New Construction Plumbing in Doraville, GA

Some owners hire a general contractor and never think about who files which form. Others act as their own project manager and hire the framer, the electrician and the plumber directly. For that second group, new construction plumbing begins with paperwork and scope rather than pipe. Doraville asks for a particular document with every permit, and knowing about it early keeps the first inspection from slipping.

The affidavit Doraville asks for

The city's Community Development permits page asks for a notarized affidavit with each permit. An owner who lives in the home full time and does the work signs a homeowner affidavit; when a contractor has been hired, the property owner signs one that names that contractor. Applications are filed online.

Who can do the plumbing

The city's checklist of residential work that needs a permit includes new plumbing lines and fixture work that alters piping. It also states that plumbing and the other trades must be performed by contractors holding the proper license. For an owner-managed build the practical upshot is simple: hire the plumbing contractor before the permit application goes in, because the property owner affidavit has to name them.

Defining the plumbing scope in writing

Without a general contractor coordinating trades, every gap between scopes becomes the owner's problem. A clear plumbing agreement answers questions like these:

• Does the scope include the water service from the meter and the building sewer to the tap, or only piping inside the foundation?
• Who supplies fixtures, faucets and the water heater, and who receives and stores them on site?
• Is gas piping for appliances included?
• Who digs the trenches, and who backfills after inspection?
• Who repairs framing or fire blocking disturbed by pipe runs?
• How are changes priced once rough-in is done?

Sequencing trades around the plumber

Plumbing goes into the walls ahead of most other systems because drain lines must hold a constant slope and cannot bend around obstacles the way wires can. Book the plumbing rough-in after framing and roof dry-in but before the HVAC installer runs ducts, and make sure the electrician knows which bays the drains will occupy. Once rough-in passes inspection, insulation and drywall follow, and fixtures and the water heater come last, after cabinets and counters. Builders run new construction plumbing in that same order; on an owner-managed job, you are the one keeping it.

Choosing the water heater early

The water heater shapes rough-in more than most owners expect. A tank model needs floor space and, if it burns gas, a vent route. A tankless water heater needs a larger gas line or a heavy electrical circuit, along with its own venting and, on many models, a condensate drain. Deciding before rough-in lets the plumber run the right gas, water and drain connections the first time.

Keeping your records straight

An owner-builder is the person who will need the paperwork later. Keep the permit, inspection results, fixture model numbers and the manufacturer's warranty papers for the water heater and fixtures in one folder. Photos of open walls before drywall, with a tape measure in the frame, make future repairs much easier. Once you have moved in, our plumbing services cover everyday repairs and upgrades.

Questions owner-builders ask in Doraville

What if I change plumbers partway through the build?

Tell Community Development before the new contractor starts. Because the property owner affidavit names the contractor doing the work, a change usually means updating the permit paperwork, and the new plumber will want to see what has already passed inspection. Keep inspection results and photos of open walls so the handover does not mean opening finished work.

What does the plumber need from me to start?

A full set of plans, the fixture list with model numbers where you have them, the water heater choice and a site plan showing where the water and sewer connections are. Share the framing schedule as well so rough-in is booked at the right moment. The more of this is settled before rough-in, the fewer changes, delays and added charges come later.

Does adding a fixture during construction need a new permit?

That depends on the permit already issued and on what is changing. The city's checklist treats new plumbing lines and fixture work that alters piping as permit work, so a fixture added after issue may need a revision. Ask the plumbing contractor to check with Community Development before roughing in anything that was not on the approved plans.

Getting your build organized

Running your own build in Doraville and want the plumbing scope pinned down before the affidavit is notarized? Reach Alpha Plumbing and Sewer at (404) 409-4448.