Over recent years there seems to be confusion on whether a water main or sewer can be installed below a front stoop or steps of the house. There are some that say it is physically impossible, its a guarantee that the steps will collapse and there are others who successfully complete these types of installs on a daily basis.
Installing a water main or sewer below a set of stairs should not be a problem in most cases. If the licensed plumber has experience, takes all of the necessary precautions and there are no previous issue with the steps the installation should not be a problem.
The installation requires compressed air to make a small tunnel below the steps, from this point we may tunnel all the way into the house. In some cases we are required to make another hole below the steps to assist in snaking the pipe through, this really all depends on the layout of your stoop in conjunction with the foundation wall.
Again, if done properly and professionally you should not have any issues with the future integrity of your stoop. The tunnels are small and should not cause any harm to a structurally sound stoop.
There are some cases where the stoop is not structurally sound. This will most commonly come to our attention during the initial meeting, if the property owner is aware it should be pointed out. It is critical to notify the on site estimator if you are aware of any issues so we can plan a secondary course of action for your piping installation.
