Start with conditions, not a product
Galvanized and early plastic supply lines tend to announce their age gradually—falling pressure, rust-tinted water, or repeat pinhole leaks—before a full repipe becomes the only option.
Build a complete scope
- Which sections are failing versus merely aging
- Routing that avoids finished historic-district interiors where possible
- Material choice suited to the coastal climate
- Permits and pressure testing before closing walls
- What's excluded and how surprises are priced
Wilmington context
Homes built before the barrier islands and inland subdivisions took off in recent decades are the most likely to still carry original supply lines, and salt air and humidity accelerate corrosion on anything left exposed.