Timeline depends on home size, layout, and access. Here's a realistic breakdown of what to expect for a single-family home repipe — from initial inspection to final documentation.
The Short Answer
Most single-family homes in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody take 1 to 3 working days for a full Poly B to PEX-A replacement. Smaller homes (under 1,500 sq ft, single-storey, accessible crawl space) are often done in a day. Larger homes, two-storeys with finished basements, or homes with complex mechanical setups take 2 to 3 days. Very large homes (3,500+ sq ft) or homes with difficult access conditions can take longer.
Water is shut off during working hours and restored each evening. Most families stay in the home throughout the job without significant disruption.
What Affects the Timeline
Home size is the primary factor. More pipe means more time. A 1,200 sq ft bungalow has dramatically less supply pipe than a 3,000 sq ft two-storey — fewer runs, fewer fixtures, less crawl space or basement to work through.
Number of storeys matters because supply lines have to reach each level. A two-storey home requires running pipe up from the basement mechanical room to the second floor bathrooms, which means working through wall cavities or chases.
Crawl space vs. slab is a significant factor. Homes with crawl spaces — common in Coquitlam and the Tri-Cities — allow the main supply runs to be accessed and replaced without opening walls. Slab homes require more wall work, which takes longer.
Finished vs. unfinished spaces change the drywall access picture. If the mechanical room and crawl space contain most of the Poly B (which is common), wall cuts are minimal. Homes with finished basements where Poly B runs through finished ceiling spaces require more careful access work.
- Small home (under 1,500 sq ft): typically 1 day
- Mid-size home (1,500–2,500 sq ft): typically 1–2 days
- Large home (2,500–3,500 sq ft): typically 2–3 days
- Very large or complex: 3+ days
- Strata/multi-unit: assessed separately depending on building
What Happens Each Day
Day one almost always starts in the mechanical room and crawl space — the highest-priority sections with the most accessible Poly B. We drain the system, remove the main supply runs, and begin installing PEX-A from the meter outward. By end of day one, the new main supply system is typically in and water can be restored for the evening.
Day two (if needed) handles the upper floor runs, bathroom supply lines, and any wall access required. We work outward from the main lines installed on day one, connecting each fixture branch.
Final day is pressure testing, connection checks, drywall patch priming, cleanup, and documentation production. The completion certificate and photos are delivered before we leave.
What You Need to Prepare
Not much. Clear access to the mechanical room, crawl space hatch, and under-sink areas. Move items stored against walls in the basement or utility room. If you have a water softener or filtration system, let us know — we work around these.
We protect floors and finishes before we start. We clean up at the end of each day. The house is livable throughout the job.