✳ Sarasota pricing guide · Repiping & cast iron

What does repiping or replacing cast iron cost in Sarasota?

These are two different jobs. Repiping the water supply lines in a typical 2,000 sq ft home runs about $3,100 to $5,500 according to HomeGuide: PEX lands at the low end and copper at $8,000 to $16,000. Angi says most homeowners pay around $7,500. Replacing cast iron drain pipe runs about $150 to $250 per linear foot, and work under the slab can push a job past $8,000. These are national figures, since no one publishes Sarasota-specific repipe prices. The local factors are below.

Our plumbing pricing guide covers everyday repairs. This guide is for the big one: the house where the leaks keep coming back, the insurer is asking questions, or the camera found a cracked drain.

Typical prices (national ranges)

Whole-house water repipe, 2,000 sq ft (average)	$3,100–$5,500
Repipe with PEX, 2,000 sq ft	$2,000–$4,000
Repipe with copper, 2,000 sq ft	$8,000–$16,000
Replace galvanized or polybutylene supply lines	$2,000–$15,000
Drywall patching after a repipe	$300–$900+
Drain pipe replacement (cast iron to PVC)	$150–$250 per linear foot
Major drain repair under the foundation	$800–$8,000+
Sewer line replacement (about 40 ft)	$2,000–$10,000
Pipe lining (CIPP)	$90–$250 per linear foot
Pipe bursting	$60–$200 per linear foot
Sewer camera inspection	$125–$500
Plumbing permit	$30–$500

Ranges are from HomeGuide's plumbing, drain-pipe and sewer guides (2025–26) and Angi's repipe guide (2026). The only number that counts is the written quote.

What moves the price

Supply or drain. Supply lines are the small pressurized pipes that carry water to the fixtures. PEX can be snaked through walls and the attic with small openings. Drains are the big cast iron pipes that carry waste out, and in a slab home they run under the floor. That's where the money goes.

Under the slab or around it. Many Sarasota-area homes sit on a concrete slab. Drain work under it means cutting concrete, digging, patching, and often replacing flooring. HomeGuide adds $3–$8 per square foot just for concrete removal. Some plumbers tunnel from outside to spare the floors. Ask about it.

Line it, burst it or replace it. Lining (CIPP) puts a new pipe inside the old one without digging, but it only works if the old pipe is still intact enough to hold the liner. A camera inspection tells you which option is real. Get the video, not just the verdict.

Pipe material and fixture count. Copper costs about four times as much as PEX per the HomeGuide figures. Every bathroom, the kitchen and the laundry adds connections. Angi notes that labor is the largest share of a repipe bill.

What's on top. Tile, cabinets and built-ins over the pipe path add restoration costs. Find out whether the plumber's quote includes patching or leaves that to you.

Sarasota and Manatee notes

Insurance is often what starts the job. Citizens requires a four-point inspection (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) for homes over 20 years old, and active leaks have to be fixed before you apply. Citizens also says homes more than 20 years old that have polybutylene plumbing aren't eligible for new homeowners policies. Private insurers have their own rules. If you're buying a 1980s or 1990s home, ask the inspector what supply pipe it has before closing.

Cast iron is a local pattern. As our plumbing guide notes, many Sarasota homes from the 1950s to the 1970s still have cast iron drains reaching the end of their life. If a plumber recommends a camera inspection, that's a legitimate step, not an upsell by default.

Permits. Sarasota County lists repipes and sewer line repairs as plumbing permit types, and some smaller plumbing jobs qualify for express permits. A real quote includes the permit and the final inspection. You'll want that paperwork for your insurer and for resale.

Condos, villas and septic. HomeGuide notes that in condos and townhomes the HOA may cover the main lines. Check your documents before you pay for pipe under a shared slab. East county and Parrish homes on septic should say so up front, because it changes the outside portion of the job.

How to pick a pro

You want a licensed plumbing contractor who does repipes regularly, not occasionally. Several on our plumbing page list repiping or pipe lining among their services. Ask:

Can I see the camera video, and why is this method (lining, bursting or open replacement) right for my pipe?
Does the price include the permit, the drywall or slab patching, and flooring restoration, or only the plumbing?
How many days will we be without water, and will it be back on each night?
What warranty covers the labor and the new pipe?

Red flags

Be wary of whole-house cast iron replacement recommended without a camera inspection, or of a quote that leaves out slab and floor restoration. Both can turn a reasonable number into a much bigger one after the work starts. Also be wary of any plumber who won't give you a written total before cutting concrete.

Common questions

How much does it cost to repipe a house in Sarasota?

National data puts a typical 2,000 sq ft repipe at about $3,100 to $5,500, with PEX at the low end and copper at $8,000 to $16,000. Angi says most homeowners pay around $7,500. Wall and ceiling patching is extra unless it's in the quote.

How much does it cost to replace cast iron pipes under a slab?

Drain pipe replacement runs about $150 to $250 per linear foot nationally. Major work under the foundation can reach $8,000 or more before flooring. Lining can cost less if a camera shows the pipe is still intact enough.

Is PEX or copper better for a Florida repipe?

PEX is the more common choice because it costs far less and installs with fewer wall openings. Copper costs more and lasts a long time. Ask your plumber which they recommend for your water and your house.

Will my insurer make me replace polybutylene or old pipes?

Citizens won't write new homeowners policies for homes over 20 years old with polybutylene plumbing. Its four-point inspection flags active leaks. Other insurers set their own rules, so ask your agent.

Do I need a permit to repipe in Sarasota County?

Yes. Sarasota County lists repipes and sewer line repairs as plumbing permit types. Your plumber should pull the permit and schedule the inspection.

Ready to call?

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Sources

Guide updated October 2026. Prices are national planning ranges from the sources above, not quotes. Every pro sets their own prices.