First Call Plumbers - Edinburgh - Borders - Fife - Lothians - 0131 669 1007 » Common Plumbing Materials http://www.firstplumber.com If Water Runs Through It - We Do It Fri, 23 Jul 2010 09:39:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 en Common Plumbing Materials http://www.firstplumber.com/common-plumbing-materials/ http://www.firstplumber.com/common-plumbing-materials/#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:28:39 +0000 First Call Plumber http://www.firstplumber.com/?p=262 Common residential plumbing materials

Material Characteristics Uses Fitting Methods (joined with) Tools for Cutting
Cast Iron Very strong but difficult to work cut and fit Main drain waste Banded neoprene couplings Cast iron cutter
hacksaw
ABS

Acrylonitrile-
Butadiene-Styrene		 Plastic material now restricted for use Drain pipes and traps Solvent glue and plastic fittings Tube cutter
hacksaw
miter box
PVC

Poly-Vinyl-Chloride		 Rigid plastic resistant to moderate heat and chemical Drains pipes
Vent pipes

Drain traps

 Solvent glue and plastic fittings Tube cutter
hacksaw
miter box
Galvanized Iron Very strong but corrodes over time
difficult to fit		 Drains pipes;
Hot & Cold supply lines		 Galvanized threaded fittings Hacksaw, Reciprocating saw
PB
Poly-Butylene		 Flexible plastic easy to bend and fit

Restricted for use

 Hot & Cold supply lines Plastic crimped/grip fitting Flexible plastic tube cutter
Utility knife
Rigid Copper Resists corrosion and very durable Hot & Cold supply lines Metal solder
Compression fittings		 Tube cutter
hack saw
Flexible Copper Resists corrosion and easy to bend Hot & Cold supply lines Brass flare fittings
Compression fittings
Metal solder		 Tube cutter
hack saw
Brass Durable and attractive
Relatively expensive		 Valves and exposed drain traps and pipes Compression fittings
Metal solder		 Tube cutter
hack saw
Reciprocating saw
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