Contractor Helpful Hints

HELPFUL HINTS FOR HIRING A SEWER LATERAL CONTRACTOR

1. It is advisable not to give any contractor a down payment.
2. Request a contract from the contractor that stipulates what work will be done (e.g., the linear feet of the pipe, yard restoration, etc.), when it will be done, and how much it will cost.
3. If the contractor feels that there might be some work which is unforeseen when providing you with a written quote, request the contractor to stipulate what that additional work may entail and how much it may cost. This may reduce the “surprises” when the contractor gives you his bill for the work performed.
4. Discuss with the contractor if he is guaranteeing his work and if so, how long is that guarantee in effect (a one year guarantee may be adequate). Describe what work the guarantee covers (e.g., all the work or only if settlement occurs).
5. Discuss payment terms and conditions with the contractor (e.g., when is payment expected, is payment in full required, what methods of payment are acceptable, is a retainage appropriate to ensure that all the work is completed to the property owner’s satisfaction).
6. Do not pay the contractor in full if not all of the work is completed. Do not trust the contractor to come back and finish the work after he has been paid in full.
7. Discuss with the contractor the time frame under which he will complete the work. Remember, fines and/or penalties may be assessed if the lateral is not connected in a timely manner. The property owner could stipulate that such fines and/or penalties are the contractor’s responsibility if the work is not completed within the agreed upon timeframe.
8. The property owner should specify to the contractor what work is needed. Some property owners take it upon themselves to restore the yard (topsoil, grading, raking stones, seed, mulch and fertilizer). Some property owners want their existing septic tanks abandoned (abandonment is recommended but not required).
9. It is always a good idea to request that the contractor provide you proof of insurance. What happens if he hits your house with a backhoe, does major damage, but does not have insurance to cover his mistake?
10. Some contractors pay their employees in cash to avoid paying workers compensation insurance and/or payroll taxes. This may not impact the quality of work; nonetheless, it is against the law.
11. Ask the contractor for references. The Lycoming County Water and Sewer Authority (LCWSA) will not provide references. However, there have been several sewer projects completed in Lycoming County in the last several years. Therefore, a contractor that has been in business should not have any problem providing you with references.
12. Remember, the cheapest is not always the best. In the case of lateral contractors, where the work involves multiple aspects (e.g., plumbing, heavy equipment operation, restoration, etc.), a cheap contractor is probably not qualified in all aspects of sewer lateral installation.
13. Some property owners may want to specify the services of a master plumber having the necessary licenses and certifications.
14. Get more than one price quote and make sure that you are comparing apples to apples.
15. If you and your neighbor (or neighbors) can make the necessary arrangements, a lateral contractor may be able to offer a discount since he will be able to save time and money by not having to mobilize and demobilize his equipment. Cost savings may also be realized if two adjoining property owners can utilize the same trench, with separate lateral pipes.
16. Ask the contractor what means of compaction he will utilize when bedding the pipe and backfilling the trench. If proper compaction is not used, settlement may result. If settlement occurs, it should be clearly defined in the contract whose responsibility it is to rectify such settlement (the property owner or the contractor).
17. Ask the contractor to specify the materials of construction (i.e., size of pipe, type of pipe, type of stone, etc.). Do these proposed materials meet LCWSA’s specifications?
18. If the lateral does not pass inspection the contract should clearly delineate that it is the contractor’s responsibility to rectify the situation so that it will pass inspection at no additional cost to the property owner. The property owner should not make final payment to the Contractor until the work passes LCWSA’s inspection.
19. The contract should specify that if the contractor causes damage to the property (curb, sidewalk, driveway, trees/shrubs, etc.), that it is the responsibility of the contractor to replace or repair the damage in kind and as close to original condition as possible.
20. It may be advisable to request that the contractor provide you with a drawing indicating his work and the improvements to the property. This may be very advantageous in the future if there is a clogged pipe or if the property is sold.
21. If the sewer lateral is going near a property owner’s water line or well, it may benefit the property owner to have the sewer main encased in concrete to minimize the potential for contamination of the water.
22. Insist that the contractor comply with all of the aspects of Pennsylvania Act 187 relative to notifying all utility companies to locate and mark their lines prior to the contractor doing any excavation. For example, property owner does not want to face the chance of a gas explosion if the contractor would accidentally dig up a buried gas line.
23. Make sure that the contractor is responsible for supplying an air compressor to test the new pipe for leaks.
24. The contractor should be able to provide evidence to the property owner that he has the proper health and safety equipment to complete the work. A property owner does not want to be responsible or liable for a contractor that has a trench collapse on his employee and kills him.
25. If the sewer lateral needs to be installed close to or near a foundation, the contractor should take special precautions to prevent a collapse of the foundation wall.
26. Make it clear whose responsibility it is to water the re-seeded area. It may not be fair to the contractor if he plants grass seed and the property owner does not water it during hot and dry weather patterns.
27. If the contractor is proposing on using topsoil, is it the topsoil that is being removed from the trench line and segregated for future use? Or is it topsoil that will be trucked into the site after the work is completed? If it is trucked in, the contractor should be able to certify that the material is truly topsoil and not just fill dirt lacking organic content.
28. Will the contractor return and plant new grass if the initial planting does not grow or if there are significant bare areas?

If you have questions please contact the LCWSA office Monday thru Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 570-546-8005 or toll free at (877) 546-8005.