Take a look at this picture. What is this capped pipe that is sticking out of this really nice roof? I may never know what the “original purpose” of this capped pipe was----and it really doesn’t matter. What it is today, is what matters. It is complicated because, what it is today is not even what it is. Confused? Me too----but I am used to it. This capped pipe is “trying” to be a plumbing vent-----and doing a very lousy job of it. That is the problem with “trying.” Trying is a total waste of time, because trying never got any job done. “Doing” is always necessary to get any job done. On the attic side, this is what it looks like. This abandoned vent (of unknown original purpose) is not an appropriate termination for the plumbing vent. It neither insures that sewer gases won’t find their way into the attic space, nor does it prevent vermin entry to the attic. This is not a very difficult fix and can be done when the roof is replaced-----since the roof is obviously past its expected life.
Charles Buell
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Click on the Rose to check out: AHA!---A Forum of Landmark Proportions---your Group
PS, for those of you that are new to my blog (or for some other "unexplained" reason have never noticed)all pictures and smiley-face inserts (emoticons) (when I use them) have messages that show up when you point at them with your cursor.
My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
what a lovely non-fix. and in it's original form, shouldn't it have been taller?
Got to give them credit for recycling.
I give them credit for at least finding a hole in the roof. Not!
Credit due. You guys do things very diffeent than we do here...
I'm thinking they need a new roof. :) And, is that a solar panel or a skylight?
Looks like a good candidate for that rolled roofing material!!
Charles, just when you think you've seen it all it starts all over again. I think that's why they pay us the big bucks :)
Alan, that is part of what is confusing about what it used to be----must have been some sort of attic vent or exhaust fan vent.
Eric----or being lazy
Tad----that is about right
Luke, for sure
Stephanie----the roof has been shot for at least 10 years and yes---one of 7 skylights.
Dan----actually in the back ground is a flat roof over the back porch that is rolled roofing so old most of the granular coating is gone.
Suesan----too true:)
Charles - I look forward to these photos ever day. Makes me feel like my own house is not in such bad shape.
Matt, you are in luck---I am likely to make you feel good every day:)
Charles - You can pretty much guarantee that. My house could use some help, but it won't match most of what you put on here. Its really great (all these photos and stories), because it gives people an idea of the things that could go wrong, but you're also great at teaching them why its wrong and what could be done to prevent it or fix it. I may just start using your blog as an informational tool for clients even though we're talking about different states.
Thanks Matt----it is good to know that I am able to help.
Charles, I thought houses like this were only found in Arkansas! WRONG! nice blog
Barbara, it is an International issue:)
Charlie - So, this is probably how the vermin got into my attic! Nice!
That roof looks like it has a few more years left in it...lol
Carol----well this is just one of many possibilities----mostly insects at this location---rodents usually leave signs
Jim---I would imagine you could get it real cheap if you wanted:)
Mr Charles,
Had they taped across and plugged the bottom with duct tape, would that have improved this in your view.
Nutsy, just hanging with his super cool buds,
Nutsy, what would it feel like to clean the fleas out of your tail with duct tape?
Charlie - some duct tape and a little Rustoleum spray paint (I recommend burgundy and gold) and that baby will be as good a new!
When it was new it was the bathroom exhaust vent for old Uncle Joe's bathroom... long story, but since you ran out of gas on the Meme I won't go into it now. And since the convenient spot was already there, sometime in the 70's or early 80's they found some extra ABS and plumbed her up!
Say, now that I think of it, maybe it's a roof ABS Exerciser Stovepipe Spitter!
Jay wouldn't that be an Abscess or an Absess?
Charlie, It's good of you to vent about what confuses you.
James, that keeps me venting most of the time:)
you definately can not fix stupid....