Soil pipe query

jack24

Hi,

Wondering if anyone can assist me. Have the builders in working on an extension to the rear of my house (foundations dug out). The old soil pipe (clay) runs under the length of the extension (house about 30yrs old). We are unsure as to whether to replace the clay pipe with a plastic pipe or leave well enough alone. There is a concrete path laid over the soil pipe which would need to be dug up. The 'leaving well enough alone' route worries me slightly in that after the concrete slab is poured for the floor of the extension and wood floors/kitchen put in etc, should the clay pipe collapse we would probably have to pull the whole floor up to fix the problem. Can anyone give a view on this?

Thanks

CJhaughey

Personally I would replace it if you are able too.
Plastic pipes also don;t have as many problems with cracking and roots growing through.
It isn't a big job and If you are pouring a slab you would be as well to dig the founds properly instead of pouring over a path.

Rusty Knight

Jack,

Replace the pipe! It has been my experience that clay pipes may look fine and appear sturdy, but they cannot cope with much shifting or settling, which you are bound to have after the foundation has been poured, and walls have been built.

'Leaving well enough alone' is head in the sand stuff, in my opinion. You are right to be cautious.

Dig it up and be done with it!

rooferPete

Hi Jack,

Under the old rules (building bye laws) you would have to ensure the main soil pipe (drains) were either bridged by using a concrete lintle over the pipe making sure no weight could be applied to pipe due to building settlement.

Where you have the room it was necessary to re-route the drains around the building using manholes (access chambers) instead of leaving them under the building.

The old rules made sense, I would suggest that you fit a Wavin A.J. at both ends of the pipe, which you will replace with Wavin as suggested and try to keep any excess weight off the drains.

.

jack24

Thanks lads,

Spoke to builder and am now the proud owner of a new (plastic) soil pipe! Thanks for the advice,

Jack