How the job runs
- 1Confirm by camerarecord the defect and its exact distance from the cleanout
- 2Request locatesburied utilities are flagged through Ontario One Call before any digging
- 3Permitarrange the City of Toronto plumbing permit for the work
- 4Excavate and replacedig at the break, cut out the failed pipe and install new PVC with proper bedding
- 5Inspect and backfillhave the work inspected, then backfill and compact in layers
01Repair or full replacement
One failed joint under the grass can often be repaired with one excavation. A lateral full of root-packed joints, sags and broken bells from the foundation to the street is a full replacement job. The camera footage makes the difference clear, and we walk through it with you before recommending either.
We also check the transition at the foundation wall, where old cast iron meets the clay and where many breaks begin.
| Typical original pipe | Clay or cast iron in houses built before the 1970s |
|---|---|
| Replacement material | PVC sewer pipe, with transition couplings to old pipe |
| Digging rule | Locates are free and required before excavation in Ontario |
02Inside the basement
Sometimes the trouble is not outside at all. The building drain under the basement slab can be cast iron that has rotted along its bottom. That means cutting the floor, replacing the pipe and re-pouring concrete.
03Trenchless options
For some laterals, lining the existing pipe with a resin sleeve avoids a long trench across the lawn and driveway. It depends on the pipe shape and condition. Where it fits, we explain it as an option.