Under the bathroom floor I have found two large pipes from the boiler
downstairs which pass diagonally through a joist. These pipes are
"held in place" by two nails whcih are hammered into the joist at an
angle. (I could post a photo if someone could tell me how to do
it!). Is this standard practice? Should I be worried? Should I do
anything about it? Many thanks for any replies.

In article om,
kent writes:
Under the bathroom floor I have found two large pipes from the boiler
downstairs which pass diagonally through a joist. These pipes are
"held in place" by two nails whcih are hammered into the joist at an
angle. (I could post a photo if someone could tell me how to do
it!). Is this standard practice? Should I be worried? Should I do
anything about it? Many thanks for any replies.

Supporting pipework on nails was standard practice with iron
pipework. All the original gas and water pipework in my house
was supported that way, and in the case of gas, these nails
also supported the weight of the gas lamps hanging from the
pipework. I can't imagine the connection you mention with pipes
going through joists, and if nails have been used with copper or
plastic pipe, I would say that's a bodge which might eventually
result in wearing a hole in the pipe.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

On Sep 29, 6:57 pm, (Andrew Gabriel)
wrote:
In article om,
kent writes:

Under the bathroom floor I have found two large pipes from the boiler
downstairs which pass diagonally through a joist. These pipes are
"held in place" by two nails whcih are hammered into the joist at an
angle. (I could post a photo if someone could tell me how to do
it!). Is this standard practice? Should I be worried? Should I do
anything about it? Many thanks for any replies.

Supporting pipework on nails was standard practice with iron
pipework. All the original gas and water pipework in my house
was supported that way, and in the case of gas, these nails
also supported the weight of the gas lamps hanging from the
pipework. I can't imagine the connection you mention with pipes
going through joists, and if nails have been used with copper or
plastic pipe, I would say that's a bodge which might eventually
result in wearing a hole in the pipe.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Copper pipes (28mm?) & steel nails. Job done about 15 years ago, I
guess. The joist has been notched diagonally to let the pipes
through. So looks like a bodge! I feel inclined to leave it, but be
aware of its existence, unless someone can suggest an easy solution.

On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 11:05:26 -0700, kent
wrote:

if nails have been used with copper or
plastic pipe, I would say that's a bodge which might eventually
result in wearing a hole in the pipe.

--
Andrew Gabriel
[email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup]

Copper pipes (28mm?) & steel nails. Job done about 15 years ago, I
guess. The joist has been notched diagonally to let the pipes
through. So looks like a bodge! I feel inclined to leave it, but be
aware of its existence, unless someone can suggest an easy solution.

If you have access, a couple of inches or more as necessary. of pipe
insulation over the pipe centred over the nails would not cost much
and might save any further damage.

I suppose the concern is what's happening where you don't have access.

:-(

DG

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:



http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9...Yrq_GBNNo47Dh4


Hope you can see it!

On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:



http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9...Yrq_GBNNo47Dh4


Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9..._tn_/102are2.j...

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?


http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c...t=100_2857.jpg

On Sep 29, 10:05 pm, kent wrote:
On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:

On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9..._tn_/102are2.j...

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?

http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c...on=view&curren...

Effingell. That is a bodge.

If you are looking down on them just get the nails out carefully and
check for leaks.

If you are looking up then ditto for the nails and suspect real
problems. Maybe replace the sections involved. You can then hold them
up with plastic ties nailed higher up the joist.

If getting the nails out is a problem, cut the wood back a bit and
chop the nails through. Put some tape over the pipes.

On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:05:14 -0700, kent wrote:

On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9..._tn_/102are2.j...

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?


http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c...t=100_2857.jpg

===================================
Draw pencil lines along the line of each nail and drill several holes
downwards along each line deep enough to touch the nail. When you've
drilled to the end of the nail you will be able to 'work' it without
damaging the adjacent pipe.

Once the nails are out screw or nail a metal protective plate across the
exposed pipes.

Cic.

--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================

On Sep 30, 2:57 pm, Cicero wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:05:14 -0700, kent wrote:
On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9..._tn_/102are2.j....

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?

http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c.../?action=view¤...

===================================
Draw pencil lines along the line of each nail and drill several holes
downwards along each line deep enough to touch the nail. When you've
drilled to the end of the nail you will be able to 'work' it without
damaging the adjacent pipe.

Once the nails are out screw or nail a metal protective plate across the
exposed pipes.

Cic.

--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks. I'll carefully remove the nails and put over a protective
plate.

The photo is taken from above. The nails aren't really holding the
pipes in and the pipes are a tight fit in the notch. I guess they
might have been put in to reduce vibration, but that is only a guess.
It might be difficult to fit pipe clips and I am wondering if there is
any kind of paste or mastic that I could put in the notch to reduce
possible vibration? The pipes get quite hot. Any suggestions?
Thanks.

On Sun, 30 Sep 2007 09:34:06 -0700, kent wrote:

On Sep 30, 2:57 pm, Cicero wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:05:14 -0700, kent wrote:
On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9..._tn_/102are2.j...

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?

http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c.../?action=view¤...

===================================
Draw pencil lines along the line of each nail and drill several holes
downwards along each line deep enough to touch the nail. When you've
drilled to the end of the nail you will be able to 'work' it without
damaging the adjacent pipe.

Once the nails are out screw or nail a metal protective plate across the
exposed pipes.

Cic.

--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks. I'll carefully remove the nails and put over a protective plate.

The photo is taken from above. The nails aren't really holding the pipes
in and the pipes are a tight fit in the notch. I guess they might have
been put in to reduce vibration, but that is only a guess. It might be
difficult to fit pipe clips and I am wondering if there is any kind of
paste or mastic that I could put in the notch to reduce possible
vibration? The pipes get quite hot. Any suggestions? Thanks.

==================================
I doubt if you'll get any significant vibration but you could put a thin
sliver of plastic between the two pipes to stop them rubbing against each
other. I would suggest chopping something out of a plastic microwave dish
for this purpose to ensure it can cope with the heat. Don't confine the
pipes too closely or you might get screeching / groaning noises as they
expand and contract.

Cic.
--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================

On Sep 30, 5:34 pm, kent wrote:
On Sep 30, 2:57 pm, Cicero wrote:



On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:05:14 -0700, kent wrote:
On Sep 29, 9:33 pm, Stuart B wrote:
On Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:28:58 -0700, kent
wrote:

I think I've sussed out how to upload the photo:
http://f3.yahoofs.com/users/426193d9...tn_/102are2..j...

Hope you can see it!

Nope ..sorry .. Try Photobucket.com

Thanks. Can you see this?

http://s215.photobucket.com/albums/c.../?action=view¤...

===================================
Draw pencil lines along the line of each nail and drill several holes
downwards along each line deep enough to touch the nail. When you've
drilled to the end of the nail you will be able to 'work' it without
damaging the adjacent pipe.

Once the nails are out screw or nail a metal protective plate across the
exposed pipes.

Cic.

--
===================================
Using Ubuntu Linux
Windows shown the door
===================================- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks. I'll carefully remove the nails and put over a protective
plate.

The photo is taken from above. The nails aren't really holding the
pipes in and the pipes are a tight fit in the notch. I guess they
might have been put in to reduce vibration, but that is only a guess.
It might be difficult to fit pipe clips and I am wondering if there is
any kind of paste or mastic that I could put in the notch to reduce
possible vibration? The pipes get quite hot.

You can buy a matting for that. But any rag would do I imagine. The
shoddy used for underlay is ideal. Don't bother with the drilling
idea, just saw down besides any awkward nails and pull them out if you
can -or knock them in/bend them out of the way.

I did decide to carefully drill before removing the nails and they
came out easily. Thanks. Parts of an old lasagne tray now have a new
lease of life as pipe separaters! Thanks to all.