The Bay Area is home to old neighborhoods that have been around for over thirty years. Old houses are the most likely to need repiping because of years of wear and tear, pressure fluctuations, short-term plumbing issues and repairs, and renovation projects for upgrades. In case you are worried about the cost to repipe, here is a breakdown of pricing when working with an expert.
Go to:
- Average Cost to Repipe a House in the Bay Area
- 7 Factors that Affect the Cost of Repiping a House
- Choose Total UC For Professional Repiping Services
Average Cost to Repipe a House in the Bay Area
The price range for repiping a house in the Bay Area is between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on the number of bathrooms and kitchens. If all you need is pipework without the accompanying restoration process, patching, plaster, painting, and trimming, the average cost for new plumbing infrastructure installation will be around $11,000.
7 Factors that Affect the Cost of Repiping a House
1. House Size
Larger houses will cost more than smaller ones for several reasons. The additional square feet of the property means more labor, pulling walls, dismantling floors, and removing pipes. It also translates to purchasing long pipes, with prices charged per meter. If you include floor and drywall, repair costs can exceed $20,000.
Repiping prices also vary depending on the number of rooms in your home.
Studio and One-bedroom Homes
Tiny one-bedroom homes and studios have less complex designs. They may have a kitchenette and one bathroom, simplifying the repiping process. However, maneuvering may be challenging because of the limited crawl space. Additionally, small houses are mostly in apartment complexes, adding to the work complexity, which informs costs.
An 18-inch crawl space is ideal, providing sufficient wiggle room to remove old pipes and install new ones. Repiping a one-bedroom house with ample working space may cost about $10 to $12 per square foot. The average cost of small apartments may come down to $10,000 – $12,000.
Cost to Repipe a Two-bedroom Home
Repiping costs can be lower if your two-bedroom houses have a standard kitchen and bathroom. However, if your two-bedroom home has an additional bathroom or requires extensive pipe work due to a kitchen upgrade, prices may go up.
The cost to repipe a standard two-bedroom home with one bathroom and kitchen may be around $12,000 to $14,000. Remodelings involving additional bathrooms or extensive kitchen pipework can cost up to $18,000.
Three-bedroom Homes and Beyond
The standard architecture for three-bedroom homes in the Bay Area is mostly two bathrooms and a sizable kitchen. Repiping service can include replacing old pipes, remodeling, an additional bathroom, or modernizing the kitchen. So, costs for bigger homes can exceed $20,000.
If it is a one-story house, the repiping will necessitate tearing down more drywall and floors and significant restoration work. The degree of work complexity increases as the number of rooms increases. A bigger home may mean all rooms are ensuite, with additional half bathrooms for convenience. The pipework for such homes is demanding and costly to remove and install.
2. House Levels
A bungalow is much easier to repipe because most piping is underground. The intricacies of excavation and surface-level demolition are significantly reduced with one-floor level houses, diminishing costs. The more levels your home has, the more expensive the repiping process.
3. Type of Pipe
Old homes in the Bay Area predominantly have metal or clay pipes. The current plumbing codes require all homes to have cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) pipes. If you bought a 30 or 40-year-old home, it is time to repipe to get your home up to code.
Aside from being the latest plumbing standard code, PEX pipes are cheaper than copper pipes and are easy to install. PEX pipe costs depend on pipe length, diameter, and brand. Generally, manufacturers charge between $0.40 and $2.50 per linear foot.
Some plumbers choose copper pipes and fittings in exposed areas of the building. However, using two pipe materials in your plumbing system affects water pressure.
4. Pipe Damage Extent
Repiping doesn’t have to be a complete plumbing system overhaul. Sometimes, only a section of your portable water or sewer line requires fixing. Extensive damage on pipes from bursts, corrosion, and multiple leaks may require replacing entire pipe lengths. Plumbers may charge $9 per square foot of pipe.
5. Pipe Accessibility
Plumbers may resort to extensive floors and drywall breaking without ample space to access your pipes. Homes with basements or crawl spaces may not need extensive demolition, reducing replacement costs. Plumbers work around this by investing in trenchless technologies and equipment to minimize excavation and surface-level digging.
6. Labor Costs
Most plumbing companies charge hourly rates for every contractor you hire for repiping. Work complexity determines the number of contractors assigned to your project. If the repiping requires multiple days, you may pay upwards of $15,000 even for a two-bedroom house with standard kitchen and bathroom features.
7. Additional Work
The average plumbing system repiping without the additional floor plastering, drywall patching, and painting can cost about $11,000. Prices can reduce drastically with easy pipe accessibility and minimal fixture repairs. Some plumbers charge extra for inspection work and cleanup, while others offer it as a complimentary service. So, due diligence is essential when comparing prices from eligible plumbing contractors in the Bay Area.
Choose Total UC For Professional Repiping Services
According to data from the U.S. Census’s American Community Survey, around 30% of homeowners still live in their properties from the late 1980s to early 1990s. This shows a high demand for repiping due to the wear and tear that comes with aging pipes.
As a local company serving the Bay Area for over four years, we leverage our local knowledge of residential, commercial, and municipal plumbing systems to your advantage. We have invested in trenchless technology, equipment, and techniques to provide repiping solutions with minimal excavation. Our certified plumbers receive continuous training to maintain industry-level expertise. Call us today for tailored services.
