Homeowner Guide
How To Hire A Trenchless Pipe Contractor In Florida
Ten questions every homeowner should ask before signing a pipe repair contract. Print this list, take it on-site, and compare bids apples to apples.
Question 01
What Florida license numbers do you hold, and can I verify them?
Why Ask
Trenchless pipe work touches plumbing, underground utilities, and structural systems. A single license does not always cover the full scope.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A statewide CFC plumbing license plus a CUC underground utility license, with numbers you can look up on the DBPR website.
Red Flag
Only a handyman registration, an out-of-state license, or a refusal to give numbers over the phone.
Question 02
Are you the crew doing the work, or will you sub it out?
Why Ask
Warranty enforcement and quality control break down when the sales company and the install crew are different businesses.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
In-house W-2 crews with named foremen and a resin manufacturer certification held by the company doing the install.
Red Flag
'We use vetted partners' with no direct answer about who shows up on install day.
Question 03
What is the actual liner and cure method you will use in my home?
Why Ask
The liner material and cure method drive the strength, longevity, and safety of the finished pipe.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A named felt or fiberglass liner, an epoxy or vinyl-ester resin, and a UV or steam cure with cure logs kept on file.
Red Flag
'Our proprietary blend' with no data sheet, no ASTM reference, and no cure record.
Question 04
Will the finished liner meet ASTM F1216 Class I structural standards?
Why Ask
Class I means the new liner can stand alone as a pipe even if the host cast iron completely fails around it.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
Yes, with a written statement of Class I design and a wall thickness calculation for your specific pipe size and depth.
Red Flag
'Our coating protects the existing pipe' is a coating, not a structural liner.
Question 05
Is the warranty transferable, and what exactly does it cover?
Why Ask
A pipe repair often outlives the current owner. Transferability protects your resale value.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A written warranty on the liner itself for at least 50 years, transferable to the next owner at no cost, with a clear claims process.
Red Flag
A 'lifetime' warranty tied to the original owner only, or a labor-only warranty that excludes the liner.
Question 06
How will you protect my floors, walls, and fixtures during the work?
Why Ask
Most cast iron work happens under finished floors. Damage prevention is a real cost, and pricing it into the bid is a sign of a serious contractor.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
Floor protection, plastic containment, negative-air machines when cutting, and a written scope for any drywall or tile that must be opened and restored.
Red Flag
'We work clean, don't worry about it' with no protection line items in the estimate.
Question 07
What does the pre-work camera inspection show, and can I have the footage?
Why Ask
The camera video is the only honest baseline. Without it, no one can tell you what was actually wrong or verify what was actually fixed.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A recorded inspection with distance counter, a written report tied to specific footage marks, and a copy delivered to you.
Red Flag
A verbal 'it's really bad in there' with no video, or footage that never leaves the technician's tablet.
Question 08
Will you re-camera the pipe after cure and give me the post-inspection?
Why Ask
A post-cure camera is the only way to confirm the liner is round, continuous, and reinstates every branch connection cleanly.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
Yes, a full post-cure inspection is included at no extra cost, delivered to you as part of closeout paperwork.
Red Flag
'We spot check' or a post-inspection quoted as an add-on line item.
Question 09
What is the total price in writing, and what could change it?
Why Ask
Trenchless work rewards precision. A vague number lets scope creep drive the final invoice past the proposal.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A fixed price with a defined scope, a short list of named unknowns (for example, a collapsed section behind a slab), and unit prices for each.
Red Flag
Time-and-materials only, verbal change orders, or a 'starting at' number without a cap.
Question 10
Who do I call if something goes wrong five years from now?
Why Ask
The warranty is only as good as the phone number that answers it.
A Good Answer Sounds Like
A single Florida office with a permanent local number, a physical address, and a written commitment to respond within a set number of business days.
Red Flag
A national sales number that routes to a rotating cast of subcontractors, or a company only reachable by web form.
Written By The Crew That Does The Work
These guides are written and reviewed by Southeast Services, a Florida-licensed plumbing and underground utility contractor operating statewide since 2005. Every answer reflects field experience from thousands of camera inspections and pipe lining projects across Florida.
Licensed · Certified · Insured
State of Florida
Dept. of Business & Professional Regulation
Florida Certified
Plumbing Contractor
CFC1429186
Florida Certified
Underground Utility Contractor
CUC1223872
Florida Certified
General Contractor
CGC1525265
Florida Certified
Building Contractor
CBC055002
NASSCO Member · BBB Accredited · Fully Insured
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