What breaks in your house here depends almost entirely on which side of 1996 it was built.
Pre-war core
Galvanised supply, cast iron drains, and fixtures that have been repaired more than once. The honest advice on these is sometimes that another repair is money spent twice, and replacing a run is the better value. We will say so.
Post-redevelopment builds
The pipe is fine; the parts attached to it are what fail. Plastic supply connectors, builder-grade shutoff valves, hose bibs and fill valves. Inexpensive to put right, and much cheaper caught before they leak into a wall.
You often do not need demolition
Worth knowing before you agree to anything. Leak detection finds the failure point rather than guessing at it, and trenchless methods reline a failing drain without digging up the yard. If you have been told a repair needs major demolition, it is fair to ask whether a no-dig option applies to your situation.
Common calls
- Seized or leaking shutoff valves
- Hose bibs and exterior spigots
- Running toilets and fill valves
- Faucet and shower cartridges
- Pressure regulator replacement
- Supply connector failures