Hi,
I removed my toilet today, as part of remodeling the bathroom. The flange was damaged, but it was also seemingly a part of the pipe underneath. I managed to mangle the pipe in removing the flange. I got under the house and the pipe is connected directly to the cast iron, but is not cast iron itself, I believe it is steel. I also isn't perfectly cylindrical, it almost has a bulge to it. The house was built in 1941 by the way.

So my issue is, should I cut the steel pipe (not much room with a joist in the way, but I think I can do it with a sawzall) and use a band clamp to connect PVC to it, for a new flange? The only other option I can thing of is to cut out the y joint underneath the pipe and change that to PVC, but that seems more difficult still.

Thanks. Jim S.

Hi Jim,

I never saw a steel closet bend. Why don't you take a closer look and see if it isn't copper or brass.
But anyhow I would cut it out and convert to PVC. Use a Fernco Shielded Coupling,(see image) to couple the PVC to the cast iron. Good luck Tom

May even be a old lead bend and flange, they do sell new lead flanges that can be attached to the old one but I don't think that's for the do it yourself person

The metal actually has a bit of shine to it and is relatively thin and easily bent. I guess that is why I think it's not cast iron. Maybe it is lead. Perhaps I would be best off in this case hiring out the job. I'm doing the rest of the bathroom myself, but if the pipe is not iron, then I'm thinking I may get in over my head.

The metal actually has a bit of shine to it and is relatively thin and easily bent. I guess that is why I think it's not cast iron. Maybe it is lead. Perhaps I would be best off in this case hiring out the job. I'm doing the rest of the bathroom myself, but if the pipe is not iron, then I'm thinking I may get in over my head.

Sounds like lead to me.

You really are better off hiring something like this out.