Trying to surface cleanout above finished floor

[skuba]

Hi,

I converted half my garage into living space and have this new patio outside the bedroom. The plumber placed the cleanout at slab level. It currently has a plastic plug. I have a mason installing brick over the slab this week and we are trying to solve for the cleanout. The cleanout was placed right outside the patio door so I am trying to find a visually pleasing solution. My drains are 5" square brass or bronze, so I would like to keep the cleanout cover at 5" or less, and ideally, square as well, specially making it easier for brick install.

The cleanout has a 3" tread. I can't find an extension with a cover. I am guessing another solution is to just leave the cleanout alone, with the plastic plug, and just put a cover flush with the brick to provide access. Or another way, could we just put a lose brick on top of the cleanout to allow access? is that done sometimes as a solution?

I am not a plumber, so excuse my ignorance on the matter. I went to a plumbing supply shop and they couldn't figure out how to do it.

I appreciate help here.

Thanks

 

[Smooky]

Why don't you just leave the plug at the concrete floor level and install a brass access that is bigger over the top and at the same level as the brick.
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/adj-cleanout-metal-squaretop-aco701rs.jpg
https://www.plumbingsupply.com/drain_and_floor_covers.html
https://www.grainger.com/product/41J483?gclid=CNXBmNGz4cwCFUI9gQodruYDLw&cm_mmc=PPC:GOOGLEPLAA-_-Plumbing-_-Drains-_-41J483&AL!2966!3!50916759357!!!g!82128096237!&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!50916759357!!!g!82128096237!&ef_id=VlZCJgAABBNq1RNz:20160517151637:s

 

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[Standardairconditioner]

What #2 said is best.

Stop trying to extend the cleanout. Leave it there.

Just cover it all with an access plate. Plus you have a secret compartment for things like door keys.

 

[skuba]

Hi all,
Thanks for all the feedback. Good news is that my former GC got a hold of the plumber and he said we could permanently bury the cleanout. He said that, if needed, one can always snake through the 2 drains. And just for good measure I am asking the mason to keep it accessible under the brick.
Thanks all

 

[Standardairconditioner]

he said we could permanently bury the cleanout

That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.

It's better to have a cleanout and not need it, than to need a cleanout and not have it.

Snaking/Rooting/Rodding/Jetting is always more challenging through a drain because you have more elbows and traps to deal with

A cleanout's purpose to skip just one elbow can make the difference between a 5 minute job or a 5 hour job.

 

[skuba]

I think the plumber thought it was ok because the drain is right by the cleanout (see pic). Wouldn't this make a lot easier to get to the line?
There is also another cleanout in the garage at other end of the house.

If I get a strong opinion here that I should have access to the cleanout, I will ask them to do it. But for aesthetic reasons, I would prefer not to have if I don't need to.

Thanks

 

[Widgit Maker]

Have your mason brick around the clean out. Then put a loose brick over the clean out. If you mason is good he can probably fake the mortar joint. Then drill a hole in the loose brick and put a red plastic in the hole. Then if you need to pull the loose brick out you can run a screw in and pull it out.

 

[Smooky]

You need to snake through a cleanout, not throrgh a trap. I’d bring it to the surface so it is apparent that it is a cleanout. Eventually you might sell the house and the new owner will not know there is a cleanout under the bricks . You might get old and forget etc. You die and the wife pays some rooter guy a fortune trying to find the cleanout. Your kids might end up with the house and no body can find the cleanout.

 

[Standardairconditioner]

I think the plumber thought it was ok because the drain is right by the cleanout (see pic).

I'd get a new plumber and not a dumb one. Cleanouts exist for a purpose.

There is also another cleanout in the garage at other end of the house.

Yes, and? Do you know how hard it is to Snaking/Rooting/Rodding/Jetting over a longer distance, as opposed to a very short one next to a clog? It can mean a $100 job or a $1000 job.

If I get a strong opinion here that I should have access to the cleanout, I will ask them to do it. But for aesthetic reasons, I would prefer not to have if I don't need to.

I see. Then totally ignore what #8 wrote.

 

[skuba]

Hi, for the many reasons stated before we have decided to leave the cleanout alone and accessible in case of emergency, but cover it with a brick. The brick won't seat on mortar and can be easily removed just by breaking the joints.

Is it ok to leave the plastic plug or should it be of a different material? The cleanout is cast iron, do we need to add anything (to the treads?) to make sure the plug is tight and sealed? Any last advice before we put the brick in?

Thanks so much

 

[Standardairconditioner]

Is it ok to leave the plastic plug

Yes.

The cleanout is cast iron, do we need to add anything (to the treads?)

No.

 

[Reach4]

You could put the brick in with sand rather than mortar. You could suck the sand out with a vacuum cleaner if you want to access the cleanout.