Rental Property Investor · San Diego · Member since 2019 · 73 posts · 34 votes
Hello bp!
One of my properties has a slab leak in the bathroom. A plumber went out and quoted 4K to remove the tub, excavate the slab, cut back until healthy line is found, and replace the line w pvc extension. After this is done, we’ll still need to level the concrete, replace the tile in the bathroom and address any flooring issues created from repairing the leak. Has anyone done this type of repair before? I’m wondering how much I can expect to pay when this is all over and whether there are any alternative options here. Thank you.
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
Hi Daniel,
Just some things off the top of my head to discuss with your contractor/plumber/workmen (if have not already).
Sometimes "Remove the Tub" means cut it up with a big saw into pieces or break the surround into unusable pieces.
This will add to the job cost due to replacement of the tub and surround.
It may depend on the workmen doing the job (different people do things differently), or how the tub and surround are constructed.
Where I'm going with this, is your "Fix the leak bid, may not include replacing the tub and surround (and floor) to the condition they were before the demolition work.
If this is true, the restoration to original will be an extra charge. New tub, concrete pour, new tub install, etc...
There is also clean up of the waste and debris to consider. What will happen to the old things and the concrete dust and rubble. Will it be left as a pile in the bathroom or will it be disposed of. Does your city allow disposal of such items at the curb, or must you or your contractor provide a dumpster. (Do they intend to dump the concrete rubble and dust down the Water Closet and just flush it--probably not best).
Austin, TX · Member since 2019 · 5k+ posts · 5k+ votes
6y
Hi Daniel,
Just some things off the top of my head to discuss with your contractor/plumber/workmen (if have not already).
Sometimes "Remove the Tub" means cut it up with a big saw into pieces or break the surround into unusable pieces.
This will add to the job cost due to replacement of the tub and surround.
It may depend on the workmen doing the job (different people do things differently), or how the tub and surround are constructed.
Where I'm going with this, is your "Fix the leak bid, may not include replacing the tub and surround (and floor) to the condition they were before the demolition work.
If this is true, the restoration to original will be an extra charge. New tub, concrete pour, new tub install, etc...
There is also clean up of the waste and debris to consider. What will happen to the old things and the concrete dust and rubble. Will it be left as a pile in the bathroom or will it be disposed of. Does your city allow disposal of such items at the curb, or must you or your contractor provide a dumpster. (Do they intend to dump the concrete rubble and dust down the Water Closet and just flush it--probably not best).
The plumber who did my work says this is fairly common in Las Vegas as we get small tremor earthquakes- not enough to move buildings like you guys in Cali but enough to move the ground to shift the pipes & cause the leak/break. I had what they call a hot slab leak 1 plumber quoted around the same amt as yours little more to go through the concrete- Another plumber did a bypass through the walls. Insurance does not pay for it. I hope this helps.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
6y
You need to make sure you don’t ave a post-tension slab (it will say so in the garage with a warning) also need to find out why it’s leaking. I’ve had hot water leaks (you could feel the concrete was actually hotter.) that were caused by interactions with our water/soil/etc. this means if you fix one spot the other 99% is just as bad, you do the whole thing in wall instead of under slab. ($3500-$5500 over the last few years each time.)
Look at doing a full repipe they will install new water lines in the attic and most times they can be done in a few days. it will be done in pex so less holes in walls less repair. Plus once you have one slab leak you could start playing wack a mole fix one and weeks later you have another.
Rental Property Investor · San Diego · Member since 2019 · 73 posts · 34 votes
6y
@Bill Brandt Thank you for the tip. Not sure if it’s a post tension slab so I’ll look into it. Do you have any suggestions to avoid doing this again and again? 3-5k a pop cuts into the bottom line quickly.
Rental Property Investor · San Diego · Member since 2019 · 73 posts · 34 votes
6y
@Corey Grosslight thank you for the tip. Yes, wondering whether I’ll need to repipe. The home is 40 years old with copper pipes so I expected another few decades of life. I’m surprised this issue is coming up now. Live and learn...
Real Estate Appraiser · Isabella lake, CA · Member since 2018 · 628 posts · 491 votes
6y
If you can avoid jackhammering the slab it will probably be cheaper.
We used to live in a condo. They started out jackhammering the slab, but than decided to repipe the building and ran pipes up the outside walls, abandoning the pipes in the slab.
A reroute is definitely the answer but I would not do it in the slab if the leak is in the tub area trace the line and It at the nearest point and reroute to feed through the wall and attic.
Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y
@Daniel Z Fang in CA, I’d definitely look at reposing the bathroom in the attic or even walls. Even with some drywall repair, should be much cleaner and easier.
Plus, as long as there’s access behind the tub wall, there should be no reason to remove the tub or surround.
I don't know how much time you can invest in diagnosing, but some legwork will definitely alert the plumber to your understanding therefore lead to a better estimate rather than have him take the more expensive route. Water feeds in the slab aren't done here in Houston too much, but where I learned construction in Louisiana is normal. When a home is built the plumbers layout the feeds in the shortest line possible to cut costs so it may be well for you to start at the service/ meter and visualize the routing to see. The tub/ shower valve many times is accessible through a linen closet in the bathroom where the drywall removal and patching won't be in a high visibility area. The next water feed point of use you can access would be the place to cut and cap and reroute to that area. Drilling through top plates and replacing drywall is a lot cheaper than destroying the tub and breaking concrete. Pex tubing is an excellent product for re-routes.
Next time say it’s a sewer leak, when you say slab leak that says it’s the domestic fresh water system issue. Since it’s a sewer line look into a lining company. If the pipes are not yet collapsed they will shoot epoxy in the lines creating a plastic system inside the cast iron.
Investor · Saint Helen, MI · Member since 2019 · 13 posts · 3 votes
6y
@Daniel Z Fang
I am not an expert but live in an area where slabs are very common. Most people I know that have a slab leak abandon the old pipes and instead run new lines up the walls. Would be worth bringing up to your plumber to save major money.
Rental Property Investor · Upstate, NY · Member since 2012 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
6y
Happened to my BIL in PHX. $26k to dig up slab & replace all drain/sewer lines. If it failed in one spot its going to fail somewhere else.
It's an attached 2 story 1970's era unit so I assume there was no other option. His insurance paid some but it took a l-o-n-g time to finish it all. He sent pics of it & it looked like they ran new lines below the slab.
Insurance Agent · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2019 · 158 posts · 80 votes
6y
Pretty rare if you didn't already add it, but some home insurance policies are starting to cover slab damage and/or plumbing leaks if you add by endorsement. They may not cover the pipes, but they sometimes will cover the damage done to the slab and surrounding area that had to be broken to see the problems. Check with your insurance agent.