Housing at a glance: Thornhill
- Typical eras
- Historic village homes, 1970s and 80s subdivisions, recent towers
- Common pipe
- Cast iron and galvanized in old homes; copper and ABS in subdivisions
- Watch for
- Heritage plumbing, aging copper, condo leaks, two municipalities
Old Thornhill village
- The historic houses along Yonge and the side streets near the old village have been re-plumbed in pieces over the years. We find cast iron stacks, sections of galvanized supply and drains that wander under additions. Working in these houses calls for careful access and respect for original trim and plaster.
- Before changing anything, we trace what is there. Often the most useful outcome of a first visit is a clear map of which pipe goes where.
The big subdivisions
- Thornhill grew fast in the 1970s and 80s, and those houses now have original copper, seized main valves and fixture shut-offs that weep. Water heaters are on their third or fourth replacement. Finished basements are the norm, so a sump failure or a sewer back-up does real damage.
- We often recommend a backwater valve and a battery-backed sump in these basements, along with replacing the main valve with a lever-style ball valve.
What we check in these homes
- Heritage plumbing traced before changes
- Seized main valve in a 1970s house
- Condo unit shut-off located
- Backwater valve in a finished basement
- Which town issues your permit
Condo living
- Condo towers along the Yonge corridor and near Promenade bring unit-level calls: leaking water heaters in closets, washing machine hoses, toilet supply lines and slow kitchen drains in shared stacks. Repairs in a condo usually need building management involved for shut-offs and access.
- Knowing your unit shut-off location before an emergency is the single most useful thing a condo owner can do.
Two municipalities
- Because Thornhill is split between Vaughan and Markham, the permit office and water department depend on your side of Yonge. We handle the permit side for our work and know which office to call.
- From Richmond Hill, Thornhill is a short drive down Yonge or Bayview.
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.