SEWER
When building in an area that has a central sewer system you have no choice but to hook into that system. When sewer is unavailable a septic system must be installed. The county health department issues permit for the septic system and will size it according to the soils profile. Satisfactory soils pose no problem but when unsuitable soils are encountered the septic system can become expensive (mound systems, engineered systems, lift stations and dosing pumps). Your builder should locate the septic system so it doesn’t affect a pool or circular drive.
WATER
When a central water system is available you have to get your domestic water from this source. If your deed restrictions don’t prohibit it, you may wish to install an irrigation well. Again this is an additional up front cost but can turn out to be a substantial savings in the long run. Most wells are estimated to a depth of 100 feet. Since no one can predetermine the depth necessary to reach potable water your builder should let you know the additional cost per foot if the well depth has to exceed the 100-foot allowance. When sufficient water is reached there is no guarantee of the purity of the water. A test should be performed and the water analyzed. If a filtration system is requested your builder can recommend a supplier to you. The location of the pressure tank should be specified. It can be located at the well, in the garage or buried in the ground.
PLUMBING
Selections of your plumbing fixtures will greatly effect your cost. If possible, you should visit showrooms suggested by your builder and make your selections so your proposal reflects your actual selections. There are a wide variety of styles and finishes and each bathroom can be different. Even in real expensive homes standard fixtures are the norm in the utility room. We normally install cultured marble or cast iron tubs but steel and acrylic are also available. The commodes are normally a two piece elongated model. The lowboy one-piece toilets are normally $500 to $600 more expensive and are usually a value judgment on your part. All the water lines used to be copper and we were very reluctant to make a change. But soil conditions, water quality and the quality of copper have led the industry to install CPVC waterlines. The CPVC doesn’t corrode, is not affected by electrolysis or soil conditions and is far less prone to leaks. It has become a far better product. We still install copper for customers that request copper.
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WATER & PLUMBING
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