Canal Fulton Plumbing for Downtown Renovations and New Neighborhood Homes

Mixed-Use Buildings: Shop Below, Apartment Above

Turning the upper floor of an older commercial building into living space is one of the more rewarding projects we work on, and one of the trickier ones. The apartment needs a kitchen, a bathroom and laundry, and every drain from that floor has to get down through the business below without ruining its ceiling or interrupting its hours.

We start by finding a path for a new stack, often in a back corner, a closet or a stair chase, and then lay out the apartment around it. Separate water shutoffs and, where possible, separate water heating keep the two uses independent, which matters to owners when one part of the building is leased.

Working above an open business

Drilling, cutting and water shutoffs are scheduled with the tenant downstairs. Ceilings are protected and test water is handled carefully so nothing ends up on merchandise or customers.

Dealing With Old Pipes in Old Buildings

Buildings in an older downtown have usually been plumbed in layers. It is common to find galvanized supply lines, cast iron drains with lead joints and earlier repairs that do not meet current standards. When the walls are open for a renovation, that is the moment to replace them. Our repiping service covers whole-building supply replacement, and anything the inspector is likely to flag can be corrected through our code violation repair work during the same job.

New Homes in Growing Neighborhoods

In Canal Fulton's newer subdivisions, the work follows a more predictable rhythm. The builder sets the schedule, and we fit into it at three main points:

• Basement or slab stage: under-floor drains, the sump pit and any ejector basin for a future basement bath
• Rough-in: supply, drain, vent and gas piping after framing and before insulation
• Trim: fixtures, water heater start-up and final testing after the finishes are in

Planning for the low ground

With the Tuscarawas River and the canal nearby, some lots sit low or have a high water table. A properly sized sump pit and discharge line belong in the basement plan from day one. Our sump pump page covers pump and backup choices.

Upgrades Worth Choosing Before Rough-In

Buyers working with a builder often have a short window to choose options. On the plumbing side, a few choices are cheap during rough-in and expensive later: a roughed-in basement bathroom, a utility sink in the garage, an extra frost-free hose bib on the far side of the house, a gas stub for a future range or grill, and a recirculation line for faster hot water. We are happy to talk through those options with the builder and the buyer together. See our new plumbing installations page for more on fixtures and equipment.

The general approach we take to all construction work across the county is laid out on our construction plumbing overview.