Services ยท Sewer
Clay to PVC Sewer Replacement for Homes Across the GTA
Clay tile laterals were standard across the GTA for much of the twentieth century. Many are still working. Many are not. Swapping to PVC removes the joints roots love.
- Repair options explained before any digging
- Main cleared from the cleanout to the city connection
- Recorded camera footage you can keep
Diagnosis first, tested after
- Licensed & insured: ask us
- Camera before cutting
- Water-tested repairs
- Booked by phone
Signs it is time to call
The case for replacement builds when a camera shows roots at many joints, cracked bells, collapsed sections or sags that hold water along most of the run. If you are cutting roots every year, or have had more than one backup, replacement often makes sense, especially when combined with a backwater valve installed at the same time.
Clay pipe does not wear out so much as get pried apart, one joint at a time.
On the job, step by step
- Camera and locate the full run, marking depth at intervals.
- Arrange permits and utility locates.
- Excavate by machine or by hand where trees or tight side yards demand it, or use trenchless bursting where the route suits.
- Lay new PVC on a bedding of granular material at correct slope, connecting to the existing city stub.
- Inspection, backfill in lifts and compaction, then restore the surface.
GTA houses and what they change
Narrow lots in older Toronto neighbourhoods often mean the lateral runs under the front porch or a shared side path. Suburban lots in Scarborough, Etobicoke and North York usually allow a straight trench across the front yard. Depth varies from a few feet to well over two metres. Many homeowners also ask whether their municipality offers a subsidy toward backwater valves or downspout disconnection, and several have offered programs. Check the current terms with your city.
Before you pick up the phone
Ask whether the quote includes permits, inspection, backfill and surface restoration, and what happens if the city side also needs work. Call (365) 387-8531 to talk through options.
Signs you need this
- Wet or sunken strip of lawn over the lateral line
- A backup every spring or every few months, like clockwork
- Basement floor drain bubbles or backs up when upstairs toilets flush
What is included
- Excavation and shoringOpening the line where a joint has failed
- Push camera with locatorFootage of joints, offsets and bellies, depth marked on the lawn
- Typical cause
- Roots at clay joints, sags, broken cast iron
- Access point
- Front-wall cleanout or floor drain
- Proof of fix
- Clean camera run to the city connection
Common questions
Is trenchless always cheaper?
Not always. It saves landscaping and driveways, but on a short, shallow run across an open lawn, a conventional trench can be simpler.