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View Full Version : Adding shower stall in basement; new sewer line needed?


afc12
Nov 16, 2010, 03:59 PM
If someone could please help me with this question, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Background: house built in 1927, basement is a cement floor with a toilet & slop sink (washing machine drains into that).

We are renovating the entire basement and decided to add a shower stall exactly where the toilet is currently located and move the toilet where the slop sink is located. The washing machine will be moving to an entirely new location.

Our contractor currently has a TON of the basement floor (concrete) completely ripped up to the point where I can see the DIRT underneath the house. In the process of doing this he has now informed us that we "need to replace the sewage pipe" in our basement.

My question is: how can he tell that we need to replace the sewage pipe -- what is the telltale sign that alerted him to this? Do I need to bring in a different plumber to confirm this and to get an estimate? I would like to know that this is a legitimate problem that needs to be addressed and that we're not fixing something that ain't broke.

MANY THANKS IN ADVANCE.

ballengerb1
Nov 16, 2010, 04:28 PM
Many things would make me replace a sewer line starting with clay tile, incorrect slope, eblly, rust through, etc... What did he say

speedball1
Nov 17, 2010, 07:35 AM
how can he tell that we need to replace the sewage pipe -- what is the telltale sign that alerted him to this? You have cast iron for your inside drainage and unless cracks or rotted out pipe can be seen or he ran a sewer cam down the main I don't see how he could arrive at such a conclusion. This will be a major expense and worth calling in another plumber for a second opinion. Let me know what he finds, Good luck, nTom