Are plumbers in Ireland able to cut out drywall in order to find a leak?

dgallagher_73 · 27-05-2021 06:22PM #1

If there's water stains on the ceiling of a house and I need to call a plumber to inspect it and fix a potential leaking pipe can the plumber cut out the ceiling drywall in order to fix the pipe and then repair it afterwards? Or would I have to call both a carpenter AND a plumber at the same time for this kind of job?

wiz569 · 27-05-2021 07:26PM

He can cut it out and fix the leak but you will need to get it repaired separately, usually.

27-05-2021 07:40PM

Agree above.

I'd imagine a plasterer would be required rather than a carpenter.

K.Flyer · 27-05-2021 11:26PM

I'm expertly skilled at making holes in plasterboard to get in at pipework

but I ain't tempted to put it back together again.
In saying that, I do mark it out and cut it as neatly as possible in order for whoever repairs it to be able to put the piece back into place.

dgallagher_73 · 28-05-2021 05:43AM

K.Flyer wrote: »

I'm expertly skilled at making holes in plasterboard to get in at pipework but I ain't tempted to put it back together again.
In saying that, I do mark it out and cut it as neatly as possible in order for whoever repairs it to be able to put the piece back into place.

Do you know how much approximately it would cost to repair the hole that was cut out from the drywall? Say if the hole was 30 inches by 30 inches?

dgallagher_73 · 28-05-2021 05:46AM

wiz569 wrote: »

He can cut it out and fix the leak but you will need to get it repaired separately, usually.

Is it possible that they could get access to the pipes from the attic instead of cutting a hole in the ceiling? So in other words they would go into the attic and cut a hole in the drywall that's underneath the rafters and get access to the pipes that way? So as to avoid any visible changes to the ceiling in the room?

kadman · 28-05-2021 07:24AM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Do you know how much approximately it would cost to repair the hole that was cut out from the drywall? Say if the hole was 30 inches by 30 inches?

Thats a fair size of a hole, that would need internal timber support,
if its not already there. Its not like just nailing up a bit of slabbing,
by the sounds of it.

A pic would give a better idea. Best case scenario for a hole that size
would be a H type timber construction, and then slab. Materials on site,
and easy access to the hole, I'd say 2 hours to a clean finish.

Pic please.

dgallagher_73 · 28-05-2021 09:07AM

kadman wrote: »

Thats a fair size of a hole, that would need internal timber support,
if its not already there. Its not like just nailing up a bit of slabbing,
by the sounds of it.

A pic would give a better idea. Best case scenario for a hole that size
would be a H type timber construction, and then slab. Materials on site,
and easy access to the hole, I'd say 2 hours to a clean finish.

Pic please.

My phone's camera is on the blink at the moment but it would be very similar to something that you see in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhfz2HNuL7s

Are we talking about 100's of Euros involved if I needed to hire a plasterer to do what is shown in the video?

wiz569 · 28-05-2021 11:10AM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Is it possible that they could get access to the pipes from the attic instead of cutting a hole in the ceiling? So in other words they would go into the attic and cut a hole in the drywall that's underneath the rafters and get access to the pipes that way? So as to avoid any visible changes to the ceiling in the room?

If the leak is coming from the attic above then it will be easier to fix from there.

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

My phone's camera is on the blink at the moment but it would be very similar to something that you see in this video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhfz2HNuL7s

Are we talking about 100's of Euros involved if I needed to hire a plasterer to do what is shown in the video?

You could easily fix that ceiling yourself its not hard just need to take your time, as for price for a plasterer then they would probably be requiring a days pay plus materials so approx €200 to €400 depending on whether its a cash job or through the books.

K.Flyer · 28-05-2021 11:17AM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Do you know how much approximately it would cost to repair the hole that was cut out from the drywall? Say if the hole was 30 inches by 30 inches?

Not a clue sorry.
As I said, I make the holes to get at the pipework, but that's it, it's up to the owner to rectify the ceiling or wall after that.
Usually a very competent handyman would be able to do it, might be too small a job for a pro plasterer to go to. Then you will have to paint it after the repair.
I would think a really good handyman would get it done for under a couple of hundred euro. But honestly no idea sorry.
Depending on what's needed to be done a 30cm X 30cm hole is not particularly big. You need space to work in, get tools into etc so I wouldn't say that it's huge in the scheme of things, we're plumbers, not gynaecologists

Edit: Sorry, just realized it was 30 inches by 30 inches, yeah that's pretty big alright. I've never had to make a opening that size.

wiz569 · 28-05-2021 11:18AM

K.Flyer wrote: »

Not a clue sorry.
we're plumbers, not gynaecologists

:D:pac:

dodzy · 28-05-2021 07:07PM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Do you know how much approximately it would cost to repair the hole that was cut out from the drywall? Say if the hole was 30 inches by 30 inches?

Surely you mixed up metric with imperial? 30cm ?

dgallagher_73 · 29-05-2021 09:01AM

dodzy wrote: »

Surely you mixed up metric with imperial? 30cm ?

Well actually I don't know to be honest. How does a plumber find out how much he needs to cut out to find a leak? How does he pinpoint where the leak is coming from in the first place?

dodzy · 29-05-2021 01:21PM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Well actually I don't know to be honest. How does a plumber find out how much he needs to cut out to find a leak? How does he pinpoint where the leak is coming from in the first place?

Small pilot hole(s) and inspection camera should avoid the need to cut a 3 ft sq hole in your ceiling

. If it’s the ceiling with the attic above, assuming no conversion, then any works can be done from the attic space, negating the need to make inspection cut outs.

dgallagher_73 · 30-05-2021 06:53PM

dodzy wrote: »

Small pilot hole(s) and inspection camera should avoid the need to cut a 3 ft sq hole in your ceiling . If it’s the ceiling with the attic above, assuming no conversion, then any works can be done from the attic space, negating the need to make inspection cut outs.

Are inspection cameras really that common amongst plumbers in general? I know nothing about plumbing but that sounds quite high tech.

tDw6u1bj · 30-05-2021 09:05PM

dgallagher_73 wrote: »

Are inspection cameras really that common amongst plumbers in general? I know nothing about plumbing but that sounds quite high tech.

High tech at some point, but now you can get them on special in Lidl.

Are plumbers in Ireland able to cut out drywall in order to find a leak?

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