Found old cast iron pipes under my 1957 slab, had to replumb the whole line

We started pulling up the vinyl tile in the hallway bathroom last Tuesday and found a 2 foot section of cast iron that was basically rust flakes held together by paint. Plumber quoted $1,100 to chip out the slab and replace just the bad part. My neighbor down in Phoenix had the same issue last year and said do it all while it's open. Ended up running new PVC from the stack to the tub drain, about 14 feet total. Cost me $2,300 but now I don't have to worry about the other joints failing in 6 months. Has anyone else dealt with hidden pipe surprises under an older house? What did you decide to replace while you had the floor open?

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1 Comment

sean_barnes248h ago

It's funny how one little problem turns into a full project, but that's how it always goes with old houses, right? You rip up one thing and suddenly you're looking at the whole hidden mess behind it. I've noticed that pattern in so many areas of life, not just plumbing. It's like when you finally clean out one closet and realize the whole garage needs the same treatment. The smart move is to bite the bullet and do it all at once, because that half fix is just a future headache with a higher price tag. You paid more now, but you bought yourself years of peace of mind and that's worth something.