Breaking Concrete Slab around Copper Pipe
The house has a concrete slab with two copper water pipes coming out of the concrete slab. Instead of just comming out of the concrete in a straight line and then elbowing over, they’re both greatly bent to reach another pipe that they connect to. The problem is that i want to install new laminate flooring in the room. If the pipes came straight out of the concrete, I could simply cut them a couple inches up, cut matching holes in the floor board, install the floor, and then add a coupling and solder the pipe back together. But since the pipes are bent, I cant. Note that the copper is not just bent to connect to another pipe, but the pipes themselves have been pinched by the concrete and are not even a perfect circle. How would I fix this? Would i have to break into the concrete all the way to get beneath it and resolder a new pipe straight up? Or is there an easier way?
Replies
You could drill holes (or cut) in the flooring, split the flooring at each hole and join around the pipe. Depending if you split the board lengthwise or across you’ll have to increase the hole size to make up the cut. Re-grooving and adding splines to the cut edge so it mates up will help to make it invisible.
Glue that board back together.
Ok thanks. I'm still hoping i can reroute the piping, but that should work if i cant.
Remember, if you split the board lengthwise and put it back together, it will be the saw kerf narrower than the others. If your flooring is going to end at a parallel wall, it might not make a difference.
If it would make a difference, then cross cut the board at the holes and reassemble.
remember the laminate wants to float, so you need to leave specified gap around the pipe (quarter inch or so) silicone sealant can help fill the gap.
Yes, exactly. Thanks for that tip!
since you have water pipes coming out, you can also consider making a box to hide them.
If you decide to break up the slab, you might want to move the pipes so they hide inside a wall.
Yes perfect place for a closet or built in. Can conceal the pipes.
Ok, so if I do break up the slab, do I have to go all the way the down... basically below the slab to work on the pipe? Or can I somehow dig into the slab an inch or two, chip out the cement around the pipe, and then connect a coupling to a new pipe where I can reroute straight up? Sorry if this is a stupid question. Im not sure if there is some sort of way to do that.
nake section round and straight with flare tool anvil.
So, you are going to make a bent distorted pc of soft copper that fits a coupling?