This is not all plaster, some is diatomaceous earth because I live in the south- and cockroaches don't like DE.
Fill/cover pipe hole in old wood floor
by
Tera
+6
I've got an old pipe running through my closet/secret passage(yes, a secret passage with a revolving wall from I can only assume the late 1920s!)- it was cut off from the roof in the past and serves no purpose currently. I have a ton of damage to the plaster around it from water (first step, roof replacement) but once the roof is replaced I plan to remove the pipe and put up a layer of drywall over the damaged plaster. At the base, the pipe comes up through my nice hardwood floors... It's probably about 3" in diameter. How do I fix/patch/replace that hole? Am I crazy? Should I leave the pipe?
The ceiling- not super easy to make drywall fit around it, plus- why must I have this useless pipe?
Hopefully I'll build a library here that makes it even more "Clue" like
You need to know where it comes from. It could be an air vent from a fixture. Could be from sink or drain down below. You need air vent or vents so water can flow out of a sink or tub . If you cut it off you may get bad stink coming out of it depending on the fixture.
You want to know what the pipe is for before thinking about getting rid of it.
While I get is useless and you have definitely ascertained that it serves no specific purpose, yes, you can get rid of it. You can get a plug cut of similar type wood to fill the hole.
Or leave it, repair everything and caulk it off so you do not get any bug type intruders. I like quirky things like this in old houses and would leave it and embrace it. Even highlight it in future design of the area.
If you do decide to remove it, hang onto it and we can come up with a way to repurpose it in some way, maybe for your garden. Gotta love vintage houses! Always fun little surprises. 🌞
If you don't need the pipe cut the pipe get rid of it. Get a bottle of foam the kind that dries and expands they also have the kind at Home Depot that insects do not like even cockroaches tape the hole on the ceiling. Put foam in the hole let it expand and dry. Cut it once it's dry on the floor nice and even to the floor. Add shellac and let it dry your hole is covered. On the ceiling get some sand paper make it even paint over it no more hole. Repeat for every floor you have. Inexpensive whole is is covered like if it wasn't there pipe is gone and you have those extra inches to do whatever you want with. Oh and cockroaches don't like that type of foam.
Check YouTube for possible solution(s): https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fill+hole+in+wood+floor
Once you remove the pipe, measure the diameter of the hole. Find a wooden dowel the same size, cut a slice and gently tap it into the hole. I would also add some wood glue around the edge of the slice.
BTW...I'm very jealous of your secret passageway, Tera!
Thank you guys for all the great advice! I greatly appreciate it! And we totally bought the house the same day that my husband jokingly said (after 3 days of intense house hunting and flying back the next day) " if we don't find something amazing, I don't want to buy- I want a secret passage or a beer and wine cellar or" ...etc ad nauseum. Next house we found. Secret passage, rounded door and roof, rock chimney and amazing fireplace... Of course, the kitchen and bathrooms were horror shows, the roof we were told was fixed (lies! Although even big box stores and mega chains have buckets under their roof leaks here) And it turns out the whole neighborhoods basement floods when there's 3+ inches of rain in a day (actually happens quite often)... why build a basement in the swamp?
Anyway, thank you all so much!! I'm trying to take pictures along the way, just need to get the time to post our remodels so I can share.
Cut out the pipe, sounds like you are pretty sure it has no purpose. Fill the wood floor with a piece of wood and wood filler and patch the ceiling with plaster repair, or do drywall or do what we have done and use bead board on the ceiling.