New construction can be appealing in many ways. New construction offers buyers the opportunity to work with builders to develop their new homes in accordance with their exact specifications. Whether the plans involve a custom-built wine cellar, a state of the art kitchen, or a central vacuuming system that’s bound to make household cleanup a perpetual snap, the idea of building a home to meet all of their functional and design-related needs is extremely enticing to most people considering purchasing new construction. While such opportunities do come with their fair share of advantages, one thing that people tend to hear about new construction is, “They just don’t build them like they used to.”
Walter Tulecki is the owner of WT Mechanical, a Central New Jersey plumbing, heating, and cooling company, and he can’t help but agree that there is a degree of truth to such statements. After all, homes aren’t being built in the same fashion as they were years ago, and for good reason. Many materials used in construction have evolved, and much of the technology used to build houses has changed. These days, builders can work with less expensive materials to make better, stronger houses. But that doesn’t mean that all new homes are well-built. According to Walter, advances in construction techniques can work to a homeowner’s benefit or disadvantage, and the outcome of the “old versus new” debate can heavily depend on the integrity of the builder in charge of the project.
As far as plumbing is concerned, builders of new construction tend to use materials such as PVC or plastic, whereas older homes used seemingly-stronger materials such as copper. Since metal prices have climbed in recent years, PVC piping is a great way for builders to save money on the cost of constructing new homes. Many builders also feel that PVC is an easier material to work with, and the fact that it happens to be cheaper doesn’t mean that it won’t get the job done. Still, the materials involved in new construction plumbing are only one component of the overall plumbing picture. Tulecki suggests that potential buyers get references for their builders and any builder subcontractors (including the plumbing team) before signing contracts and offering downpayments. This way, they can at least get a basic sense of their builder’s and subcontractors’ capabilities and reputation in the field.
Another thing that buyers should realize about new construction in general is that according to state law, every house has to be built to the minimum — not the maximum — of the official code. This means that in some cases, builders can technically cut corners and get away with it. However, most building codes are fairly strict to begin with. So even if a builder is only doing the bare minimum as far as plumbing goes, there is still a limit as to how bad a job he can end up doing. Also, some cities or townships are known to have stricter inspectors on staff who can make it more difficult for builders to pass code. While such high standards might be a nuisance to builders, buyers of new construction in such areas can at least rest assured that their plumbing is being done properly.
Regardless of the known or rumored standards of the city or township in question, Tulecki thinks that it’s a good idea for buyers to ask plenty of questions about their plumbing system at the onset. At that point, items that buyers aren’t happy with can be addressed and possibly changed before they become final. He also feels that new construction buyers should not be afraid to ask for a “plumbing upgrade” while they still have the opportunity to do so. Most buyers of new construction tend to focus on aesthetic upgrades such as hardwood floors, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. However, a plumbing upgrade can be just as important, if not more so, as the quality of plumbing within a house can affect its inhabitants’ home life daily.
If you’re in the process of purchasing new construction, then realize that when it comes to plumbing, you do have a say in what goes on. However, keep in mind that if you’re going to request changes to the plumbing system, then you should do so during the early or rough plumbing stages of construction. By asking for plumbing upgrades later on, you could cost yourself more money and delay the overall progress of your home. And as for that old saying about new houses not being built as well as the older ones; well, that’s up to you to judge.
