[Marqed97]

Well, it's not fully DIY but the plumber is allowing me to help with all the demo work and stuff to reduce the bill, and I'll be reconstructing the bathroom and kitchen when he's done. So it's partial DIY. The cast stack was paper thin in many spots with what the plumber called 'terrible, awful back slope' on the 4' horizontal run to the toilet. So out it all comes. Yay! Here's some pics, more soon...

 

[joecaption]

Looks like any old house I've ever worked on.
Hope you have deep pockets.
Only thing that works in an old house is the owner.

 

[Marqed97]

Looks like any old house I've ever worked on.
Hope you have deep pockets.
Only thing that works in an old house is the owner.

One chunk at a time. So far so good. This is last years project finally coming to fruition. I went with a local plumber that does lots of side work... I got lucky as he's totally legit, licensed, bonded, insured, pulled permits, etc, and was here in 2 days.

 

[joecaption]

Make sure he gets rid of any of the old steel supply lines if there are any. There going to be just as bad.
Add fire blocking at the top and bottom of the walls, air seal where the lines are run.

 

[jagans]

Wears me out just lookin at it. All you buy when you buy one of these old houses is food for the landfill and work.

 

[Marqed97]

Make sure he gets rid of any of the old steel supply lines if there are any. There going to be just as bad.
Add fire blocking at the top and bottom of the walls, air seal where the lines are run.

Oh yes. Going with pex for the basement to bathroom run, and pex in the wall to all the fixtures. Also adding venting for the tub and sink as there was none (no surprise as house was built in 1914). Replacing the cast stack down to the basement floor. Leaving the cast vent up thru the roof as it would require 2 days worth of demo to access it and we don't see any issues with it. The only rotten parts were the horizontal runs. But all the rest of it is already gone, he set the new toilet flange, and capped everything so we still have water for our basement bathroom til he comes back to finish tomorrow.

 

[danpik]

I'm impressed. The original plumber did not cut the floor joist completly thru. Whenever I open up something like that I usually have to fix the floor joists as well.

Got to love old cast...full face shield, 2 lb hammer and a lot of swinging

 

[Marqed97]

I'm impressed. The original plumber did not cut the floor joist completly thru. Whenever I open up something like that I usually have to fix the floor joists as well.

Got to love old cast...full face shield, 2 lb hammer and a lot of swinging

Exactly! He burned up quite a few carbide blades in a tight spot where the snapper wouldn't fit.

I'm actually heading out to the garage right now to cut and drill some thick steel U-channel to reinforce that joist. He had mentioned it would be a good idea.

This plumber was referred to me by my fiancées mom (it's her friend's son). Normally I'm leery of that kind of referral but so far so good. He showed up right on time, has tried hard to keep the place clean, took me on as a helper, and puts up with my constant questions. And he's coming to finish on a Saturday! His estimate was really clear and specific too. Kinda surprising.

He's also going to put a small radiator back in service in the bathroom. It was removed and the lines capped years ago.

Now to clean up a bit for the night and call the dumpster company...lotsa plaster, tile, cement board, and all that to get tossed.