Filling a big gap in foundation
There a couple spots in my basement where plumbers have created big gaps in the foundation when they put some pipes through to the outside, as illustrated in the photo. I’d like to plug these up if only for insulation purposes, but haven’t a clue what to do. Suggestions?
There a couple spots in my basement where plumbers have created big gaps in the foundation when they put some pipes through to the outside, as illustrated in the photo. I’d like to plug these up if only for insulation purposes, but haven’t a clue what to do. Suggestions?
I think I got it now.
You don’t want to permanently seal (cement) the area, so you should possibly spray expanding foam into the harder to reach voids, and then a cutoff batt of insulation. This will stop air infiltration.
Cover with 5/8″ drywall.
More importantly I do not like the other pipe of undetermined purpose. Over time additions are made to plumbing systems but the mechanics almost always do not consider the bigger picture, leaving wasteful and convoluted messes. I have always felt it better to eliminate unnecessary piping now when you choose, rather than later when it fails, and it is an emergency.
Because you don’t need the work done, you should receive attractive pricing to remove. If not, get a mechanic who agrees.
Sorry if the picture is confusing. The pipe going out is a gas pipe feeding my outdoor grill, so the gap is at the top of the foundation wall, (even if you think that doesn’t look like foundation). This is right under the kitchen extension, which is now heated by radiant heating and not via that hot water pipe, so I thought that pipe was out of commission. However, when I was up there trying to take another picture, I discovered that it is in fact still carrying hot water, so I guess when they removed the radiators they just kept the water circulating. (I have corrected the extension cord situation). The gas pipe runs about an inch above the hot water pipe) I don’t think that electrical conduit is hooked up to anything, actually. And, yes, there is a floor joist up there, since it is under the kitchen floor.
Instead of drilling through, I think the plumber just removed some of the stones from the foundation (I’m not sure — can you drill through a stone foundation?), which he did in another place also.
All this work was done a few years ago during a renovation that gave me PTSD, much of it plumbing-related! Anyway, if anyone has any ideas please share!
Why don’t you take another pic looking directly into the hole. It looks like way too big of a hole to be though a foundation. When I did my new water main, they drilled a hole just a bit larger than the pipe and patched it with non-shrink grout.
Nope,
Bond your assessment of the picture is identical to mine. It doesn’t look like a foundation, and that’s a big union like on a steam pipe??
It’s hard to be sure from the photo, but that picture looks like it’s not a foundation, if it is, where is that pipe going? It looks like it dives down. It also looks like there’s some kind of beam or joist on the far side of the hole? I ask because you don’t want to pour any type of cement based filler up against that, you’ll create a situation where you rot the beam out in no time at all. You don’t want to cement right up against that if it’s going through the outside wall, it should have been sleeved. Also of concern is that exposed wire. If that’s a heating pipe, then I’d be concerned with what looks like an extension cord draped over it. The whole picture along with your explanation is sort of confusing to me, but maybe it makes perfect sense to someone else.