Whole-Home Repiping in Hidden Valley

When Bruce decided it was time to address the Poly B plumbing in his Hidden Valley home, he knew he wanted the job done right. Like many homeowners in northwest Calgary, Bruce had been aware of the risks associated with polybutylene piping for some time. After researching his options and learning about the potential for leaks and water damage, he made the proactive decision to repipe his entire home before any problems could occur.

Bruce’s two-story home presented a comprehensive repiping project. The Urban Piping team arrived on September 27th and got to work immediately, starting with thorough site preparation. High-impact Ram Board was laid across all hardwood and tile surfaces to prevent damage, while professional-grade carpet liner protected the traffic areas throughout the home. Light plastic sheeting covered furniture in the work zones and high-traffic areas, ensuring Bruce’s belongings stayed clean and protected throughout the renovation.

The repiping itself involved replacing all polybutylene lines with Rehau color-coded Class A PEX piping, complete with UV barrier protection. Every fixture received new Dahl shut-off valves for both hot and cold supply lines, along with braided distribution hoses for faucets and toilets. The exterior garden faucets were upgraded to brass, and a city-appropriate laundry box was installed. These premium materials ensure Bruce’s new plumbing system will provide reliable service for decades to come.

With pipes running through multiple floors and interior walls, the team needed to cut access points in the drywall throughout the home. Once the new piping was installed and tested, the drywall repair process began. This included boarding, mudding, taping, and carefully matching the existing ceiling texture—a detail that makes all the difference in the finished result. Paint matching followed, ensuring the repaired areas blended seamlessly with the surrounding walls.

Throughout the project, a professional-grade four-stage HEPA air scrubber ran continuously to control dust and maintain air quality inside the home. When the work wrapped up on October 10th, the team completed a thorough cleanup, removing all prep materials and debris, then vacuuming and wiping down the house. The entire project took approximately two weeks from start to finish—a timeline that reflects the comprehensive nature of a whole-home repipe done properly.

For homeowners considering Poly B Plumbing Replacement in Calgary, Bruce’s project demonstrates what a complete, professional repiping looks like: quality materials, meticulous site protection, skilled craftsmanship, and attention to every detail from start to finish.

Hidden Valley Homes and Poly B Plumbing

Hidden Valley is a well-established residential community in northwest Calgary, developed primarily between 1991 and the late 1990s. The neighborhood was officially established in 1990, with the first homes breaking ground in 1991. This timing places Hidden Valley squarely within the peak years of polybutylene pipe installation in Canadian homes, which ran from approximately 1985 to 1997.

The community features approximately 3,800 homes, predominantly single-family detached residences. The typical Hidden Valley home is a two-story design ranging from 1,400 to 1,800 square feet above grade, with three to four bedrooms and two and a half to three and a half bathrooms. Many homes also include developed basements, adding significant living space below grade. Bi-level and split-level designs are also present throughout the neighborhood, along with some bungalows.

Given the development timeline, a significant portion of Hidden Valley’s housing stock was originally plumbed with polybutylene piping. Homeowners in the area should be aware that if their home was built during the 1990s and has never had its plumbing updated, there’s a strong likelihood that Poly B pipes are still present behind the walls and under the floors.

Why Hidden Valley Homes Need Experienced Contractors

The typical Hidden Valley home presents several challenges that require experienced contractors to navigate successfully. Two-story construction means pipes run vertically through multiple floors, requiring access points on both the main level and upper floor. Coordinating work across these levels while minimizing disruption takes careful planning and execution.

Many Hidden Valley homes feature textured ceilings—including popcorn and knockdown finishes—that were popular during the 1990s construction boom. Matching these textures after drywall repair is a skill that separates professional contractors from amateurs. A poor texture match leaves obvious patches that diminish the home’s appearance and value. Urban Piping’s team includes experienced drywall professionals who take the time to match existing textures so repairs blend invisibly with the surrounding ceiling.

The prevalence of finished basements in Hidden Valley adds another layer of complexity. Finished spaces mean more drywall to cut and repair, more furniture and belongings to protect, and a longer overall timeline. Accessing pipes that run through basement ceilings requires careful cutting to avoid damaging the finished surfaces above.

Hard-to-reach areas are common in homes of this era. Pipes often run behind tiled shower surrounds, through tight vanity cabinets, and along exterior walls where garden faucets connect. Navigating these spaces without causing unnecessary damage requires both experience and the right approach.

This is precisely why working with a qualified contractor matters. Urban Piping anticipates these challenges before the project begins, includes comprehensive site prep as standard practice, and employs skilled tradespeople who understand the nuances of working in 1990s-era Calgary homes. The result is a finished project that looks as good as it performs—with minimal disruption to the homeowner’s daily life.