Replies

1. 
   aimless | Feb 05, 2004 07:07pm | #1

   I'm just a homeowner, so take what I say with several grains of salt. Your situation makes me think of 2 things right off. First, are you SURE you don't need a floor drain? They don't usually spend the extra money to put those things in unless there is a potential water source either coming up from the ground or flooding from an appliance. Secondly, if you want to cover it over, I'd think that you need to take it out of service completely. In my limited experience with floor drains they need to be kept wet (gallon of water, preferably chlorinated, periodically) to keep from smelling. If you just cover it over it is gonna smell eventually, and I don't think you want sewer gases in your recently finished room. So you might think about designing in a way to maintain the drain (a bookcase that hides the drain and allows you to dump the water down it?) or take it out of service properly. Then, since you probably have a water problem that you aren't aware of, I'd suggest using a product like delta-fl between your floor and the concrete. This product can be easily levelled, and it will allow water a place to go (like into the drain, where it belongs).

2. 
   YesMaam27577 | Feb 05, 2004 07:36pm | #2

   Don't fill the drain with self leveling concrete, until you are absolutely certain where it flows to. SLC can be fluid enough that it will fill the drain, and the pipes.

   If the drain is connected to your sanitary sewer/septic system, that would be a big problem. If it is connected to a cistern that is no longer in use, then have at it.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
3. 
   ahneedhelp | Feb 05, 2004 07:54pm | #3

   I would keep the floor drain.

   It will be missed after it's gone.

   Especially if this is the only floor drain in your basement.

   Are there any other plumbing fixture drains in the basement ?

   The floor drain may tie into those.

1. 
   SteveC | Feb 05, 2004 09:44pm | #4

   I agree that making a permanent alteration is NOT preferrable. I just wonder if covering it up will be enough. The house was built in 1947, and there is the main waste pipe in the corner of the basement. It has a joint below the level of the basement that is covered by a metal plate. I assume this joint leads to the cesspool. I have never smelled any gasses from the drain, and no water has been down it since I moved in over 2 years ago. I'm stumped how to make a nice flat floor for the Pergo.....

   Steve

1. 
   ahneedhelp | Feb 05, 2004 10:40pm | #5

   The drain you want to cover may be 'trapped' downstream, which may explain not getting any odor.

   Anyhoo...I always give myself a cool-off period after getting fired up about a project such as what you want to do.

   There has been many occasions when alternatives came along or the idea was downright scrapped for various reasons.

   Our finished basement has two floor drains, which both ended up gatting walled up into the utility room.

   One is right behind the partition wall between the utility and family room, in a corner wall.

   The other one is in front of the boiler.

   Both have floor tiles (the old 9" square type) surrounding them.

   The floor is sloped around the drains, but the drains are not in any traffic area.

   One thing you may want to consider is maybe build a closet around the drain.

   Instead of Pergo, consider vinyl composite tiles (VCT) for the basement, especially if your laundry is done in the basement and there is a separate basement entry.

   (We own two homes side-by-side, and both have floor drains in the utility/laundry rooms.)