Patching A Clay Drainpipe

[Sir BoD]

Hi All,
I've managed to 'put' a hole in a clay drainpipe that runs from my kitchen into my back garden. The hole is only about 1.5" wide. What I aim to do is fill the area with gravel or earth but would like to patch the hole up before I cover it back over. It's a very uneven surface that is still partially covered in mortar and I don't want to necessarily disturb it any more in case the hole gets bigger.

I've considered moving or just closing my eyes but would prefer a more reasonable solution. Thanks folks.

 

[Trumpet]

I would suggest that if you dampen the surrounding pipe and apply some form of coarse cloth prior to covering with a mortar mix, that would probably patch it up ok. The cloth would prevent the mortar just falling through the hole and would stiffen as the mortar set.

 

[Gramaisc]

The top of a pipe has very little to do (usually) - do as Trumpet says or, if you have a decent enough surface, slap a bit of Flashband over the hole.

 

[BobClay]

Dampen !!! Coarse cloth !!! mortar mix !!! ….. (I'm starting to think I'm being got at …. )

 

[Sir BoD]

Cheers everybody. Would 'any old' coarse cloth do? Say, a bit of potato sack?

 

[Trumpet]

Potato sack would be fine. A bit like scrim cloth that used to be used when plastering over the joints on ceilings.

 

[Gramaisc]

Sack would be OK - better, possibly, to use something synthetic, maybe in two layers with a little separation, for a bit of long-term reinforcement?

 

[Trumpet]

We're going for a proper job here.

 

[Sir BoD]

Ah, I have some scrim tape. I'll see if it'll adhere to the pipe. Cheers.