Multifamily Repiping Guide — Houston TX
When and how to repipe apartment buildings in Houston. Signs of failure, materials, cost per unit, and tenant coordination.
When and how to repipe apartment buildings in Houston. Signs of failure, materials, cost per unit, and tenant coordination.
Houston's water chemistry — chloramines, mineral content, and pH fluctuations — is hard on pipes. Galvanized steel and early CPVC systems installed in the 1970s through 1990s are reaching end-of-life across the metro. Repiping is one of the most disruptive and expensive capital projects a multifamily owner faces, but delaying it risks catastrophic water damage, insurance cancellations, and habitability complaints. This guide covers the practical decisions.
Discolored water (rust-orange or brown) at multiple fixtures, recurring pinhole leaks (more than 2-3 per year per building), low water pressure on upper floors, visible corrosion on exposed pipes in mechanical rooms, and rising insurance claims for water damage. If your property was built between 1970 and 1995 with galvanized supply lines or polybutylene (PB) waste lines, repiping is likely overdue. Insurance carriers are increasingly requiring repipe timelines as a condition of renewal for properties with galvanized or PB systems.
PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) has become the standard for multifamily repiping in Houston. Advantages: 40-50% lower material cost than copper, faster installation (flexible routing, fewer fittings), freeze resistance, and no corrosion from Houston's water chemistry. Copper remains preferred for exposed runs and high-temperature applications. A typical Houston repipe uses PEX for supply lines and PVC/ABS for waste. Avoid CPVC for new installations — Houston's chloramine-treated water degrades CPVC over 15-20 years.
Full supply-line repipe (hot and cold): $3,500-$6,500 per unit depending on unit size, access conditions, and finish restoration. Full supply and waste repipe: $6,000-$12,000 per unit. A 100-unit property typically budgets $450,000-$750,000 for a complete supply repipe including drywall repair and painting. Add 15-20% contingency for hidden conditions (asbestos insulation on old pipes, structural obstacles, mold behind walls). Tell Projects provides fixed-price proposals after a thorough scope assessment.
Water shutdowns are the biggest tenant impact. Plan repiping in vertical stacks (all units sharing a riser) to minimize the number of shutdown events. Each stack typically requires 2-3 days of water interruption per unit. Provide 48-hour written notice, offer temporary water stations on each floor, and schedule work during weekday hours. For occupied properties, plan 4-6 units per week to maintain livability. Vacant units should be piped first to establish the routing template.
A 100-unit property takes 12-16 weeks for a full supply repipe with occupied units. Breakdown: Week 1-2: mobilization, utility coordination, resident notification. Weeks 3-14: production piping at 6-8 units per week. Weeks 15-16: punch list, drywall finishing, final inspections. Projects can be accelerated to 8-10 weeks by running two pipe crews simultaneously, but this increases daily disruption. The city of Houston requires plumbing permits and inspections at rough-in and final stages.
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