What does new construction plumbing cover?
Everything below the finished floor and behind the walls before it's everything you see at the end. On a typical build that's four stages: underground utilities (sewer lateral, water service, any storm or footing drain tie-ins) before the slab or foundation goes in; DWV and water supply rough-in once framing is up; a pressure and air test before drywall closes the walls; and trim-out — tubs, sinks, toilets, water heater, fixtures — after paint. Same sequence on an ADU, a duplex, or a light-commercial tenant space, just scaled to the plan set.
When do you need a new construction plumber, not a repair plumber?
If there's a plan set, a permit, and inspections tied to specific framing stages, you need a crew that works from drawings and shows up on a build schedule, not one that shows up same-day for a leak. That's most of what a new construction plumber does: underground and rough-in for a ground-up house or ADU, a commercial tenant improvement build-out, or the plumbing scope on a full-gut remodel that's basically new construction behind the same walls. If the job is a repair, a fixture swap, or a remodel that keeps most of the existing rough-in, see remodel plumbing or bathroom plumbing instead.
How does the visit go on a new build?
We start from the approved plan set and the county or city permit, not a guess at what's there. Underground: sewer lateral and water service are laid and pressure-tested before backfill, with the inspector called before the trench closes. Rough-in: DWV, vents, and supply lines go in during framing, water heater location and gas or electric run confirmed, then the whole system gets an air or water test for the rough-in inspection before insulation and drywall. Trim: once the house is painted, we set fixtures — toilets, sinks, tub and shower valves, water heater, dishwasher and ice-maker lines, hose bibs — and pull the final. We coordinate directly with the GC or super on timing so plumbing doesn't hold up the next trade, and we're on-site for the rough-in and final inspections, not just the pour.
What affects the cost on a new build?
Lot conditions drive underground cost more than anything else — depth to the existing main, rock or heavy clay, how far the water meter or sewer lateral is from the house, and whether the lot slopes toward or away from the street. Fixture count and layout drive rough-in and trim cost: bathroom count, kitchen island plumbing, a wet bar, laundry on an upper floor, a basement bath that needs an ejector pump. Water heater choice (tank versus tankless — see water heater installation and tankless water heaters) and whether you want hot water recirculation change the rough-in. Gas piping for a range or fireplace, a sump pump for crawlspace drainage, and any change orders after rough-in is closed up all add cost too. We walk the plan set with you or the GC before pricing so the number reflects the actual lot and layout, not an average house.
What's specific to Portland-area new builds?
Soil and water table vary a lot across the metro, and it changes the underground scope. Infill lots in inner Portland, Milwaukie, and parts of Gresham often sit on heavy clay that holds water and needs careful bedding around the sewer lateral. Lower-lying areas near Tualatin, Sherwood, and parts of Wilsonville can have a high water table that calls for a sump pump or perimeter drain tied into the plumbing scope from the start, not added after the fact. Hillside lots in West Linn, Lake Oswego, and the West Hills mean longer runs or ejector pumps for a daylight basement. Each jurisdiction — Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, plus the cities within them and Salem to the south — has its own inspector scheduling quirks, and knowing which ones want a call 24 hours ahead versus same-day keeps a build from sitting idle waiting on a rough-in sign-off.
Why Sheltons Construction for a new build
We're a licensed Oregon plumbing and construction contractor working the Portland metro — Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties, and down I-5 to Salem for larger or scheduled jobs like this one. New construction work is schedule work: we show up when the plan says to show up, test what needs testing before it's covered, and stay on the phone with the GC when the schedule moves, which on a build it usually does.
What to do now
If you're bidding or scheduling a build, talk to us about your project with the plan set or address so we can scope underground and rough-in against the actual lot. For everything after the new construction phase — service, repair, and remodel work in occupied houses — see emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line repair, leak detection & pipe repair, repiping, water pressure, kitchen plumbing, toilets, fixtures, garbage disposals, frozen & burst pipes, sewer camera inspection, hydro jetting, or commercial plumbing. Questions about permits or process are on our FAQ.
New construction plumbing across the metro: Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Tigard, Tualatin, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Happy Valley, Clackamas, Wilsonville, Troutdale, Sherwood, and Salem.