Sheltons Construction is a licensed Oregon plumbing contractor working Tualatin — emergency calls, water heaters, drains and sewer, leak repair and repiping, and plumbing for remodels and new construction, from the older neighborhoods near Tualatin Commons to the newer subdivisions off Basalt Creek and Norwood.
What plumbing work looks like in Tualatin
Tualatin is a mix of eras. Around the historic core and along Boones Ferry and Martinazzi you've got homes from the 1960s–80s, often on slab or crawlspace, with galvanized or early copper supply lines that are due for attention and cast iron or clay drain lines that have had forty-plus years of tree roots working into the joints. Out toward Basalt Creek, Sherwood-adjacent, and the newer build-out near the Tualatin River, houses are recent enough to have PEX and ABS — different problems, usually installation shortcuts or a fixture that was never set right, rather than age.
The Tualatin River and the water table in low-lying areas near it mean some yards drain slowly, and a sluggish yard drain is sometimes mistaken for a sewer problem when it's really grading. A camera down the line settles it either way instead of guessing.
Which services come up most here
Water heaters — a lot of Tualatin's 1970s–80s housing stock is on original or once-replaced tanks tucked in garages or small utility closets. When one fails it's usually total, not a slow leak, because they sit hidden until they don't. See water heater repair & installation and, for the newer homes or anyone tight on closet space, tankless water heaters.
Drains and sewer — mature street trees and older clay laterals mean root intrusion is the most common sewer call in the established parts of town. Drain cleaning handles routine backups; where roots have really taken hold, hydro jetting clears the line properly instead of just punching a hole through it. Either way, a sewer camera inspection shows what's actually in the pipe before anyone recommends digging it up.
Emergencies — a burst supply line, no hot water, or a backed-up drain doesn't wait for business hours. Emergency plumbing covers the calls that can't sit overnight.
Do older Tualatin homes need repiping?
Not automatically. Galvanized pipe from the older stock does corrode from the inside and eventually restricts flow or fails at a joint, but plenty of homes have already been partially repiped over the years. The honest answer comes from looking at what's actually there — supply material, water pressure, any past leak history — not from a blanket recommendation. Ask when scheduling any other work and it can be checked at the same time.
Do I need a permit for a water heater or repipe in Tualatin?
Water heater replacements and repiping typically require a permit and inspection under Washington County or the City of Tualatin's process, depending on the scope. That paperwork is handled as part of the job rather than left for the homeowner to sort out.
Nearby areas
Sheltons also works Tigard, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Portland, and Gresham. For questions before booking, see the FAQ, or go straight to contact to get a time on the books.
FAQ
Does Sheltons Construction serve Tualatin? Yes. Tualatin is part of the regular Portland-metro service area, including both the older neighborhoods near downtown and the newer subdivisions toward Basalt Creek.
What's the most common plumbing issue in Tualatin homes? In older parts of town, root intrusion in clay or cast iron sewer lines and aging galvanized supply pipe. In newer construction, it's usually a fixture or installation issue rather than age.
Can you inspect a sewer line before I buy a house in Tualatin? Yes, a camera inspection can be scheduled as part of a home purchase to see the condition of the lateral before closing.
Do you install tankless water heaters in Tualatin? Yes, both tank and tankless installs, including for homes with limited utility space in newer builds.
