The Contractor

So, we get two names. Unit 2 has a friend, who will do it at cost, and will come look at it for free. He comes, and he's fine, an old-school kind of plumber. He says the same thing - we need to cut open the floor and just see what there is to see. I'm not wild about exploratory surgery that requires a giant carbide-steel cement cutter, but maybe I'm being a wuss.

The president digs through the paperwork she has, and calls the company that's been out before for other issues, more sewer problems, but not exactly like this. In fact, this company was the last one that came out, in 2005. Bob's report is a thing of beauty, 2 pages of dense 8-point plumbing jargon, describing not just the problem and solution, but with recommendations of things to do to keep our crap flowing freely. Obviously, none of these things were ever done. He comes out in the evening, and from his memory and copious notes tells us more about the problem and our building than all of us knew collectively. He looks at the building, goes in the bedroom, punches a hole in the wall and totally nails the access point that none of us knew existed. This is the guy.

"How much?" we ask, tentatively. I'm ready to take out a home equity loan if that's what it takes, but there's always hope. He starts talking about dropping a camera in, checking damage, routing from both ends ... only about $500. If the pipe needs to be replaced ... about $2000.

This is definitely the guy. He should be starting around 2 this afternoon.