Selling With Copper: Buyers Wary of Alternative Materials

One bad experience is enough to turn off any homebuyer from cheaper alternatives to copper tube. And since many of these alternatives are so new on the plumbing market, bad experiences are becoming more common for homebuyers willing to experiment.

Centex Homes' Randy Luther says that many of his clients know that alternative plumbing tube materials are available, but they also realize the risks that are involved with them. "I think most people are aware that there are alternative water-supply pipes available on the market today," says Luther, "but the history of those has not been quite as consistent as that of copper."

John Bayda says he didn't realize his builder was using plastic pipe for the plumbing system until it was too late. "It was a pretty traumatic experience," said Bayda, whose first home had polybutylene pipe. "It lasted about two years and it burst. It took about three or four days before the people came out to fix my pipe, so I'm a firm believer in copper tubing," says Bayda, who refused a free replacement of plastic pipe and paid extra for copper.

John Anderson is another homeowner with a horror story. Anderson had a plastic plumbing system put in a vacation cabin and says he lived to regret it. "We had nothing but problems and leaks," says Anderson.

Brandon Anderson says he was fortunate to avoid any problems by taking a lesson from an experience a friend had. "His home had some piping different than copper, and the pipe popped. Five ceilings had to be replaced and walls, too, from the water damage," says Anderson, who has chosen copper plumbing for his own home.

Also See:

Introduction

Buyers Trust Copper

Copper's 50-Year Warranty

Copper's 50-Year Warranty

Homebuyers Will Pay More for Copper Plumbing

Buyers Acknowledge the Resale Value Of Homes With Copper