Drilling a hole for an outside tap.

[lord_seagrave]

Chaps,

I’m going to drill a hole trough the wall to install an outside tap. I’ve got a nice long 16mm SDS masonry bit (for the 15mm pope), but:

Do I drill through a brick or through a mortar joint?

LS

[henry d]

Centre of a brick if possible as it will allow you to attach the tap backplate firmly to solid brick.

[biketestace]

As above, use a proper pre made install kit, its a piece of pipe with a 50mm diameter brass backplate pre soldered on, your local merchant will stock them 👍

[lord_seagrave]

5 minutes ago, biketestace said:

As above, use a proper pre made install kit, its a piece of pipe with a 50mm diameter brass backplate pre soldered on, your local merchant will stock them 👍

Got it. Nice one.

 

15 minutes ago, henry d said:

Centre of a brick if possible as it will allow you to attach the tap backplate firmly to solid brick.

This was my instinct, but all the other external fittings on this house are in the mortar, and I was doubting myself!

 

LS

[manthing]

One of these. 

https://www.toolstation.com/wallplate-tube/p33291?store=ED&utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&gclid=CjwKCAjw0vTtBRBREiwA3URt7o3SV_9RTGEqm_O4vH8aHIeVtPrYQmIGfzlvwKHFASgFUeKZ2U2wwRoCK5cQAvD_BwE

And remember the check valve, you can get taps with them built in. 

[figgy]

I try and drill through a joint when fitting a wall plate tube. If you drill so the drill bit is on top of a brick the two bottom screws go into the brick the top one into the mortar. Less damage to bricks if you ever decide to remove it.

Either way will work,  one thing to check is if the tube is long enough to go all way through. On most I've soldered a socket and bit of pipe on to go into the kitchen cabinets for connecting up.

Put some tape along the copper pipe, stops it rubbing and contacting bricks and mortar. Should never just out copper pipes through walls without sleeving of some kind.

Edited November 2, 2019 by figgy

[B725]

It depends what type of brick, a lot will break the face off and look a mess safer if you drill in the joint. 

[millrace]

Drill from outside to in.....

[old man]

Maybe sleeve the through wall copper pipe with close fitting plastic waste pipe?

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Just now, old man said:

Maybe sleeve the through wall copper pipe with close fitting plastic waste pipe?

Ideally drill the hole and fit the pipe and then squirt in some weatherproof expanding foam to prevent the cold northerly wind coming through the gap!

[Diver One]

Drill from outside to inside

drill hole oversize

fit plasti tube if possible and seal into hole

fit tap pipe inside this tube so that there is no friction on expansion and contraction...it will constantly move but only by maybe a mm or so

[dodgy dave]

stop cock near as poss in side to turn off in winter also a slight fall from inside to out clear all water when turning off

[B725]

1 hour ago, old man said:

Maybe sleeve the through wall copper pipe with close fitting plastic waste pipe?

Plastic conduit fits nicley over 15mm copper but you will need to drill an 18mm hole, one other thing is you have to fit a double check valve. 

[DoolinDalton]

Whatever method you choose, please check the wall for hidden electric cables. Unless you know 100percent that there’s no cable there, then use a cable/ metal detector.  

[figgy]

7 hours ago, B725 said:

Plastic conduit fits nicley over 15mm copper but you will need to drill an 18mm hole, one other thing is you have to fit a double check valve. 

I've used this method few times. Trouble is bigger hole and getting the round back plate fixing holes into brick.  Not much edge left to drill into. Might have a bigger flange that they used to.

[vampire]

ooopps, signed into plumbers forum 😂

Good advice and how to...

[Rim Fire]

21 hours ago, millrace said:

Drill from outside to in.....

This 👍

[Rob525]

As already suggested If it's going into a kitchen cupboard it will need a socket soldering on which will require an 18mm hole with a single wrap of gaffer tape run the length. Also put a double check valve on the pipe not a tap with a built in they are problematic and if I remember rightly dont meet current regs ither 

[stumfelter]

What about drilling through a joint then using a 15mm elbow and a backplate elbow on the outside. Easier to drill and you can fit the backplate in the middle of a brick.

[manthing]

Trouble is even the shortest piece of exposed pipe is susceptible to freezing and splitting. 

I've never had an outside top fail using the straight through the wall method. 

Said it now though ain't I? 🙄😁

[nobbyathome]

I normally drill from the inside with a much smaller diameter sds drill then from the outside with the proper size one if you drill from the inside with the large drill bit you might break a bit of the outside brick and it doesn’t  look good as to your question preferably through the brick and not the mortar but it is easier to go through the mortar so it’s really your choice 

Edited November 4, 2019 by nobbyathome

[figgy]

Managing If it's cold enough outside, unless well covered your tap will freeze.

Mine did when I had tap lagging kit on and left the hose attached. The frost went up the hose into the tap.

Parents tap froze when they had a tap insulation kit that fitted to the tap but left the head exposed so you could use while it's fitted.

Now both have the polystyrene over box type.

But I do live in the frozen north.

Lord seagrave you can buy a 600mm long 1/2" wall plate tube online. This would work best for you bringing it well into a kitchen unit with no joints needed. 

Edited November 4, 2019 by figgy

[lord_seagrave]

Some terrific advice here, chaps.

Will upgrade my drill bit and crack on!

LS