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Redoing a downstairs toilet at the moment. Ignoring the asbestos tiles(that's a whole other issue), what's the best easy to fill/cap this drain?
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It goes about a metre and a half to an manhole cover outside the house. Removing the whole run isn't feasible, and neither is digging up the whole floor and redoing it.
Most suggestions online seem to rely on shoving something down and putting concrete on top? Rest of the floor isn't insulated, was previously covered with a very weak and crumbly mortar mix.
TIA
Shove something down and concrete over the top seems like a good idea to me
Just so we are clear. You know a hoover won't help much with asbestos right?
What objection do you have to sealing it with mortar? But you should be able to find an appropriate bung to seal it if you need, ask at your local plumbers' merchants.
Cheers. No objection, just checking!
Just so we are clear. You know a hoover won’t help much with asbestos right?
Absolutely! That wasn't on the tiles, only ones of those I've removed are the ones that pinged up on their own. One broke, a masked and suited me stopped.
The Henry was used to clear up the crumbly mess that was somehow suspended over the drain (that previously had a toilet perched on top -mystery of why the old tiles were bulging and damp is now solved)
Make a bung that is tight enough it can hold the weight of the concrete whist it sets
I'd probably glue some offcuts to the wall of the pipe below where I want the thickness of the concrete, cut a piece of ply slightly smaller in diameter and wrap it in dpm so you get a tight friction fit. Shove it in, then concrete over the top
Re asbestos tiles, you had them tested? Do you have to remove them? Potential could just scree over the top depending on floor levels. Would be best to leave them alone if you can
I'm assuming the drain is still live and in use. If not you could potentially just fill up the whole thing with sand and then concrete. This would be a bad idea if other stuff uses it. Maybe open up the drain cover and see if you have any flow
Thanks 🙂
Plan is to go over the tires with screed, yeah. But a few pinged up on their own so curiosity took over! Haven't had them tested but I absolutely wouldn't be surprised if they were. It's an old house that has been prodded and poked a lot by rubbish DIYers like me over the years!
Drain is live at the inspection cover outside. There's a 4 way junction and this is the lowest branch.
I would be inclined to make whatever tou put down a real thing then, expandable bung thing very tight ribbed bung thing.
The last thing you want is the whole lots to drop while you are placing the final shovel of concrete.
We had the same in the old downstairs loo when we relocated it. Builder made a bung out of plastic soil pipe off-cuts, concreted about 4” depth, 25mm screed and LVT. Been fine ever since (though is in a zero traffic/zero load bearing area.)
Something like this, then cover the floor with thin ply and tile over.
Old sewers are a mystery, if you're unsure fit a one-way flap at the chamber end so that you haven't got an accessible rodent home and the simplest available cap below floor level
Brilliant, thanks all! One way flap sound like a great idea as well.
Much appreciation.
Its not expensive to test for asbestos. Some councils even do it.
I personally would find out and if free from just get them lifted and start afresh. And if they are at least you know and can pass on the "don't angle grind the screed i used to hide the asbestos" message.
Can't you just buy something like this in the correct diameter?
https://www.screwfix.com/p/mcalpine-push-fit-drain-blanking-cap-black-110mm/4331V?tc=CA8&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6auyBhDzARIsALIo6v855JLPclTBHrDa3FI9sRh6V1ur51qzFq5cxO82t7gjjA-b_5_bnW0aAmDaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
@joshvegas valid. Test kit on the way
@dooosuk something in my head is telling me it's better and a bit more stable to shove something down it and whack some concrete in for a more solid base (it turns a 90 shortly after the opening) especially as a loo will be stuck on top of it and the floor will likely be tiled. But that's not based on actual knowledge or experience.
Id fill it with concrete. Any cap made of plastic or wood will probably disintegrate over time(or rat infestation gnawing at it) and leave the room with a nasty pong.
Concrete is going to seal it permanently.