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Thought so. Thanks for the reply. Getting a treated 7x2 to replace. Got a tin of the stuff to treat the sawn ends too. You've ruled out the hangers, because of the limited strength of the bricks and mortar?

Hi, Got rotten joists to replace in an 1890 cellar. Looks like the ends have fallen foul of the usual wet rot (they are embedded in the external walls, with only half a brick protection from the elements). I can see that almost all the others have already been replaced for likely this same...

Interesting link. But which thickness needs to be complied with? Thanks.

If the drain were leaking, wouldn't the cellar stink? It's a combined soil/surface drain and the point in the picture is downstream of the soil stack. After extensive reading on here, I have been doing all work with lime mortar only (no cement). I presume that the use of no cement at all is...

This is the only part of the drainage system I've dug up. No obvious manhole or the like anywhere. Two grids and this thing are the only points above ground. The side alley has been cemented over and the front has been flagged, so perhaps they buried a manhole cover. Sewer is under street at...

Ah ok. That makes sense. I was thinking that an expensive plug is not worth it. After 121yrs a blockage here has not been a problem? Though I expect the 121yrs for you makes no difference; it could still block tomorrow :) Leaving a possible rod point seems a worthwhile idea though. So these...

I got some of that, but you're gonna have to provide a translation for me to understand your thoughts completely :) Forgive a beginner in these matters.

You've seen the pointing? :( Can't fix that without removing the thing. Then is it really worth refitting? I've been drawn to this area, because it's causing a damp patch in the corner of the cellar room about 4ft below that picture. I hosed the mud off the collar in the pic today to get a...

These seals/bungs that you are both referring to. Are they large enough to seal the collar of that socket or just the actual pipe size below it? The screwfix linked Bailey Test Plugs, seem more like something that would be used temporarily? I also don't see the need to spend £8 just to seal an...

Isn't that the undamaged connection that I've exposed? Thought the joint would need breaking at the top of the larger diameter cup socket in the picture? Got a link for the device you mean? Again, do you have a link for what you describe? Thanks for your help.

I was wondering the best way to remove it. I assume that the clay pipes must be the originals from 1890. Would it be better to drill some of the mortar out first, so less force is needed with the hammer? Or is there some other trick that you experienced types would use to remove it? Thanks.

Ok. Thanks for all the info guys. You've been most helpful. I'll get that relic gone.

I take it that the Terminal Vent at the top of the plastic soil pipe will provide the required air admittance to remove this thing then? The newspaper is just simply temporary to support the cement until it hardens? Thanks.

Thanks for that. I did search, but didn't find anything about it. Just searched again and found nothing. So it's to allow air into the system to prevent the syphoning of water out of sink and bath traps? It can be removed, as long as there is an AAV on the current plastic (above ground)...

It would seem from the number of views that we're all in agreement that it's a Victorian soil pipe vent? :) I was surprised they were that low. Surely, even they kept them high up? Can I just remove this thing? What would I replace it with to close the hole on the clay pipe underground? Thanks.

Hi, I've got some awful pointing that needs attention on an 1890 house. There's a strange device, that I've never seen before, connected to the combined foul/surface drain: Is that what the Victorians used to vent the foul gases from the pipe? Or is it something else altogether? Can...

Hi, My neighbour has removed a bit of their roof to build a wooden structure to provide a flat roof for a bathroom. They had a bathroom in this room before I bought my house (a semi), but they have now performed this work to provide full height all across the bathroom rather than stick with the...