Old and new on the same block

Edgewater covers a small area, and builders filled most of it early with modest bungalows, cottages and post-war houses on narrow lots. In recent years, owners have redeveloped many lots with larger homes, duplexes and townhomes, and some older houses got a second story added on top, often called a pop-top.

That mix affects water in two ways. Older houses still carry older plumbing: leftover galvanized supply pipe, cast iron drains and clay sewer laterals. And new construction next door can change how water crosses a block. A tall new house with a big roof and little yard can send more runoff toward a lower neighbor, and digging a new foundation can disturb old sewer lines or drainage paths.

Pop-tops carry their own risk: new upstairs bathrooms and laundries tied into older plumbing below, and new roof-to-wall joints that have to be built well to stay watertight.

Edgewater owner checklist

  • If construction starts next door, photograph your foundation, basement walls and yard drainage before it begins.
  • During the first big storm after construction, watch where water from the neighbor's roof and driveway goes.
  • In a pop-top, check the ceilings below the new bathroom and laundry every so often.
  • Have someone run a camera through an older sewer lateral, especially if drains slow down after nearby digging.
  • Know whether your water heater sits next to finished floors with no drain.
  • After a remodel or pop-top, find the new upstairs shutoff valves and label them.

Older bungalow versus new infill

Older bungalow or cottage

  • Smaller, often with a partial basement or crawlspace
  • Older supply and drain materials
  • Suspect materials such as old tile or plaster may need testing
  • May sit lower than the new house next door

New infill home

  • Larger footprint, with more roof and hard surface
  • Modern plumbing, with more fixtures on upper floors
  • Upstairs laundry rooms that leak onto living space
  • Its drainage design affects the lots around it

Questions for the City of Edgewater

  1. Does my repair need a permit, and who inspects it?
  2. Who do I contact about drainage from a construction site next door?
  3. Which water and sewer provider serves my address?
  4. Are there rules about where downspouts and sump pumps can discharge?
Map of Edgewater. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

General information for Lakewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.