirting board at the very bottom of the wall. But an installer told me that this won't work because they need to slope at a decent angle to help gravity empty the waste pipe.
3. Leave them exposed on the wall. I know this is supposed to be 'unsightly', but I don't really understand why – plenty of flats have exposed radiator pipes and it looks fine to me, plus it's in such an inconspicuous place. However, the installer told me this is dangerous in case they get accidentally knocked. Plus they might still block the dishwasher from opening.
4. Somehow hide them in the wall or floor – I have no idea if this would be feasible.

Can anyone shed any light? This is my first time doing any of this stuff so I don't even know the basics!

Niv

I think it is more hasstle than it is worth from your description.
taking your options above:
1 - there needs to be a slope so this would be midway up teh wall...
2 - installer is correct
3 - It is unsightly. It is not 'dangerous' but it is true they are more exposed to being knocked
4 - Again - you cant do this as there needs to be a slope, what kind of trench do you want to dig?

tacpot12

Do you have enough space to move both sets of units down the length of the galley to create enough space to run the pipes across the end wall and box them in? You would probably have to move them about 50mm. If you do this, it is likely that you will need new, longer, worktops, but if they are tired and in need of replacement anyway, this might be a good time to do it.

jonnygee2

The issue with this is the water and waste pipes that will have to connect the new sink to the existing plumbing. They will have to run about 70 cm, right to left, along the end wall of the galley.

In total this is quite a long waste pipe, with a lot of turns in it and a very gentle slope. I don't think it's a good design, it sounds likely to block and difficult to fix if it does block.

Fire_Fox

Assuming by 'flat' you mean a regular leasehold flat in England or Wales: we 'owners' actually rent the flat for a REALLY long time (say 100 years). So, like any person renting, we cannot muck about with the structure - wall, floor, ceiling, maybe other stuff- without permission. Which is PITA x lots.

Do not interfere with the wall or floor or ceiling. Unless you have a special affinity for paperwork. Or plumbers. Or plumbers with paperwork. Also: Building Regulations, fire safety, long lease, freeholder or their agent, Building Control ...

In short flats =/= houses.