[themadhatter106]

So I have a stack going through a bedroom and I am entertaining the idea of framing around the stack and covering it with drywall. Rather than pulling down the plaster, re-plumbing the stack behind the wall and building the wall out. One issue is that I would ideally like to make the frame smaller than a stud width but would it be secure enough to not have cracking at the seams?

I have a stud just to the right of the stack and then another stud 16" to the left of that stud. Would my framing have to tie into the wall studs to be secure enough? Given I can tie into at least one joist up high and down low.

 

[Nealtw]

Screw or anchor a 2x2 on each side f the pipe, make sure with a level that both are plumb.
Screw a 2x6 to he outside of each and drywall it.

 

[ron45]

I used to build a box around it and drywall
But if there was a problem it could cause an even bigger problem.

What about building a closet around it, 2' Deep x 4' Long.?

Of course I would scrape and paint it first.

 

[huesmann]

It sure looks like it was boxed before. The paint behind it is different, and you can see the remains of the box on the ceiling.

What's the narrow vertical thing to the right, and the dark thing to the left near the ceiling that looks like it has a piece of 14g romex going across it?

 

[themadhatter106]

I could certainly screw a 2x2 into the stud on one size and the lath on the other side building a box that would tie into a ceiling joist and the floor as well.

Yes I was thinking about definitely at least scraping it and giving it a coat of rustoleum. I was even considering replacing this run with PVC. The cast iron has been partially replaced in the basement already but I'm not sure if what ever rubber boot I wind up enclosing in the wall would be less reliable than just leaving it all alone entirely. I'm not ready to rip up the second floor and replace all the cast iron just yet but I do want to eventually. Think I should just replace the run with PVC as far as I can?

It sure looks like it was boxed before. The paint behind it is different, and you can see the remains of the box on the ceiling.

What's the narrow vertical thing to the right, and the dark thing to the left near the ceiling that looks like it has a piece of 14g romex going across it?

It was boxed before. It was boxed in with wood and the wood covered with wooden paneling.

The thing to the right is a 3/8 copper hot water line. I'm planning on replumbing it with pex and moving it to the left, it's not secure at all and could easily be broken. That thing near the ceiling is part of the drop ceiling, it's now completely gone.

 

[huesmann]

Was the wire also part of the drop ceiling?

 

[themadhatter106]

Yes, it's smoke detector wiring that's going to be moved into the ceiling.

 

[themadhatter106]

What about building a closet around it, 2' Deep x 4' Long.?

If I did do that then I would definitely have to seal up the ceiling somehow otherwise mice will love that easy path down. I think I will repumb the exposed stack with PVC (possibly even up through the second floor depending on when the tenants leave. Then I'll seal it up in this room on the first floor with a minimally sized box. Eventually when I see water appearing in the basement hopefully It's from the not-renovated second floor because the first floor has been completely renovated and re plumbed with PVC.

 

[NeoHawk]

Check a big box store online for a pre-made piece that could be cut to length to serve as a cover. It might be plastic, so figure out how to paint to match the room. Might be easier to open up if access to stack ever needed. And save documentation of what you did there - I keep a 3-ring binder of everything in the house, and of any modifications. It helped me get a better price while selling a house a few years back!