Can You Concrete Over Sewage Pipes? (How & What To Consider)

Re-pouring a basement floor over a sewage pipe or another similar project is not without its pail full of questions. If you plan on doing a job like this around your house, you obviously want it done right. So, can you pour concrete over sewage pipes, and what is the standard protocol?

When the correct pipe schedule, like a schedule PVC 40 (can handle up to 450psi) or better, and the installation includes a proper bed of gravel backfill for support, sewage piping can be installed under freshly poured concrete. However, one should still consider the amount of weight placed on the pipe.

As long as the concrete pours correctly and the line supports minimal weight, it should be fine.

The pipe should also be sealed appropriately at any joints to ensure that water from the wet concrete does not seep into any joints, damaging the seal of the line.

Let’s talk a little more about concrete and standard PVC sewage pipe interactions for a moment.

Does Concrete Damage PVC Pipe?

If you’re installing a PVC pipe where wet concrete contact occurs, then knowing how the two react to one another is essential, if not crucial, to your project’s success.

Concrete does not damage the PVC pipe when in contact. When concrete tends to damage the PVC pipe, it is in gravel bedding not correctly installed. 

In this situation, where proper support for the concrete is not installed, the weight of the concrete pressing against the drain pipe can cause damage to the pipe. Even if a schedule 40 pipe that can handle inner pressures of 450psi is used, this can still occur. (source)

Generally, damage only occurs to PVC pipe from concrete when the installation was done improperly.

Another cause there is a high water table, and there is improper drainage underneath the floor. This situation can cause significant shifting in foundations when the concrete shifts, but plastic piping may not. The piping may be found to become under pressure from the weight of the concrete floor.

However, if we are discussing new wet concrete – this does not react with PVC pipe in time for any sort of concern.

As mentioned previously, the problem is with weight and the line being able to withstand the weight. This is why a proper gravel bed around the pipe to support the concrete’s weight and take the weight onto the gravel and not the pipe itself is the ideal situation when pouring concrete over any PVC sewage pipe.

Speaking of concrete, do you know about dry concrete? Have you ever wondered if you can pour dry concrete? Check out the article to learn more.

Concrete Over Pipe Considerations

Before going over all of the different considerations and things, you should keep in mind when doing concrete work over a sewage pipe, take a look at this video. It’s about laying some PVC sewage pipe underneath where concrete will be poured.

As you can see in the video, it’s highly important that the gravel bed is underneath the line, around the pipe, and even going up over the pipe. This bed is firmly installed, and consideration of not having any gaps is taken into account.

If there are gaps underneath any runs of this type, the weight can cause the pipe to flex, and over time, the pipe will become more brittle, and it could crack if it’s trying to bend under the weight of a concrete floor.

Another consideration is not only the weight distribution but also the depth of the concrete and what will be placed on the concrete above.

If the concrete is a structural area where you intend to build walls on top of the concrete floor at that juncture, it could cause extra weight on that area of the floor, which could cause shifting.

Every house shifts. It happens over time, and there’s nothing anybody can do about it.

But, if you prepare by having your proper gravel bed around your piping, then pouring concrete on top shouldn’t be an issue.

It’s because the gravel will allow a certain amount of settling. It will also allow for a certain amount of movement without damaging the pipe while still holding in maintaining the weight of the concrete above.

By the way, if you’re doing this project in a rainy season, then you might also want to read this article: How long does concrete need to dry before rain?

How To Pour Concrete Over Sewage Pipes

I really like how the following video shows some really clever tricks for doing concrete work over sewage piping in a basement.

Step-1:

Seal any joints in the pipe to ensure no water from wet concrete can penetrate.  Silicone caulk is adequate.

Step-2:

Fill around the pipe with gravel.  Ensure gravel extends out from the pipe and that the entire area under the concrete is packed gravel.  The rock will accomplish three things:

1. Support the weight of the concrete above.
2. Allow for shifting.
3. Allow for drainage.

Step-3:

Pack the gravel firmly but not forcefully.  The stone should fill any gaps and be rough to accommodate the appropriate depth of required concrete.

Most of the pipe should be covered with gravel, and minimal pipe should be exposed to wet concrete.  The concrete will not damage the pipe chemically, but the more exposure, the higher the chances of shifting concrete damaging the pipe.

Step-4:

Mix concrete as per manufacturers’ recommendations for even consistency.  Do not attempt to mix concrete where you intend to use it.  Use a pail or similar to mix the concrete.  Only once mixed thoroughly should you proceed.

Step-5:

Pour the concrete into place.  If you’re installing a floor drain of some sort, watch the video above to learn a cool tip for making a drain box with wood to form the concrete in a convenient square where you need drain components.

Now that you know how to pour concrete, be sure to also go through this guide on making concrete smooth and shiny in just 5 easy steps.

A Few Important Tips

• Always use a lot of gravel backfill to support the weight.
• Don’t leave gaps under the edge of old concrete.
• Don’t leave gaps under the pipe.
• If it’s the main sewage line, consult your local bylaws for proper building code regulations.

A Note On Thermal Expansion

Pouring concrete around PVC pipe indoors, for example, in a basement, is different from pouring concrete around PVC pipe outside. This is considerably true in environments that face cold winters where the ground freezes.

Due to thermal expansion, one might face concrete and PVC issues embedded within said concrete. The problem lies with the fact that the PVC pipe expands considerably more than concrete does due to heat.

Likewise, PVC tends to shrink more than concrete due to the cold.

So, the issue happens to be if you have a PVC pipe embedded in concrete, and you run hot or even warm water in that PVC pipe.

In most cases, what will happen is the PVC pipe will want to expand. It causes pressure on the pipe, pushing outwardly on the concrete. It can deform pipe as well as fracture joints and fracture glue or adhesive used to connect PVC pipes together via connectors, joints, or elbows.

Elbows and connections are where directional change occurs and are more subject to thermal expansion issues.

How Long Do Concrete Sewer Pipes Last?

When you’re placing new pipes, you’re probably wondering if the older lines are made of concrete and just how long those are going to last.

It’s a significant concern of many municipalities. And it could mean that a street near you will need to be torn up for considerable work.

The average life expectancy for a concrete pipe is between 50 and 75 years under normal conditions. Many municipalities face enormous expenses to replace this sort of piping.

The preferred type of modern pipe is PVC piping. It’s a kind of pipe known to withstand time well compared with traditional piping forms. It is also the most easily accessible for everyday buildings and is found in most hardware stores.

Want to know more about concrete? Check out these top-selected guides:

• Can I Make Concrete Without Gravel? (Correct Ratio) 
• Can I Polish My Concrete Basement Floor? (What To Do)
• Why Vibration is Necessary for Concrete (Types and When to Use)
• Can I Use Pure Cement?

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