Removing Cast Iron Vent

[Tom Raymond]

You tellin' me that you guy's have never suddenly had to go really bad while on a steep roof.

It's kind of like peeing in the shower-- it all goes to the same place.

Was it on this forum that, many years ago, a woman wrote to complain about a home inspector peeing in the roof? She even had a picture of him that looks like it was taken from across the street.

Walter Jowers had the best comment. He asked if she was offended by the urine on the roof or by the sight of a man's penis from 60 yards away.

Does anyone else remember this or am I hallucinating?

Oh if that is from here someone has to go and look for it.[]

Tom

[Mark P]

You tellin' me that you guy's have never suddenly had to go really bad while on a steep roof.

It's kind of like peeing in the shower-- it all goes to the same place.

On your Feet or on your wifes feet?

[Mike Lamb]

I don't think patching or taping this is a good idea. The crack and rusting is very nearly a large hole in the pipe. A new roof cover is going to be put on when the weather softens so now is the time to do it IMO. As far as reward is concerned, I'm getting paid.

Yes, the pipe is heavy. 25 pounds on the nosy. 4 x 5 x 30".

Since we are in the plumbing section, pee seems a minor and natural thread drift. I'm looking at a lot of houses these days that have no running water and since I drink a lot of coffee, well, I've been going in hopefully discreet places. The police have not been called yet. I've gone in the back of the house, the side of the house, in bushes, and on roofs. But only flat roofs. Never on my shoes.

[Les]

Mike,

I know you can work up a good cartoon from this thread!!

[Jim Katen]

. . . Since we are in the plumbing section, pee seems a minor and natural thread drift. I'm looking at a lot of houses these days that have no running water and since I drink a lot of coffee, well, I've been going in hopefully discreet places. The police have not been called yet. I've gone in the back of the house, the side of the house, in bushes, and on roofs. But only flat roofs. Never on my shoes.

Well, then you should watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBdymtyXt8Y

- Jim Katen, Oregon

[John Kogel]

I don't think patching or taping this is a good idea. The crack and rusting is very nearly a large hole in the pipe. A new roof cover is going to be put on when the weather softens so now is the time to do it IMO. As far as reward is concerned, I'm getting paid.

Yes, the pipe is heavy. 25 pounds on the nosy. 4 x 5 x 30".

Since we are in the plumbing section, pee seems a minor and natural thread drift. I'm looking at a lot of houses these days that have no running water and since I drink a lot of coffee, well, I've been going in hopefully discreet places. The police have not been called yet. I've gone in the back of the house, the side of the house, in bushes, and on roofs. But only flat roofs. Never on my shoes.

The only thought I can add to this: Tie it up to a rafter first.

The pipe, I mean. []

Before you cut it. []

If you take an angle grinder up there, bring a spark shield, cardboard at least. And a jug of water.

[Marc]

I didn't think of it until now but a reason to not delay the repair of that vent stack is that it rains into that pipe with each rainfall. Tape might not serve very well.

Marc

[kurt]

OK, I'll be the sleaze......

I'd clean the crack, acetone it, and pack it with epoxy & cabosil fiber. Run a little glass tape over it when I was done packing, smooth it out, go have a refreshing beverage.

Someday when the roof was replaced, I'd yank it and do it right.

[Bain]

OK, I'll be the sleaze......

I'd clean the crack, acetone it, and pack it with epoxy & cabosil fiber. Run a little glass tape over it when I was done packing, smooth it out, go have a refreshing beverage.

Someday when the roof was replaced, I'd yank it and do it right.

Spoken like a true older-house guy. I have five or six projects in my ninety-year-old bungalow that'll get done right over the next year or two when I find the time.

That pipe shouldn't be replaced until access to the roof is possible.

[mgbinspect]

There ya go, Kurt. That was more my thinking too - something substantial (although I didn't know quite what), but short of replacement until such time as it makes more sense.

A man after my own heart.

It's hardly sleazy. it's just plain sensible in this case.

[mgbinspect]

Marc,

Rainwater entering the vent pipe is pretty much a non-event, when you consider how may drops actually fall cleanly within the 4" diameter circle.

To put that concern in perspective, I inspected a 10 year old home where the builder forgot to install the continuous ridge vent. It had a 45 foot long 3" opening to the sky for ten years. Apparently they had cut through the cap shingles so it was not even noticeable from the ground.

In spite of this gaping hole, the only telltale sign or affect was a slightly grayed 18" stripe down the length of the attic on the insulation and ceiling framing - no interior stains or fungal growth whatsoever. That was it. Of course, being at the peak, water runoff wasn't a factor at all. Drops literally had to fall through the opening to enter the attic. It was an interesting observation. I would have expected far greater consequences, had I not actually seen the end result for myself.

[Tom Raymond]

The only problem I see with Kurt's fix is that it will likely become permanent, the roofer will have no way of knowing that length of pipe needs replacing. That said, I like the epoxy putty and glass patch, with thorough prep it might even hold under far wetter service conditions. Nothing sleazy about a temporary fix that will has the potential to function indefinately, around here I would expect to see 3-5 inappropriate materials secured over that crack with everything from duck tape to zipties and hoseclamps.

Taken a bit further, Kurt's approach might actually be a satisfactory permanent repair. If the entire length and circumference of the broken pipe section were prepped and wrapped in glass, and then while still wet wrapped in heavy cling wrap to evenly distribute the epoxy and ensure a thorough wet out, where exactly would it go? It only supports it's own weight, and with it's new composite skin would be at least as strong as anything you might replace it with, except maybe a new piece of iron. Polyester or vinylester resins would work just as well and be cheaper and easier to get, too. Ofcourse if there are more sections of iron above this one then it should be replaced.

Tom

[John Kogel]

a reason to not delay the repair of that vent stack is that it rains into that pipe with each rainfall.

It needs a new stack, but that means a new thimble (roof jack) and that means fix the hole in the spring. []

This 8" pipe made a big puddle on the floor today, but it was a big rain , too. []

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[Mike Lamb]

Mike,

I know you can work up a good cartoon from this thread!!

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[Ben H]

I tried a few years ago to cut out a cast vent pipe with a saw-zall. Kinda like trying to kill a grizzly bear with a bb gun.....Went and got one of those ratching chain cutters, had it in two in less than 5 min. Worked like a charm.

However, for a winter fix, drop by HD and get a small jug of Fiberglass resin, and the woven matt. Cut the matt in 4" strips, duct tape the top of it to the pipe and let it hand down. Brush a little resin on the pipe ( to make it sticky) lay a 3-4 layers of the matt. Depending on temp, it might take a day or two to set. But when it does, it's never comming off.

[Mike Lamb]

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Mission accomplished. Good day today. 40F. Very light, misty Irish rain. Damn near balmy.

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I removed the old packing at the joint and pulled the mofo out through the roof.

I thank everyone for your comments.

[Chad Fabry]

Took far longer to discuss it than to repair it.

[Terence McCann]

Took far longer to discuss it than to repair it.

How many HI does it take to change a light bulb.

[Jim Katen]

How many HI does it take to change a light bulb.

Only one: We recommend that you have the light bulb evaluated by a light bulb specialist.

How many realtors does it take to screw in a light bulb?

I don't know, but on a clear day, you can see Mount Hood through this window and these are real oak floors. The countertops are granite and the home was built by the builder for his own family.