Film the Sewer Before You Remodel in Los Angeles
The expensive sewer problem in a remodel is the one found after the tile is grouted. A camera and a locate, done while the yard and the slab are still easy to reach, is cheaper than the same picture six months later.
What buyers and owners should ask
Does a cleanout exist. When was the line last filmed, and is the recording available. Clay, Orangeburg, or plastic. Any spot repair already in the run. A seller's "we just had it snaked" is a clearing, not a structural report. If you are about to add a bathroom, the line has to carry more than it carried last year.
What to do with a bad frame
One bad joint can be repaired before the addition covers it. A flat Orangeburg run should be priced into the remodel, not discovered when the new bath backs up on the first holiday. The mark on the ground tells the builder whether the trench crosses the new footing.
What can wait
A clean, round plastic lateral with a cleanout does not need a speech. Film it, keep the file, and build. The point of the inspection is to stop the wrong project, not to invent one.
Questions people ask before they call
Do I need a camera if the drain is running again? If this is the second time, yes. A clearing that does not last is the reason to look.
Will I get the recording? Yes. It is yours.
If water is on the floor, call 818-631-7296. The form can wait.