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    Rickalo's Avatar
    Rickalo Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Jun 26, 2015, 10:11 AM
    Found unused floor drain... can I cement it in?
    I removed some old floor tiles on the basement floor (we bought this 1920's home in '96), and found a cement/plaster patch underneath the tiles). The cement/plaster was cracked and falling apart. I broke it all out, and found a floor drain... Funny part is that there was no opening to a drain... just a circular hole, with a rusted (what looks like) cap on the bottom of the hole, one drain tile which was filled with clay, and dry... my question is, can I fill this with cement and seal it off permanently? I have another floor drain, and a sump it in the basement.

    Since it was covered before (I didn't even know it existed), and not used for anything, I shouldn't have an issue with permanently sealing it off, should I?

    I have photos if anyone is interested..

    Thanks for any advice/help in advance!
    ballengerb1's Avatar
    ballengerb1 Posts: 27,378, Reputation: 2280
    Home Repair & Remodeling Expert
    		  
    #2

    Jun 26, 2015, 11:15 AM
    If you have not had any seepage issue since moving in it is likely OK to cement this over. I would not use actual cement or concrete, use thinset out of a bag.
    Rickalo's Avatar
    Rickalo Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #3

    Jun 26, 2015, 12:13 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by ballengerb1 View Post
    If you have not had any seepage issue since moving in it is likely OK to cement this over. I would not use actual cement or concrete, use thinset out of a bag.
    Thanks for the feedback.. since they had put a coating of some sort of material (cement/thinset/mortar) over the drain cover, and then put linoleum tiles over that I suspected it was no longer used... I am thinking it was a path for the water coming down one of the outdoor down spouts (they originally drained into tiles on the side of the house, but have been covered since we moved in), as the one drain tile heads in that general direction. They likely covered it over when they mno longer drained the gutters into those tiles...

    Wil the thinset bond to the old cement? I want to make sure I don't get any seepage from underneath our basement slab (we get some through cracks in the floor)... thanks!
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
    Senior Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Jun 26, 2015, 04:10 PM
    I would think hydraulic cement would be ideal here...
    Rickalo's Avatar
    Rickalo Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Jun 26, 2015, 05:33 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by massplumber2008 View Post
    I would think hydraulic cement would be ideal here...
    Thanks for the recommendation... I'll look for some of that
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