Housing at a glance: Beverley Acres
- Typical eras
- Late 1940s to 1960s bungalows and storey-and-a-half homes
- Common pipe
- Clay laterals, cast iron under-slab drains, galvanized and early copper supply
- Watch for
- Roots, channel rot in cast iron, lead or galvanized services
Under the basement floor
- In these bungalows, the drains under the slab are typically cast iron. Over decades, the bottom of the pipe corrodes into a rough channel that catches paper and grease, while the top looks fine. When we camera these lines we often see that channel rot near the floor drain and toward the front wall cleanout.
- Severely rotted cast iron under the floor eventually leaks into the soil beneath the slab. Replacement means cutting the floor, which is best done before a basement is finished, not after.
Out to the street
- Beyond the foundation, the lateral is usually clay tile in short lengths. Roots from the big trees on these lots find the joints. A main that backs up every summer and gets cleaned every year is very common in Beverley Acres. Cleaning keeps it running; replacing the lateral with PVC stops the cycle for good.
- Before replacing, a camera run tells us whether a few joints or the whole line is the problem.
What we check in these homes
- Cast iron channel rot under the slab
- Clay lateral roots every summer
- Galvanized supply narrowing
- Possible lead service at the wall
- Old drains before finishing the basement
Water coming in
- Homes of this age may have galvanized steel supply lines, which narrow with rust until the upstairs shower barely runs. Some may have a lead service from the street. A scratch test where the pipe enters the basement is a quick way to check.
- Replacing the service and the galvanized branches together usually brings pressure back to what a modern bathroom expects.
Renovating a bungalow
- Many of these houses are being opened up: walls removed, kitchens moved, basements finished for family or a suite. Each of those is a chance to replace old drains and supplies while the walls are open, which costs far less than coming back for it later.
- If you are buying in Beverley Acres, putting a camera down the lateral before closing is cheap insurance.
Richmond Hill note: most houses here sit on York Region municipal water with fairly hard supply, and many basements have a floor drain tied to the sanitary lateral. Mention both on the phone; it changes what goes on the truck.
Want a second opinion on your own pipes first? Dial (365) 363-1575; the person answering holds the wrench.