So I own a company in Ohio and I sold a big stone job at this residence. When I went to pick up the check before starting the client asked if I could dig around that blue water utility pipe and cut it down so it’s not sticking out above ground and cap it and throw new stone over it. I am a really experienced landscaper but this question I’m not sure. We can do what he’s asking but is that something we should do? How would you guys handle this pipe and the client wanting it to not stick out. I get it it’s ugly there. What would be the most efficient way to handle this? Thanks
by Grand_Birthday3995
21 Comments
Call a plumber and have them install a sprinkler box.
That’s a clean out. If you bury it under rock and sewage(poop) is backing up into their house plumber will need to find that to remedy. If it’s covered with rock, sewage will continue to back up until it can be located. Really bad idea on homeowners part, but hey, if they wanna pay to ruin stuff, that’s their business.
Thats a sewer cleanout access, it may depend on your city code; but you can cut it flush to the ground but it must be capped with a screwtop as it is now. Burying it is not advised, it should be nominally visible in case it’s needed.
Looks more like a septic to house clean out line in case a blockage from the house.
You don’t need a plumber to install a hand hole or “sprinkler box”. Thats asinine.
Go to Home Depot and get an in ground valve box. The rest is self explanatory.
I would put in a Christy box around that at or below grade, and then cover the Christy box with some decorative stones.
It’s the owners clean out,they can do whatever they please.
Grab a reciprocating saw and a new 4 inch cap . Cut put the new cap. That’s not a water line you won’t hurt anything.
Just say u dont know what youre doing dude
Not always a sewer clean out. I have one in my yard connected to a sump in my crawl that goes to a storm sewer in the street. We cut it down, put a rubber cap on it and covered it with a paver so we know where it is and still accessible.
Tell them to find a nice lawn decoration but as a landscaper keeping it up high like that is the safest. If the weed wacker crew comes through and if it was any shorter the cap would get shredded up. I’ve also told my customers there’s no problem in spray painting them. Get creative. I bet you could paint a pretty cool flower on it
Hmm maybe you could find a decoration that is hollow that could cover it visually? If unable to cut it down and recap it further. Quick fix idea anyway
Get a fake rock to put over it. When they need it it’ll be a pain if they have to dig around it.
Dig, cut with a Sawzall, glue a new 4″ threaded cap on it. Use a piece of mountain stone or something to mark it in the bed. I’ve done many of these because plumbers always put them high enough to be an eyesore. If the homeowners don’t want the mountain stone, at least bury a piece of rebar or a spike next to it so it can be found with a metal detector.
Put a fake rock over it.
Also, where are the flowers in this bed?
Literally just cut Mine yesterday. To do it easily get an internal PVC pipe cutter and cut just at or below grade, then you can use a flush sewer cap with screw top. I got one that was black and is basically invisible yet still accessible.
Link to saw from Home Depot. Perfect cut if you take your time.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-Internal-PVC-Pipe-Cutter-for-1-1-4-in-to-10-in-Pipes-80-525-111/331980416
If that’s a lift off cap, I’d cut it flush and glue a square tile like bluestone to the top or something else to match the stone or spray paint it to match the stone. I had to do the later.
https://preview.redd.it/w4mt67p9o50h1.jpeg?width=3327&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=38bd4f255a98bc67903749909998a927ab3db2c2
Talk them out of it. When the sewer line backs up into the bathtub and the city comes out looking for the clean out you’ll be extremely grateful. Don’t ask how I know this
I have a feeling that’s not allowed
I wouldn’t do a screw lid. You want the clean out to pop off and back up outside rather than in the home
I took large old steel milk jug cut the bottom off made a mold around the pipe with a old plastic flower pot then I cast 90 pounds of cement in it now its protected and I painted it copper so its a nice lawn ornament not just a ugly pipe it can just be lifted off to access it but its safe from the mower and from kids