Soil Pipe

[Dr Wu]

My 4" soil pipe (circa1928) has almost given up the ghost and needs replacing. Easy enough, but itdisappears down into a concrete slab. What is the best way to cut the cast iron off above ground without cracking it ?i BTW is there an adapter that will go from the stub end to new plastic available on the market. Obviously not the sort of job you would want to start without being able to finish quickly so any ideas very welcome. Mark

[andrewpreece]

I'd use an angle grinderwith a metal-cutting disc. You will find adapters, there is certainly a rubber adapter with jubilee straps on each end that will work. There are other adapters that would do, if cemented into position.

I am thinking of the clay-pipe-to-plastic adapter for instance. Although you are not using clay pipe, it has an internal 4" bore, and the plastic adapter I mentioned has a flanged end that will sit on top of your cut off cast iron soil pipe. If you are at ground level a bit of concrete will seal the two together*. The other end is a slide on o-ring fit to the plastic down- pipe. Try B&Q, or your local builders' merchants.

Remember that what you buy not only has to fit, but you have to be able to get it on both pipes, so if the gap between the two pipes is small, that may make things difficult.

*Dunno what the regs are: no-one is likely to inspect it are they though!

Andy