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cutting into cast iron waste stack bobprokop 03-25-2007
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Posted by on March 25, 2007, 8:30 pm


I've got a plumber (who I really trust) coming out tomorrow to
temporarily cut into one of my main cast iron waste stacks. Reason:
there is a crack in the foundation right behind the stack that is
going to be treated tomorrow with epoxy injection -- and the stack is
in the way.

Once the crack in the foundation has been treated, the plumber is
going to replace the cut-out section of cast iron pipe with PVC.

My worries: the waste stack runs all the way up to the 2nd floor (and
out the roof through the attic, so technically through to the 3rd
floor). Everything I read says you MUST support the stack when making
a cut like this.

I asked my plumber (very reputable company and he has done alot of
work in this house for me -- all of which has been good) if he would
need to support the pipe before making the cut. He said "no" -- but if
when he began to cut he though it needed it, he would support it from
below (in the basement, where he'll be cutting).

I am worried about this. It's a beautiful 1930s Tudor-revival era
brick & mortar home -- built like a tank -- and I don't want to have
all kinds of damage to the plumbing connections in the walls that
connect to this waste stack when it gets cut (I hesitated even doing
this, but the crack in the foundation is something that appears to
have needed attention for a long time -- it gets water, although I've
fixed most of that problem from the outside).

Help. What do I tell my plumber? Do I insist that he install a brace?
Does it need to be a permanent brace? I can't imagine how tying in PVC
w/neoprene gaskets is going to support the weight of this stack. How
does this work? Should I be worried -- or trust this guy (who has 40
years of experience in this area, working on these types of homes)?

Thanks for any guidance you can provide!


Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Posted by RicodJour on March 25, 2007, 9:33 pm



bobprokop@yahoo.com wrote:
> I've got a plumber (who I really trust) coming out tomorrow to
> temporarily cut into one of my main cast iron waste stacks. Reason:
> there is a crack in the foundation right behind the stack that is
> going to be treated tomorrow with epoxy injection -- and the stack is
> in the way.
>
> Once the crack in the foundation has been treated, the plumber is
> going to replace the cut-out section of cast iron pipe with PVC.
>
> My worries: the waste stack runs all the way up to the 2nd floor (and
> out the roof through the attic, so technically through to the 3rd
> floor). Everything I read says you MUST support the stack when making
> a cut like this.
>
> I asked my plumber (very reputable company and he has done alot of
> work in this house for me -- all of which has been good) if he would
> need to support the pipe before making the cut. He said "no" -- but if
> when he began to cut he though it needed it, he would support it from
> below (in the basement, where he'll be cutting).
>
> I am worried about this. It's a beautiful 1930s Tudor-revival era
> brick & mortar home -- built like a tank -- and I don't want to have
> all kinds of damage to the plumbing connections in the walls that
> connect to this waste stack when it gets cut (I hesitated even doing
> this, but the crack in the foundation is something that appears to
> have needed attention for a long time -- it gets water, although I've
> fixed most of that problem from the outside).
>
> Help. What do I tell my plumber? Do I insist that he install a brace?
> Does it need to be a permanent brace? I can't imagine how tying in PVC
> w/neoprene gaskets is going to support the weight of this stack. How
> does this work? Should I be worried -- or trust this guy (who has 40
> years of experience in this area, working on these types of homes)?
>
> Thanks for any guidance you can provide!

It should be supported. Unless the plumber can prove that he has X-
ray vision like Superman, there's no way he can tell if the original
construction was built correctly, where the existing supports are,
what the condition of the concealed joints is, etc.

It should be supported.

It is not a big deal to support a stack and there are a number of ways
to do it. Ask him to do you a _really_ big favor and support the
stack before he cut's it. Just keep saying, "I'd really prefer if you
would." Whatever he replies, if it is not a yes, keep saying "I'd
really prefer if you would." until you get a yes.

R


Posted by on March 25, 2007, 9:37 pm


> bobpro...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > I've got a plumber (who I really trust) coming out tomorrow to
> > temporarily cut into one of my main cast iron waste stacks. Reason:
> > there is a crack in the foundation right behind the stack that is
> > going to be treated tomorrow with epoxy injection -- and the stack is
> > in the way.
>
> > Once the crack in the foundation has been treated, the plumber is
> > going to replace the cut-out section of cast iron pipe with PVC.
>
> > My worries: the waste stack runs all the way up to the 2nd floor (and
> > out the roof through the attic, so technically through to the 3rd
> > floor). Everything I read says you MUST support the stack when making
> > a cut like this.
>
> > I asked my plumber (very reputable company and he has done alot of
> > work in this house for me -- all of which has been good) if he would
> > need to support the pipe before making the cut. He said "no" -- but if
> > when he began to cut he though it needed it, he would support it from
> > below (in the basement, where he'll be cutting).
>
> > I am worried about this. It's a beautiful 1930s Tudor-revival era
> > brick & mortar home -- built like a tank -- and I don't want to have
> > all kinds of damage to the plumbing connections in the walls that
> > connect to this waste stack when it gets cut (I hesitated even doing
> > this, but the crack in the foundation is something that appears to
> > have needed attention for a long time -- it gets water, although I've
> > fixed most of that problem from the outside).
>
> > Help. What do I tell my plumber? Do I insist that he install a brace?
> > Does it need to be a permanent brace? I can't imagine how tying in PVC
> > w/neoprene gaskets is going to support the weight of this stack. How
> > does this work? Should I be worried -- or trust this guy (who has 40
> > years of experience in this area, working on these types of homes)?
>
> > Thanks for any guidance you can provide!
>
> It should be supported. Unless the plumber can prove that he has X-
> ray vision like Superman, there's no way he can tell if the original
> construction was built correctly, where the existing supports are,
> what the condition of the concealed joints is, etc.
>
> It should be supported.
>
> It is not a big deal to support a stack and there are a number of ways
> to do it. Ask him to do you a _really_ big favor and support the
> stack before he cut's it. Just keep saying, "I'd really prefer if you
> would." Whatever he replies, if it is not a yes, keep saying "I'd
> really prefer if you would." until you get a yes.
>
> R

Thank you -- yes, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to ask him to
support it before he cuts anything -- if he refuses (which I'm sure he
won't), I'll cancel the whole thing.


Posted by jim on March 25, 2007, 9:47 pm


On Mar 25, 8:37 pm, bobpro...@yahoo.com wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > bobpro...@yahoo.com wrote:
> > > I've got a plumber (who I really trust) coming out tomorrow to
> > > temporarily cut into one of my main cast iron waste stacks. Reason:
> > > there is a crack in the foundation right behind the stack that is
> > > going to be treated tomorrow with epoxy injection -- and the stack is
> > > in the way.
>
> > > Once the crack in the foundation has been treated, the plumber is
> > > going to replace the cut-out section of cast iron pipe with PVC.
>
> > > My worries: the waste stack runs all the way up to the 2nd floor (and
> > > out the roof through the attic, so technically through to the 3rd
> > > floor). Everything I read says you MUST support the stack when making
> > > a cut like this.
>
> > > I asked my plumber (very reputable company and he has done alot of
> > > work in this house for me -- all of which has been good) if he would
> > > need to support the pipe before making the cut. He said "no" -- but if
> > > when he began to cut he though it needed it, he would support it from
> > > below (in the basement, where he'll be cutting).
>
> > > I am worried about this. It's a beautiful 1930s Tudor-revival era
> > > brick & mortar home -- built like a tank -- and I don't want to have
> > > all kinds of damage to the plumbing connections in the walls that
> > > connect to this waste stack when it gets cut (I hesitated even doing
> > > this, but the crack in the foundation is something that appears to
> > > have needed attention for a long time -- it gets water, although I've
> > > fixed most of that problem from the outside).
>
> > > Help. What do I tell my plumber? Do I insist that he install a brace?
> > > Does it need to be a permanent brace? I can't imagine how tying in PVC
> > > w/neoprene gaskets is going to support the weight of this stack. How
> > > does this work? Should I be worried -- or trust this guy (who has 40
> > > years of experience in this area, working on these types of homes)?
>
> > > Thanks for any guidance you can provide!
>
> > It should be supported. Unless the plumber can prove that he has X-
> > ray vision like Superman, there's no way he can tell if the original
> > construction was built correctly, where the existing supports are,
> > what the condition of the concealed joints is, etc.
>
> > It should be supported.
>
> > It is not a big deal to support a stack and there are a number of ways
> > to do it. Ask him to do you a _really_ big favor and support the
> > stack before he cut's it. Just keep saying, "I'd really prefer if you
> > would." Whatever he replies, if it is not a yes, keep saying "I'd
> > really prefer if you would." until you get a yes.
>
> > R
>
> Thank you -- yes, that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to ask him to
> support it before he cuts anything -- if he refuses (which I'm sure he
> won't), I'll cancel the whole thing.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Absoulutly brace this or find a new plumber


Posted by Lawrence on March 25, 2007, 9:55 pm


On Mar 25, 7:30 pm, bobpro...@yahoo.com wrote:
> I've got a plumber (who I really trust) coming out tomorrow to
> temporarily cut into one of my main cast iron waste stacks. Reason:
> there is a crack in the foundation right behind the stack that is
> going to be treated tomorrow with epoxy injection -- and the stack is
> in the way.
>
> Once the crack in the foundation has been treated, the plumber is
> going to replace the cut-out section of cast iron pipe with PVC.
>
> My worries: the waste stack runs all the way up to the 2nd floor (and
> out the roof through the attic, so technically through to the 3rd
> floor). Everything I read says you MUST support the stack when making
> a cut like this.
>
> I asked my plumber (very reputable company and he has done alot of
> work in this house for me -- all of which has been good) if he would
> need to support the pipe before making the cut. He said "no" -- but if
> when he began to cut he though it needed it, he would support it from
> below (in the basement, where he'll be cutting).
>
> I am worried about this. It's a beautiful 1930s Tudor-revival era
> brick & mortar home -- built like a tank -- and I don't want to have
> all kinds of damage to the plumbing connections in the walls that
> connect to this waste stack when it gets cut (I hesitated even doing
> this, but the crack in the foundation is something that appears to
> have needed attention for a long time -- it gets water, although I've
> fixed most of that problem from the outside).
>
> Help. What do I tell my plumber? Do I insist that he install a brace?
> Does it need to be a permanent brace? I can't imagine how tying in PVC
> w/neoprene gaskets is going to support the weight of this stack. How
> does this work? Should I be worried -- or trust this guy (who has 40
> years of experience in this area, working on these types of homes)?
>
> Thanks for any guidance you can provide!

He is likely planning to support the stack but doesn't feel like it
should be necessary to explain or defend the way he does the job. I
often find it to be a waste of time to explain every move I make on a
job.

I will turn down a job if the customer acts like they want to be
involved in every detail or if they seem to think they are more
knowledgeable than I am. Here is what I say: "I don't want the
job". Then I leave without wasting any more of my time. This
happened to me recently.

Best to tell him you want it supported if you are worried but just say
it once and don't try to supervise this guy if you respect him.


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