Finishing Basement: What to do with bathroom rough-in?

[rob]

When I bought a new home, I asked the builder to rough-in a bathroom in the basement.

We never really wanted the bathroom but figured that the best time to put it in would be when the foundation was pored. The rough-in looks like 3 pipes sticking up out of the foundation.

Well, now I'm finishing the basement and we don't want to build the bathroom down there. We'd rather have the living space. Plus, I'm thinking that I'd like to lay the carpet right on the cement.

Any ideas what to do with the rough-in pipes?

[lovey]

the pipes are abs so all you need to do is break up the flloor and put abs pressure caps on them below the floor level,you can get them at any hardware store but glue them on with abs glue

[rob]

Thanks for the tip Canyonor.

I've thought about that and I'm not too crazy about breaking up the floor - I'm guessing I'd need to rent one of the small jack-hammers and dig around the 3 pipes until there was enough cleared away for me to place (and glue) the caps down. I'd think that after that's done, I'd also have to backfill with some mixed concrete so that there wasn't a noticeable bump in the floor after I was done?

Also, I'm trying to think about the next folks who buy this place too. If they'd like to put in a bathroom, would gluing the pressure caps down force them to dig further into the concrete to join longer pipes on?

[Number6]

If the pipes are close to a wall, either interior or exterior you can simply frame the pipes in, kind of like a T intersection or I guess more like this looking down at the wall __________I I_________.

[SPARKY]

If the new owners decide to put one in, ya they will have to dig a little deeper not much an inch or two just enough to cut the pipe and glue on couplers.
Also wet the existing concrete in the hole with water or a concrete bonder before you backfill it in with the pre-mix for a stronger bond.

[Lesster]

If it is close enough to a wall - look at future furniture arrangement and perhaps build a cabinet in that location. Even just a console type table and place the "leg" on one side where the pipes (capped) are. It could even be a book case with mouldings bulking up the frame but actually hiding the pipes on one side. A "Sono tube" makes a great pillar to hold a plant or be the base of something, also.

[rob]

perhaps build a cabinet in that location. That's good thinking. It could work for 2 of the 3 pipes.

So maybe I'll build a cabinet over 2 and then just have to dig down and cap one.

[Bogie]

That's good thinking. It could work for 2 of the 3 pipes.

So maybe I'll build a cabinet over 2 and then just have to dig down and cap one.That is the best idea. Done that before and later changed our minds and put in a "powder room" in another house we had. If the basement is being used as a rec room then you would find the powder room handy - especially when you have guests.

We put in a full bathroom in our basement (shower, not tub), access by pocket door, along with an adjoining bedroom (ensuite). The other half of our basement is my home office.

Jack hammering the floor you don't want to do. Really messy job, puts concrete dust through the whole house (been there, done that), and, as you stated, if you sell the new owners may want a washroom.

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[rob]

Jack hammering the floor you don't want to do. Really messy job, puts concrete dust through the whole house (been there, done that), and, as you stated, if you sell the new owners may want a washroom. Yeah, I like the idea of building a cabinet. Heck, I might even do a wet bar.

But I'll have to remove one of the 3 pipes. It's out in the middle of the floor and looks like it was meant for the sink.

Any other ideas on how to get rid of the one last pipe? Do I have to jackhammer and cap? Is there any other way anyone else can think of?

Thanks for all the help everyone.

[Bogie]

But I'll have to remove one of the 3 pipes. It's out in the middle of the floor and looks like it was meant for the sink.Drain pipe or copper water lines?

If just a drain pipe, you don't need a jackhammer and can most likely chip away with a concrete chisel. Cap it as close to floor level as possible, fill open space with a non-concrete filler, smooth it all out and cover with the carpet. That way new owners won't be cursing you too much if they need to access it to complete.
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[rob]

Drain pipe or copper water lines?

If just a drain pipe, you don't need a jackhammer and can most likely chip away with a concrete chisel. Cap it as close to floor level as possible, fill open space with a non-concrete filler, smooth it all out and cover with the carpet. That way new owners won't be cursing you too much if they need to access it to complete. I like the way you're talkin' Bogie, thanks :)

All 3 pipes are black PVC drain pipes. Shower, Toilet, and the pesky middle of the floor sink. It would be a nice bathroom layout if we wanted to keep it.

I'll give the old chisel and hammer a try - I didn't think of that - thanks. Maybe if I bang on the pvc pipe a bit and losen the concrete while chipping away at it, I'll have some luck.



There isn't some sort of "inside cap" is there? Could I cut the pipe and sand it level with the concrete and then stuff something down there that could be later removed (again for the new owners)?

[gollychuck]

The plumming is where it will be needed when the time comes,box it in and cover it over for now, A bathroom on all levels are needed in your old age, for you or some one.

[rob]

The plumming is where it will be needed when the time comes,box it in and cover it over for now, A bathroom on all levels are needed in your old age, for you or some one. Well, yeah... that's the big reason I had the builder put it in when the house was built - I figured it was easier to do then.

But now, I'm trying to open up some living space and one of the pipes is getting in the way. I'm trying to figure out the best / easiest way to remove the pipe so that I can carpert over it.

[Thaiwoo]

Why not lay the wooden insulator tiles with rubber on bottom? Would give you another 3/4" height that you could cut and cap the pipes. Also give you some insulation and if you had a small water leak it wouldn't get your carpet wet.

[gollychuck]

[

But now, I'm trying to open up some living space and one of the pipes is getting in the way. I'm trying to figure out the best / easiest way to remove the pipe so that I can carpert over it.[/QUOTE]

I think you will find also that your clean out is near there as well you will one day need acsess to that.Maybe but its your desision/

[rob]

I think you will find also that your clean out is near there as well you will one day need acsess to that.Maybe but its your desision/ The builder was thinking ahead for me with the clean out - they framed it conviniently into a wall that is shared with the laundry room. Since I'm not finishing the laundry room, the clean out will be all clea.


Why not lay the wooden insulator tiles with rubber on bottom? Would give you another 3/4" height that you could cut and cap the pipes. Also give you some insulation and if you had a small water leak it wouldn't get your carpet wet. Just today, I was looking at that stuff. It's pretty expensive. Doesn't seem like a bad idea, but the only reason I'd be laying it is becuase of this one pipe and I can't seem to justify the cost.

[SPARKY]

You could extend the pipe up to the cieling with a 3" or 4" ABS pipe, paint it or whatever, it will look like a support beam that some basments have, a little ugly and inconvinent, but that's all I can think right now of without digging up part of the floor.

[rileydog]

you mentioned a wet bar...maybe raise the floor a few inches in the wet bar area..ie. a step up to the wet bar...

or some people have their floor raise in areas to accomadate home theatre seating..

or , depending how far the nasty pipe is from the wall, you cou raise the floor a step all the way around the room , to give the sunken room affect


ps...I wish i had your problem...my builder never bother to rough in... now i plan on putting a bathroom in...not looking forward to that.

[Mouse]

An excellent suggestion. That way a workable part of the offending pipe would still be above the concrete floor.

Without a picture of the 3 pipes, in relation to the space, it's hard to give further opinions.

[freddy here]

It's been over two and a half month now...

How did you solve the problem ????????

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[rob]

Thanks for the interest. I'm planning on posting a big batch of pictures as soon as it's complete. I'll show photos from each step of the build.

For this particular problem, I purchased kitchen cabinets, countertop, sink and upper cabinets from Rona. I cut holes in the bottom of the cabinets where the pipes stuck up from and built the whole thing into a small wet bar complete with storage and a mini-fridge.

Didn't turn out too bad. But I'll post some pics soon and get everyone's opinion of stuff.