Aging plumbing in Strata buildings leads to leaks, water damage, and insurance claims. Learn when your building needs a plumbing re-fit and how the re-piping process works.
If your Strata building was constructed before 2000, there's a good chance the original plumbing is approaching — or has passed — its expected service life. Copper pipes typically last 50–70 years, but galvanized steel and early polybutylene systems can fail in as little as 15–25 years. When these systems start failing, the consequences are severe: burst pipes, water damage to multiple units, mold growth, and skyrocketing insurance premiums.
A plumbing re-fit is the systematic replacement of aging supply lines, drain lines, or both throughout a Strata building. Unlike emergency repairs that patch individual failures, a re-fit addresses the root cause by replacing the entire system with modern materials — typically PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) for supply lines and ABS or PVC for drainage.
The signs that your building needs a re-fit include: recurring leaks in multiple units, discolored water (rust or sediment), low water pressure on upper floors, visible corrosion on exposed pipes, increasing frequency of emergency plumbing calls, and insurance carriers flagging plumbing age as a risk factor.
The re-piping process in a Strata building is complex but manageable with experienced contractors. It typically involves a pre-construction assessment of all plumbing access points, unit-by-unit scheduling to minimize disruption (usually 2–3 days per suite), temporary water shutoffs coordinated with residents, opening walls and ceilings at strategic access points, installing new supply and/or drain lines, pressure testing and inspection, patching and finishing of opened surfaces, and final walkthrough with each unit owner.
Cost varies significantly based on building size, pipe material, and access conditions, but typical Strata re-fits range from $5,000 to $12,000 per unit for supply line replacement. Drain line replacement adds additional cost depending on the extent of the work.
At Strata Property Services, plumbing re-fits are our #1 specialty. Our crews have re-piped hundreds of Strata units across the Lower Mainland, and we understand the unique challenges — from Strata bylaw compliance to resident communication to coordinating with property managers. We provide fixed-price quotes, detailed scheduling, and complete documentation for Strata records.