A complete sewer quote names the property and the defect, states the method and pipe specification, draws exact start and end points, lists every line item with a price, spells out exclusions and unit rates for extras, defines restoration, sets a payment schedule tied to milestones, and attaches warranty terms and a post-work video requirement.
- A quote is a scope document first and a price second; if the scope is thin, the price is meaningless.
- Exclusions and unit rates are the parts that decide your final bill — read them first.
- Anything said on site but missing from the paper should be added before you sign.
- Use the sample below as a template when you request quotes, so every contractor fills the same structure.
01 /What does a complete sewer quote look like?
Below is an illustrative quote for a common job — replacing an 18 m clay lateral under a front lawn in a 1960s house — broken into the sections a good quote contains. The company, address and prices are invented for teaching; the structure is what matters.
02 /Section 1: Header and basis of quote
The header identifies who, where and on what evidence the quote is based. It should reference the camera inspection by date so everyone prices the same diagnosis.
- Contractor legal name, address, phone, business number, and quote number and date.
- Customer name and property address.
- Basis: "Camera inspection of [date], video file provided, showing root intrusion at joints from 3 m to 17 m, offset joint at 9.5 m, belly holding approximately 25% of pipe diameter from 11 m to 13 m."
- Validity period: "Price valid for 30 days."
If a quote has no basis line, ask what evidence it was priced from. See sewer camera inspection cost for what the footage should contain.
03 /Section 2: Scope of work
Scope is the most important section. It must say what will be done, where it starts and ends, and how.
- Obtain plumbing permit and arrange utility locates.
- Excavate open trench from the front foundation wall to the property line, approximately 18 m, depth approximately 1.8–2.2 m.
- Remove existing 100 mm vitrified clay pipe.
- Install new 100 mm PVC SDR 28 sewer pipe on compacted granular bedding at code-compliant slope.
- Connect to existing cast iron at the foundation wall with a shielded transition coupling.
- Connect to existing service at the property line with a shielded coupling.
- Install a new two-way exterior cleanout at the foundation.
- Arrange and attend municipal inspection before backfill.
- Backfill in compacted lifts; remove surplus soil and old pipe.
- Restore surface: topsoil and sod over trench.
- Provide recorded post-work camera video of the new line from cleanout to property line.
Notice that the sag is solved by open-cut replacement, which is why this sample is not trenchless. Compare the method against the footage using trenchless lining vs pipe bursting.
04 /Section 3: Price breakdown
| Line | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mobilisation, locates coordination, site setup | $900 |
| 2 | Permit and inspection fees | $350 |
| 3 | Excavation and removal, 18 m at approx. 2 m depth, including shoring as required | $7,200 |
| 4 | Pipe, fittings, bedding material | $1,100 |
| 5 | Pipe installation and connections (2 transition couplings) | $2,400 |
| 6 | Exterior two-way cleanout | $1,100 |
| 7 | Backfill, compaction, soil and pipe disposal | $1,600 |
| 8 | Topsoil and sod restoration, approx. 30 m² | $900 |
| 9 | Post-work camera video | Included |
| Subtotal | $15,550 | |
| GST (5%, Alberta example) | $777.50 | |
| Total | $16,327.50 |
Per-metre check: subtract permit ($350), cleanout ($1,100) and sod ($900) from the subtotal, leaving $13,200 for 18 m — about $733 per metre. That sits inside the typical open-cut range for moderate depth under lawn. Sewer line cost per foot explains the method and why short runs read higher; run your own numbers in the sewer cost estimator.
05 /Section 4: Exclusions and unit rates
Exclusions tell you what could still cost money. Unit rates cap the cost of surprises. Read this section before the price.
| Item | Status | Unit rate if required |
|---|---|---|
| Work beyond property line (city service or main) | Excluded | Quoted separately after city confirmation |
| Rock or concrete obstruction | Excluded | $250/hour breaking, with written approval |
| Additional pipe length beyond 18 m | Excluded | $650/metre |
| Dewatering if groundwater encountered | Excluded | $450/day |
| Interior work inside foundation | Excluded | Quoted separately |
| Irrigation, landscape lighting, fence repair | Excluded | Time and materials at $95/hour plus materials |
| Tree removal or root pruning | Excluded | By owner or arborist |
A clause should follow: "No additional work will be performed without the owner's written approval of the scope and price." If it is missing, ask for it.
06 /Section 5: Schedule, payment and warranty
- Schedule: start within 10 business days of permit issue; 2–3 site days; sod within 7 days of backfill, weather permitting. No drainage from the house during the tie-in, expected 6–10 hours.
- Payment: 10% deposit on signing; 60% on completion of pipe installation and passed inspection; 30% on restoration and delivery of post-work video.
- Warranty: workmanship on new pipe and connections for a stated period from completion; settlement of trench backfill corrected within the first year; pipe material covered by manufacturer's terms; exclusions listed (for example damage from future tree roots at unreplaced pipe beyond the property line, misuse, or third-party excavation).
- Insurance: certificate of liability insurance and workers' compensation clearance attached.
- Signatures and date for both parties.
Deposit size, progress payments and any financing offered with the quote are compared in paying for sewer repairs. If the job is bigger than the budget, that guide also covers staging the work.
07 /How would a trenchless version of this quote differ?
If the footage showed no belly, a lining quote for the same 18 m run would move money between lines rather than remove it. Excavation shrinks or disappears; pre-cleaning, liner material and reinstatements appear.
| Line | Open-cut sample | Lining version |
|---|---|---|
| Mobilisation and setup | $900 | $1,500 |
| Permit | $350 | $350 |
| Excavation | $7,200 | $0–$3,000 (one pit if no usable cleanout) |
| Pre-cleaning and descaling | Not needed | $600–$1,500 |
| Pipe or liner material and install | $3,500 | $9,000–$13,000 |
| Branch reinstatements | Not applicable | $0–$1,200 |
| Cleanout | $1,100 | $1,100 |
| Backfill and restoration | $2,500 | $0–$1,000 |
| Post-work video | Included | Included |
The lining version also changes the scope wording: it should state liner type and thickness, cure method, the no-use period, and how the liner ends are sealed at the house and at the property line. Compare the two versions using trenchless lining vs pipe bursting cost.
08 /How to use this sample
- Send it as a template
When requesting quotes, ask each contractor to use these five sections so the documents line up.
- Mark gaps
Highlight any section missing from a quote and ask for it in writing.
- Normalise
Enter every quote in the quote comparison worksheet, then settle the details with the line-by-line comparison method.
- Ask the 15 questions
Use the pre-signing questions to fill anything the quote leaves open.
Ready to collect comparable quotes? Request quotes and include your footage, the start and end points, and the surface to restore.
FAQQuestions people ask
What should be included in a sewer line replacement quote?
A basis referencing the camera inspection, a detailed scope with start and end points, pipe specification, itemised prices, exclusions with unit rates, restoration details, schedule, payment terms, warranty text and proof of insurance.
Should a sewer quote include the permit?
Ideally yes. The contractor should pull the permit, include the fee and arrange inspections. "Permit by owner" moves responsibility and cost to you.
How long should a sewer quote be valid?
Many contractors hold prices for 14 to 30 days. Material price changes can shorten this. The validity period should be printed on the quote.
What is a unit rate on a sewer quote?
A unit rate is a price per unit — per metre, per hour, per pit — for work that may or may not be needed. It caps the cost of surprises and lets you compare how contractors price risk.
Is a one-line sewer quote acceptable?
Not for repair or replacement. A single line such as "replace sewer line" cannot be compared or enforced. Ask for the five-section structure described on this page.
Does the quote need a site sketch?
It is not required but it helps. A simple sketch showing the house, cleanout, route, property line and work zone prevents most scope disputes.
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