This decision has us in a real conundrum. When we opened up the walls we discovered a collection of pipes running through both our floors from the cellar to the apartment above. The pipes consist of a waste line, a steam pipe and several water risers. The problem is that they run through the middle of the downstairs space, like, right in the middle. (Sorry about the terrible quality photo).
They are located near what will be the bottom of the stairs between the living and dining space. We have had a quote from the plumber to relocate them but it is, unsurprisingly, very expensive. We are also very concerned about the impact moving them will have on our neighbours who already have had their fair share of issues to deal with due to our construction. These pipes feed their space so it would involve shutting off their water again which caused several issues the first time we had to do this, and I have concerns that relocating the steam pipe may lead to the dreaded tick tick ticking (or worse, banging) of the steam heat which we don't currently get.
Whilst it would be lovely to be rid of these and completely open the space, there are also advantages to keeping them. Not just the saving in money but if we enclose them in a column and integrate this with the bottom of the stairs it acts as nice divide between the living and dining space whilst still keeping the area open plan. We have a lot of thinking to do!
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