Painting Cast Iron Soil Pipe

[robbiejustice]

Hi there,

I have just bought a new house with a cast iron soil and vent pipe that had a creeper on it. I've ripped the creeper down which has taken quite a bit of paint off it (see picture). I've read a few of the posts on here regards painting one and I just want to check a few things. Also, I am a novice.

Does the existing paint look like bitumen paint?

If it is not bitumen then I will:
1. Sand off the existing paint with 80g sand paper
2. Paint it with a red oxide primer
3. Paint it with no nonesnse metal paint

Does that sound like it will work ok?

 

[Ian H]

It might be easier to replace that section with black plastic.

 

[robbiejustice]

Really, why so? There are a few patches further up aswell that need a touch up. I did read about replacing with plastic but it seemed a pretty big job and the cast iron is not leaking so could be good many years yet.

 

[dishman]

It is not bitumen paint. That stuff is not really suitable for this surface. You just want to rub them down, get rid of the loose paint and key the surface. Apply a primer and then a black metal top coat.

One thing about these cast iron pipes, especially higher up is that people could not be bothered painting the non visible part around the back. Often too much effort for most people. So you may find the back of it is rusted a lot more. Further up, on the vented part (above the toilet connection), you may find the back has totally rusted through.

 

[Ian H]

As above, on a lot of them the back side is brittle. Yours might not be so you could paint it but a plastic one will be future proof and match your rainwater down pipe.

 

[robbiejustice]

Ok, thanks. I'll have a look at the underside. I think replacing it with a plastic one is beyond my skills.

 

[foxhole]

I used spray paint, no brush marks ,10 times quicker than by brush.

 

[EddieM]

Dont forget they they rust from the inside too.

 

[robbiejustice]

I am not sure where I would even begin trying to paint the inside of the soil/vent pipe. I think I'll just paint the outside and see how long it lasts, if it starts leaking because of rusting through from the inside then I'll replace it with a plastic pipe.

 

[Bullet-Proof_Biscuit]

My input would be replacing Victorian cast iron with plastic sickens me.

Just needs a rub down and paint every so often as with all classic cast iron architecture fixings etc

 

[Nige F]

Hi there,

I have just bought a new house with a cast iron soil and vent pipe that had a creeper on it. I've ripped the creeper down which has taken quite a bit of paint off it (see picture). I've read a few of the posts on here regards painting one and I just want to check a few things. Also, I am a novice.

Does the existing paint look like bitumen paint?

If it is not bitumen then I will:
1. Sand off the existing paint with 80g sand paper
2. Paint it with a red oxide primer
3. Paint it with no nonesnse metal paint

Does that sound like it will work ok?

1 sand just the loose bits off..... 2 don't bother....3 use a cheap black gloss - 2 coats if needed. Round the back just use a sheet of cardboard to keep the paint off the wall

 

[robbiejustice]

I've only just got round to actually doing this. Having had another look the joints look like white cement yet the main pipe is clearly rusted. Could it be asbestos? The house was built in 1935.

 

[Bosswhite]

I've only just got round to actually doing this. Having had another look the joints look like white cement yet the main pipe is clearly rusted. Could it be asbestos? The house was built in 1935.

Plumbers Putty .

 

[robbiejustice]

Ah ok, thanks Bosswhite.