This is a basement bathroom. We are able to cover most of the utilities, but there is a steam heat pipe (can reach 200 degrees) above the shower (old claw foot tub, halo curtain rod). The steam pipe is about a 2 inch pipe and already has a fibreglas – white fabric surface cover 4 inches OD.
What is a solution to covering this with something waterproof, slick, elegant, etc? One of the obstacles to this is the joint & elbow it makes over at the wall – that’s over the tub too.
Thanks for any answers on this-
Replies
Not sure if this is "code legal", but I worked on an old house where all the steam pipes were insulated with fiberglass, and then on covered with white PVC pipe. To fit the pipes, they cut the PVC in 1/2 then glued the halves over the pipe. Same thing for the elbows.
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We covered the steam pipe with split PVC (schedule 40) and it worked great. We had to take off the outer foil-backed/reinforced paper cover and peel some of the inner fiberglas like an onion, then put the foil backed cover on first (we hope the foil back cover will help keep the heat reflected away from the PVC. We split it with the table saw (suprised us how smooth it cut - Marathon blade). Then we used 6 - 4 inch hose clamps to clamp it using PVC cleaner and glue. We left the clamps on over night and filed & sanded it the next day. Here's a picture:
I've seen new steam pipe insulation that has a thin (probably ABS) plastic cover that snaps around it. Failing that, do what was said -- slit some drain pipe (or, for flex, corrugated plastic drain tile) of the appropriate size and attach it. Use SS hose clamps or plastic cable ties to fasten in place.
You can get plastic covering for pipe insulation. It's a thin (perhaps 1/32" thick) PVC cover that wraps around the pipe. It can be glued or sealed with vinyl tape. They also make fitting covers (elbows, tees, etc.) too. White is the most common color, but other colors are available, too.
Try http://www.mcmaster.com and search on "pvc insulation jacketing".