Pymble is one of the Upper North Shore's grand old suburbs: Federation and interwar houses on deep blocks, substantial post-war homes, and gardens that have had a century to establish themselves. Those gardens are the reason people live here, and they are also the single biggest cause of the drainage work we do.
What we see most in Pymble
Root intrusion, by a wide margin. Mature trees put roots into earthenware drains laid when the houses were built, and on a large block the sewer line out to the main can be a long run — often under lawn, paving or a driveway. Excavating it is expensive and destructive, which is why we inspect with a camera first and reline where the pipe is sound enough to take it. Keeping the garden intact is usually worth as much to the owner as the repair itself.
Older homes also mean older supply pipework: galvanised steel, lead-jointed fittings in the oldest houses, and copper that has been patched more than once. Pressure problems, discoloured water after the taps have been off for a while, and leaks inside wall cavities all trace back to this.
The topography adds its own difficulties. The land falls away steeply towards the Lane Cove valley in places, which means stormwater moving fast, retaining walls with drainage behind them that may or may not still work, and sub-floor areas that stay damp long after the rain has stopped.
We also do a good deal of work on renovations here, because Pymble tends to renovate rather than rebuild. That means connecting new fixtures to old services, and being honest about what should be replaced while the walls are open rather than two years later.
Getting us out
If something is draining slowly, leaking, or not getting hot, call us and describe it. We will tell you what we think is happening and what it is likely to take to fix. Emergency plumbing is available 24 hours.
