Muddin’

When I went to high school in Alabama, a common question amongst my male classmates was, “You goin’ muddin’ this weekend?”

Right now one could practically go muddin’ in our front lawn. 

We seemed to have sprung a leak in the pipe that delivers water to us from the main at the street.  Naturally, we were hopeful that repair would be our town’s responsibility and not ours.

We were mistaken.

Like most other towns in the nation, our research and town officials informed us that as soon as the pipes leave the main it is the homeowner’s responsibility to maintain.  Furthermore, our leak was between the on off shut off mechanism at the street and our home. 

Our nickel would have to pay for the repair. 

I immediately called a plumber we have had do work for us in the past.  After I described the problem to him he said, “Oh no.  You’ll need an excavator or contractor to do that sort of job.”

Yikes.

I then got estimates from four different outfits.  If there are any benefits to having this sort of problem, one was that I could give the company our address and describe the location of the leak, and they could take a look at the problem without either one of use being home.

Every outfit suggested that we replace the entire line with copper, stating that if another problem like this were to occur in the future, two repairs would cost the same amount as replacing the entire line.  For kicks, I did ask that the first company quote us both – repair and replacement.  After that, we only sought the replacement cost. 

So here’s where they came in:

Outfit #1 – A landscaping company that also does excavation

¾” copper pipe repair - $1700

¾” copper pipe replacement - $3200

Included: screen loam, grade, fine rake, seed, fertilize, and lime in both quotes

Method: Foundation

Outfit #2 – An excavating company

¾” copper pipe replacement - $2150

1” copper pipe replacement - $2270

Optional: $500 to seed and loam

Method: Foundation

Outfit #3 – General contractor that also does excavation

1” copper pipe replacement - $3250

Method: Foundation

Outfit #4 –An excavating company

1” copper pipe replacement - $2400

Included: Seed and loam

Method: Foundation

Variables:

Some vendors included loam and seed in their estimates, while others did not.

You can elect to go through the exterior wall or through the foundation in the basement.  We chose to go through the foundation, as we felt this would provide greater frost protection. 

We decided to go with the 1” as that will yield better water pressure. 

Besides the price, my husband was also partial to Outfit #2 because this was the only vendor either one of us met initially.  My husband liked him.  My husband trusted him.  Needless to say, I did point out the irony of all that… his complaining that he did not want to have to take off work to accompany these guys on a quote and in the end, the one guy he did accompany had an advantage.  

Moving on. 

When we later requested that Outfit #2 provide us with a quote for 1” pipe, it took days to deliver.  I despise chasing people to give them my business.  It should be the other way around.   They lost us. 

So, after meeting Outfit #4 in person, reviewing the job, and liking him, we are going with #4.  No doubt the yard will look worse for wear until this spring when it can be seeded once again.  Sadly I think our neighbors are growing accustomed to incomplete projects at our house, as evidenced by the the photo taken below in October, but that’s another post.  Our biggest concern is that the Japanese maple we planted this fall will have to be moved.   Hopefully its being dormant will provide some protection.  I sure hope they’re gentle with our little beauty on the left.

All of the quotes included calling Dig Safe and securing the necessary permits.  Once that is taken care of, the repair will begin.   #4 assured us it will be just a day job and therefore, we won’t be without water.  It stinks that we need such an expensive, disruptive repair, but it’s better it's necessary before we have really gotten the yard where we want it.  We have big plans.  

Let's hope this was the last weekend you could go muddin' in our yard.