Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

GREATER GRAND CROSSING A team of investors has joined forces to bring luxury, energy-efficient container homes to the South Side and neighbors could move in as soon as this winter.

Vincennes Village, a collection of 12 40-foot-long modern, eco-friendly container homes, will be built at 7231 S. Vincennes Ave.

The project is the brainchild of project manager Darryl Burton, owner of Global Financial Services, and developer Anthony Casboni, former owner of the demolished Vincennes Discount Center and a retired firefighter.Onyx Architectural Services, a minority-owned firm, is the lead developer.

The homes built from 8-foot-wide train shipping containers will have ceilings nearly 10 feet high. They will have 1,200-1,800 square feet of space, two stories and three to four bedrooms. The homes will include full appliances, including an indoor washer and dryer, as well as a balcony, a covered patio and car garages.

Each home will also be energy efficient, with motion-activated lights and faucets and state of the art material anyone might find in a traditional wooden house, Burton said. Pricing for the homes will start at $300,000, developers said.

Construction on the container homes will begin in the next few months once the final blueprints are stamped by the Department of Buildings, Burton said.

Vincennes Village will welcome its first families by Christmas, Burton said.

We decided to develop a practical and innovative approach to constructing new homes, Burton said. Everything about the house will be upscale. Were bringing suburban living to a city block.

Vincennes Village was born out of a chance encounter between Burton and Casboni.

Alongside his late brothers, Casboni was the owner of Vincennes Discount Center, a family-owned business that spent more than 60 years in Greater Grand Crossing, Casboni said.

To the north and south of the business were apartment buildings that became dilapidated, Casboni said. When the city demolished the buildings, Casboni and his brothers bought the lots from the city in the early 90s, he said.

As the years went by, the Casbonis decided to semi-retire from their business and tore down Vincennes Discount Center around 2001, Casboni said.

Left with a large patch of land from the store and about 20 vacant lots from the apartment buildings, the Casbonis decided to build eight homes where the store once operated, Casboni said.

When the housing market collapsed in 2008, the brothers took a breather from building the homes, Casboni said.

But as the years trickled on, they struggled to find the right developer to assist in bringing homes to the community, Casboni said.

In April 2021, Casboni met Burton, a mover and a shaker with a creative idea to transform his vacant land, Casboni said.

It interested me because the process seemed fast and innovative, Casboni said. You can build the homes quickly, and theyre secure. Theyre durable, and they have an appealing, modern look.

Casboni and Burton have never built container homes, but theyve traveled throughout the states to look at container home communities, Burton said. What they saw solidified their decision, Casboni said.

Container homes enhance communities, Burton said. Thats what were in the process of doing. The community can be elevated.

Burton said Vincennes Village is an innovative approach to solving two nationwide problems: excess train containers and a housing shortage.

Empty train containers are permeating our planet, Burton said. And there is a delinquency in homeownership, particularly in the wards not normally served by the city, he said.

Their train container homes will repurpose a product that has been dormant and transform it into something a lot more tangible, Burton said.

Container homes can also be rehabbed and sold in half the time and half the costs as a traditional wooden house, Burton said.

Once their permits are approved, all theyll have to do is connect the containers and design the inside, Burton said. The homes will be ready in three to four months, he said.

When you compare a traditional home to a container home, youll come back to the container home, Burton said. The amenities are the same, but it requires less money, maintenance and upkeep. Homeownership becomes practical for everyone involved.

Vincennes Village will appeal to working families living in the community who want to enhance their way of living, developers said.

The homes will be minutes away from the Dan Ryan Expressway, a shopping center and the 75th Street Boardwalk.

And if the $300,000 starting price looks steep, a person paying $1,500 in rent in the neighborhood can afford the house, Burton said.

Vincennes Village will start with 12 homes, but Burton and Casboni hope to add eight more down the line, they said. Commercial development isnt off the table, they said.

The South Side has numerous vacant lots. Our goal is to permeate the communities with an innovative approach to living, Burton said. The idea is taking off. We see this as the future of Chicago.

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$300,000 Luxury Container Homes Are Coming To The South Side This Winter - Block Club Chicago

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By Tina Traster

County Executive Ed Day is mad and hes not mincing his words.

In a sharply worded letter dated Aug. 16 sent to the countys five town supervisors, Day says he is still awaiting information or suggestions on an alternative site to build a new county animal shelter while the deadline for a construction bid for the Hi-Tor Animal Shelter rebuild is set to expire in mid-September.

Despite promising to be part of the solution, to date we have not received any suggestions, calls, follow-up meetings, or promised shovel-ready locations for a new shelter submitted from anyone, Day wrote.

In July, the new shelter project, thought to be on track, stalled when the County Legislature tabled a resolution to fund the project, which called for an additional $10 million to the already earmarked $8 million for building a state-of-the-art 14,000 square-foot facility on site at the shelters current location in Pomona. In delaying the vote, county legislators raised questions over who would head up the shelter, saying they wanted more exploration on the subject.

Subsequently, town supervisors began to suggest that alternative sites should be considered for the purpose of potentially saving taxpayer money and it would be an opportunity to relocate a shelter away from the sound of fireworks at the nearby Clover Stadium. The issue over the fireworks has been going on for several years, but may be moot as officials at Clover Stadium plan to switch to quieter and less disruptive fireworks beginning next season.

This upheaval over whether to fund the shelter or where it should be sited has blown a long-awaited shelter upgrade off course, leading Day to say in this letter: You are all playing with fire by risking precious taxpayer dollars while putting the safety of these animals at risk.

Day in the letter points out that county taxpayers have already invested $524,963 in architectural and engineering services in addition to the hundreds of thousands spent over the years to keep this shelter running.

Concern over Hi-Tors future began nearly a year before the Legislature tabled the vote.

For months, questions have swirled around who will run the shelter, particularly as Rockland Green, the former Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority, set out to change its mission to control animal management and expressed interest in taking over shelter management when the new shelter is built.

Rockland Greens Chairman Howard Phillips, who is also the Town Supervisor of Haverstraw, has repeatedly said in public forums that Hi-Tor needs new leadership, and more recently hes raised the notion that the shelter rebuild should not necessarily be constructed on the Pomona site, which has been in the making for years. He, along with the other supervisors, have been suggesting alternative sites, though at least one in Orangetown has been rejected.

Town Supervisor Jim Monaghan, who said hes open to all possibilities, said there is no suitable site in Stony Point.

Im not leading the charge but Im open to all options, said Monaghan. Im open to moving forward with current shelter if theres suitable taxpayer savings and if its good for the animals.

Town Supervisor Michael Specht, who also noted that hes not leading this effort, said theres a town-owned site of vacant land in Torne Valley that might be suitable. The remote site in the far western corner of the county, Specht said, is adjacent to Rockland Greens facilities.

Theres a location thats owned by the town thats not far from Rockland Green facility thats one of the options but at this time I have to defer to Phillips, who is taking the lead, who is the most senior of the supervisors, who is acting as the spokesman.

Phillips says the town supervisors are working to find a solution.

The cost of the bids and proposals that came back to the county were exorbitantly high and that as elected officials we needed to further investigate and see whether or not we could reduce the cost to the taxpayer, said Phillips. At the same meeting, it was expressed that there was a petition opposing the new shelter at its current location because of the fireworks from Boulder Stadium affecting the animals. It was obvious to everyone that attended that we needed to look at alternatives. We are continuing to do so and as everyone knows its extremely challenging to get everyone together during the summer.

But the New York Boulders team president Shawn Reilly said the stadium plans to switch up the fireworks for all but two of its shows with explosives that have a lower profile and that are substantially less noisy. These fireworks will be more like shooting off Roman candles as opposed to commercial grade fireworks. We want to be good neighbors, he said.

It is unclear as to whether the supervisors are casting for a plot of vacant land or are contemplating proposals on rehabbing an existing building. Either way, a modern, state-of-the-art shelter is an expensive proposition because it must take into account accommodations for ventilation, interior design, odor and noise control, security, sound buffers, bacterial controls, impermeable floors, and outdoor space for the dogs.

With his hands tied, and the construction bid at risk, Day is urging the supervisors to act.

We have an extension on the construction bid until mid-September, which will need to be reissued if it expires, and given inflationary pressures, I can only assume that would increase the cost yet again and further burden Rockland taxpayers, which must be avoided at all costs.

Responding to concerns from both legislators and town supervisors over who will run the shelter, the countys Department of General Services Purchasing Department on July 19 posted a Request for Information on Bidnet, a statewide municipal bidding website for an entity to provide animal shelter management and operation services.

The county said it was seeking to identify organizations that can either provide services at the existing facility for 24 months beginning Jan. 2023 or one that would be interested in operating a new facility when completed, or both.

Last week, just two entities both in the business of managing animals responded to Rockland Countys invitation to express interest in running the county-owned animal shelter. But only Hi-Tor, which has been running the shelter for 50 years, said it wanted to run the shelter as it exists now, and in the future when and if a new shelter is built.

In contrast, The Hudson Valley Humane Society, also located in Pomona, threw its hat in the ring but only showed an interest in running the long hoped-for but stalled multi-million-dollar shelter that has now become the fulcrum of much tension and controversy.

This recent Request for Information (RFI) underlines something weve said repeatedly, which is Hi-Tor is the only organization willing to utilize that outdated facility, said Day. Day urges the supervisors to either provide detailed alternative solutions or reaffirm their commitment to move forward with the new shelter.

See original here:
Ed Day Admonishes Town Supervisors For Inaction On Finding Alternative Site For Animal Shelter Rebuild - Rockland County Business Journal

Key Takeaways

Legacy applications are often stuck in the slow lane: aging and brittle, poorly understood and barely supported, and based on aging technologies, they are often the last applications to benefit from modern concepts like continuous delivery. Yet because of their potential instability, they are actually the applications that benefit most from concepts like a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and its related Minimum Viable Architecture (MVA).

How can this be true? Most legacy applications are relatively monolithic and defy being released incrementally.

Once you realize that every release is an experiment in value in which the release either improves the value that customers experience or doesnt, you realize that every release, even one of a legacy application, can be thought of in terms of an MVP. Each release is really an MVP that relates to the added value that you are looking to deliver. Therefore each release also has an MVA. Concepts like MVP and MVA provide teams with a laser focus on what is absolutely necessary to test their hypotheses about what changes customers will really value.

Since the MVP concept is most often associated with new products, it might be better to think of each new release of an existing application as a minimum viable increment, or the minimum set of changes that the team thinks will result in an improvement in the value that customers experience. But since the term MVP already has currency, well continue using it.

As we noted in prior articles, an MVA is the minimum amount of architecture needed to ensure that the MVP satisfies its Quality Attribute Requirements or QARs. Since architecture, for us, is primarily about technical decisions, the MVA for a legacy application release represents the minimum set of application changes that the team needs to make to ensure that the release supports its QARs.

The release-readiness MVP criteria are typically focused on whether the release will let the team test its understanding of the desired outcomes for customers; MVPs are not "technical proofs of concept". Similarly, the release readiness of the MVA can be determined by evaluating whether the changes being made to the legacy application will ensure that the release will be able to meet the QARs for the application and, in so doing, sustainably meet customer needs.

Figure 1: MVP & MVA provide a "lens" to look at legacy systems in a new way

Process Challenges:One of the criteria for any release, and especially applications on which the organization depends, is that the application will have passed a set of tests (ideally automated) that validate that the release candidate satisfies its QARs. Running manual tests to evaluate QARs is too cumbersome and error-prone to be reliable. The lack of automated tests to determine whether a release meets its functional requirements and QARs is one of the factors that prevent organizations from delivering value in small increments.

Other factors sometimes prevent organizations from releasing in small increments, leading them to release changes in relatively large, complicated increments. These include:

With the exception of regulatory constraints, these can all be fixed but they take time and concerted effort.

Paying down debt, when you have a chance, sounds like a good thing, right?

Organizations are sometimes tempted to do extra technical work, to modernize, or reduce their technical debt because, as they may rationalize, "were going to be working on that part of the application anyway, so we should clean things up while we are there." While well-intentioned, this is almost always a bad decision that results in unnecessary cost and delay because once started, its very hard to decide to stop.

This is where the concept of the MVA pays dividends: it gives everyone a way to decide what changes must be made, and which changes should not be made, at least not yet. If a change is necessary to deliver the desired customer outcome for a release, then its part of the MVA, otherwise, its out.

Sometimes, a team may look at the changes needed to an application and decide, considering the state of the code, that a complete rewrite is in order. The MVA concept, applied to legacy applications, helps to temper that by questioning whether the changes are really necessary to produce the incremental improvements in customer outcomes that are desired.

The application may, indeed, be too far gone to be extended but, in our experience, "total rewrites" almost never succeed either (weve never seen, or even heard, of one of these projects actually delivering anything.) If youre really going back to the drawing board, dont rewrite the existing system; instead, start from the customers desired outcomes and look for different ways to deliver them.

The MVA has an effect on the MVP, especially for legacy applications. Both MVA and MVP include an important word: viability. If in evaluating the changes that the team needs to make to the application in order to deliver the MVP, they determine that it is too expensive to achieve the MVP in a sustainable way, the MVP needs to be reconsidered and potentially changed.

The Minimum Viable Architecture ("MVA") approach (see our article "A Minimum Viable Product Needs a Minimum Viable Architecture") provides you with a way to decide how much modernization is "good enough" in order to deliver an MVP. Creating an MVA as part of an MVP delivery effort helps you evaluate the technical viability and to provide a stable foundation for the product that can be adapted as the product evolves. Making the MVA architectural decisions transparent helps the organization better understand why certain choices have been made, which helps them make better decisions about how they can adapt the product to changing market conditions and evolving customer needs.

QARs drive your decisions: The most important MVA architectural decisions that you need to make may be to select the minimum amount of architecture components enabling the MVP to handle QARs that are associated with product/system characteristics such as:

For example, lets assume that you are planning to build a mobile app to support the launch of a product in a new market, using open-source or commercial frameworks that help you to quickly deliver an MVP while creating a new interface to legacy system data. In doing so, the legacy application will inevitably be subjected to workloads that it was not designed to handle. Will those increased workloads cause the legacy system to fail? Will the additional workloads threaten the ability of the legacy system to satisfy its QARs for existing users? Does the mobile application change the QARs for the legacy system?

Inevitably, new applications that access data from legacy systems will change the QARs of the legacy system by changing workload, throughput, responsiveness, and security-related requirements, among others. Legacy systems were not built to support the needs of the users of new applications, and those needs must be taken into account when deciding how much and where to modify legacy systems. In some cases, no amount of work will enable the legacy system to meet the new QARs, and in those cases, the legacy system will have to be replaced in order to enable the new applications.

Empiricism is a powerful tool for evaluating these questions, and each release of the new mobile application will, at the very least, create an opportunity to assess whether the architecture of the legacy system can support the new demands being made on it. It is likely that the development team will need to modify the legacy application to meet the new QARs. Considering the legacy application changes as part of an MVA for the mobile application will help the team decide how much change to undertake to accomplish the goals of the mobile applications MVP release.

QARs are a very useful tool for diagnosing areas for potential improvement in a legacy system. Focusing on QARs can help you limit the scope of the change to only what is minimally needed, right now in order to support the MVP. This helps to prevent sliding down the slippery slope to a "total rewrite", which is expensive, time-consuming, prone to failure, and often unnecessary for the MVP.

Limit the scope of the new functionality: Resist the temptation to go beyond the scope of the MVP and turn this effort into a much larger one by including "nice to have" features that are unnecessary for the MVP. Domain-driven design (DDD), which is an extremely powerful approach to software development, is a very efficient technique for identifying the scope of the new functionality that needs to be implemented in support of the MVP and limiting it to precisely what is needed.

Try to decouple and simplify system components. One of the challenges in working with legacy systems is that they lack modularity, many of them having been written at a time when modular code was not encouraged and most code reuse happened through "copy and paste." While it is tempting to refactor all of this redundant code, stay within the bounds of what you need to do to support the MVP. When you do need to refactor or replace code, make the new code modular and reusable. Microservices play well here as well as serverless functions in some cases. Replace code with calls to shared components or services in the applications you need to change, but also make notes for other applications that may have similar opportunities. That way, when other teams have to modify their applications to use similar services, they will have a bit of a head start.

Start shifting new work away from legacy systems. Unless it is dramatically simpler and more sustainable to implement new capabilities in the legacy system, develop new business capabilities associated with the MVP with modern technology, such as cloud-based services. If the new functionality has to be initiated from an older program, write a new component or service for the new work and just call it from the old code. Over time, the decoupling work mentioned above plus moving new code to modern technologies will shrink the amount of legacy code you need to worry about.

Using patterns such as the "strangler pattern", or the "branch by abstraction" pattern, as well as implementing a gateway to route requests to the new MVA components when applicable may be helpful for this migration. Keep in mind that all approaches and tools have limitations. For example, using the "strangler pattern" is appropriate for migrating well-defined functionality chunks from a single application, but may not be the right approach if you need to replace broken infrastructure that affects dozens of applications.

Start identifying "dead code" and opportunistically eliminate it. Use static and dynamic code analysis tools to find out what parts of the legacy system arent used anymore, within the scope of the MVA. Target dead code for elimination (but dont jump right in just yet - beware of scope creep). This can extend to reports - old systems produce a lot of them, and some (or many) may not be useful to anyone anymore; the business may have changed while the system did not. Identifying code that is no longer useful can help a team more easily see whether that code would impact the MVA. The less code you deploy, the more reliable the rest of the code, and the lighter the system use of critical system resources. Even if the team decides not to eliminate the code, they should identify the potential for removal of dead code to help other teams with their future decisions.

Organizational technology standards perpetuate legacy systems. Organizational technology standards are useful to prevent unsupportable configurations and combinations of infrastructural technologies from multiplying, but if retained too long they can keep an organization rooted in the past, unable to adapt to the future. Using the MVA concept can help an organization understand whether a new technology is truly needed to enable a team to deliver a particular MVP. With the proof that the MVA provides, an organization can decide whether the MVP is truly strategic and therefore a change in the technology standards is warranted.

Where should you store MVA data? One of the key MVA decisions is to choose a data store for the data associated with the MVP. Some of this data is likely to already exist in a legacy data store, and in most cases, additional data will need to be captured and stored. That data can either be incorporated into a legacy data store, or a new, more modern DBMS can be implemented to store the new data. The first approach simplifies data aggregation and reporting, at the cost of expanding the use of a technology that may be slated for retirement - for example, IMS/DB. It may be appropriate if a small percentage of the existing MVA legacy data needs to be added to support the MVP. The second approach constrains the use of legacy data stores, at the cost of complicating data aggregation, and should be considered if a large percentage of the existing MVA legacy data needs to be added. A variant of the second approach would be to migrate the existing MVA legacy data to the new DBMS. However, migrating data is much harder than migrating functionality, as that data may be used by multiple legacy applications out of the scope of the MVA. Attempting to do this could result in work beyond the MVA scope.

Legacy systems are a bit like an ancient city that is still a thriving metropolis: their mixture of old and new make it difficult to keep up on needed repairs, let alone substantial renovations to adapt them to rapidly changing needs. But finding a way to continuously adapt legacy systems is essential to evolving the enterprise to a changing world.

The concepts of MVP and MVA dont apply just to new applications; they provide a new and innovative way to look at scoping changes to legacy systems that prevents taking on too much change, too soon. In reality, every new application becomes a kind of "legacy application" after its first major release, and finding ways to limit the scope of change is important as applications evolve.

The MVA approach can help an organization evaluate and amend its technology standards by showing how a new technology is truly essential to supporting an MVP. It allows you to challenge technology standards with real data, rather than with just preferences and opinions.

The process of creating an MVA can help a team to evaluate which parts of a legacy system need to be modernized now, and which parts can wait. Organizations have spent huge sums on failed "total rewrite" modernizations that were, in hindsight, unnecessary. Identifying what parts must be modernized now, and what parts can wait is useful, for it gives an organization a better understanding of their technical debt, while also providing them with a much-needed filter to prevent needless work.

Legacy applications, because they are often mission-critical, need special focus on sustainability. In fact, fear of making the legacy application unstable prevents many organizations from making important and needed incremental improvements to them, making them even more brittle and risk-laden. Focusing on sustainability QARs, including growing the skills that teams need to evolve the applications, helps to make the applications more resilient over time.

Finally, its useful to keep in mind that todays "legacy" applications were, in many cases, shiny and brand new not very many years ago. These arent just applications written 40 years ago; they are also applications written just 10 years ago, or even more recently. As soon as an application is no longer being continuously updated, it starts to decay. Considering an MVA as a part of every new release helps to keep applications fresh.

Read the rest here:
Chipping Away at the Monolith: Applying MVPs and MVAs to Legacy Applications - InfoQ.com

OCONOMOWOC As the plan for the downtown Rockwell development progresses onward, the developer and city officials weighed in on some frequently asked questions. The project location is at 125-131 Main Street near the Village Green and Fowler Lake.

Questions were answered by Jeff Scrima of Rockwell Partners, LLC and Oconomowoc's economic director, Bob Duffy. Some of their answers have been edited to eliminate redundancy.

1.) What is the Rockwell project?

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Scrima: Rockwell is new mixeduse development which utilizes historic architectural design and provides public improvements including continuing the boardwalk, increasing parking, providing restrooms, and improving the village green which will enhance the renaissance of downtown Oconomowoc.

2.) Why is the project called Rockwell?

Scrima: The project name is 'Rockwell' in honor of John Rockwell, who in the 1800s helped establish Oconomowoc including constructing a mill, the first store, hotel, fire department, elementary school, library and donating land for the communitys churches.

3.) Will the boardwalk still be accessible to the public?

Duffy: During the construction the existing boardwalk will still be accessible to the public. Through the project, the city will have the opportunity to expand the boardwalk where it had existed previously behind the development, which will be also accessible to the public when completed.

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4.) How much money willRockwell invest in the project? How much money will the city invest?

Duffy: When completed, the Rockwell development is projected be in excess of $30 million in value. The city will use the increased value generated by the project for the boardwalk extension, expanded public parking, public restrooms in the building, site development, updated public utilities, storm water improvements, public roadway and crosswalk improvements, as well as the enhancement for improved utilization of the Village Green. The public amenities are estimated to cost approximately $5,457,000.

5.) How many condo units will there be?

Duffy: The project is still in the planning stages, however, initial thoughts are there will be approximately 20 units, and 2-3 commercial condo units.

6.) What will the cost or cost range of the condo units be?

Scrima: The costs are yet to be determined based upon the market and material and labor costs.

7.) What will the project do to the view of the lake?

Duffy: The existing site currently has multi-story structures adjacent to the lake. The extension of the boardwalk will provide additional public access and viewing of Fowler Lake.

Scrima: The view of the lake will improve as the public will be able to walk along the new boardwalk which is currently private property.

8.) How will theVillage Green be affected?

Duffy: Final design is underway, however, to address the downtown business and community requests for additional parking, there will be an encroachment into the existing Village Green. The enhancement to the Village Green would include incorporating solutions to remove existing storm water basins, and level off the area to enhance the utilization for community activities and events. The city will also improve the Village Green with additional parking and adding bollards or planters.

Scrima: The city will improve the Village Green with additional parking to the north and the removal of redundant sidewalks within. This will create a net increase in grass area. The city is also working on a plan to make it more event friendly - which may include leveling the green and adding bollards or planters.

9.) When is the project expected to begin and finish?

Duffy: The project still needs to gain its required city approvals to proceed. The review and approval process is anticipated to occur between August to November. The developer would commence the existing structure demolition and project construction in mid-December.

Scrima: Construction will begin after the German Christmas Market this year. We would like to do the heavy site work over the winter and have the Village Green put back together by next summer. Construction start to finish will last approximately 15 months.

10.) Have any businesses been locked-in forRockwells lower floor?

Duffy: The developer has indicated to the city there have been several businesses interested in being part of the project. However the City is not aware of specific tenants.

Scrima: We have two restaurants and a boutique grocery store which have expressed strong interest in our retail space.

11.) What is a TIF, and why is it being used for Rockwell?

Duffy: TIF districts are a tool allowed in Wisconsin aimed at eliminating blight, rehabilitating declining property values, and promoting business and redevelopment opportunities. Through the creation of a future TIF #8 Project Plan, it will determine, without the creation of the district development would not occur in a timely manner or at the values as desired by the city. In reaching this determination, the city considers and verifies through a thorough review of the developers pro forma that the project is not economically viable without public participation based on the extraordinary costs associated with demolition of structures, and redevelopment of existing sites.

In addition, the Rockwell redevelopment would not occur without the substantial investment needed to provide the necessary public infrastructure. The Tax Increment District financing tool will be used in order to fund the public improvements and enhanced public amenities, while Rockwell Partners will guarantee that the necessary development and investment occurs to ensure the necessary funds are available to cover the costs to deploy infrastructure. TIF is an opportunity for the Rockwell Development project to cover all costs, and the community receives the benefit of the public infrastructure and amenities.

12.) Why engage in a public/private partnership in this case?

Duffy: The city adopted a Downtown Revitalization Plan in 2004, which provides market-based recommendations for public and private improvements in order to create a healthy, sustainable and economically viable downtown for the city. Downtown Oconomowoc is the heart of the community where all facets of life come together: retail, dining, services, government, employment and recreation. The Downtown Plan and public/ private partnership projects have allowed the city to realize many positive improvements such as the Community Center, Village Green expansion, the Boardwalk, Fowler Lake Boat launch, as well as reconstruction of all downtown parking areas. It is through these types of partnerships the city can continue to improve, prosper and become the destination envisioned in the Downtown Oconomowoc Revitalization Plan. The city and Rockwell development partnership allows the public to benefit from the extended boardwalk, increased parking, new public bathrooms and upgrades to the village green without having to pay for these improvements out of the existing city budget.

Scrima: This partnership allows the public to get the extended boardwalk, increased parking, new public bathrooms and upgrades to the village green without having to pay for these improvements out of the existing city budget. It allows us, as the developer, to get these new improvements right next door to our project.

13.) Will traffic and business operations be impacted by construction?

Duffy: With any construction projects there will be impacts. The city will work with Rockwell development and their contractor to manage and coordinate efforts to minimize those impacts as the project proceeds.

Scrima: MSI General, our architect and contractor, has already met with the city and business owners and will work diligently to communicate and keep construction interruptions to a minimum.

*** NOTE TO READERS: If you have questions about the Rockwell project, please contact Dan Colton at dcolton@conleynet.com or by calling 262-513-2661.

Read more here:
Q&A: The Rockwell Project in downtown Oconomowoc | Oconomowoc News | gmtoday.com - Greater Milwaukee Today | GMToday.com

FORT WASHINGTON, Pa., Aug. 18, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL) (TollBrothers.com), the nations leading builder of luxury homes, through its Toll Brothers Apartment Living rental division, and PGIM Real Estate, the $208.7 billion real estate investment and financing business of PGIM, have announced a new joint venture to develop The Lindley, a 37-story, 422-unit multifamily rental community in San Diego, Calif. The Lindley, which is the first Toll Brothers Apartment Living (TBAL) project in the city of San Diego, is being financed through a $187 million construction loan facility from BNY Mellon and Wells Fargo. The equity and debt were arranged by Toll Brothers in-house Finance Department in collaboration with the PGIM Real Estate Capital Markets Team.

The Lindley was designed by the renowned Joseph Wong Design Associates and is located at the corner of Columbia Street and Ash Street in San Diegos Columbia business district. The Lindley offers convenient access to PETCO Park, Balboa Park, the Santa Fe Rail Station, and the San Diego International Airport as well as many dining and entertainment options in Little Italy, Harborview, Embarcadero, and the Gaslamp Quarter.

The Lindley will consist of 422 rental apartments and an above- and below-grade parking garage with 561 parking spaces, including capacity for 222 EV (electric vehicle) charging stations. The apartment units will feature high-end luxury finishes including LVT flooring, energy-efficient LED lighting, and smart thermostats. Residents will enjoy a best-in-class amenity package, including concierge, mailroom, secured package room, keyless entry, and more than 22,000 square feet of interior and exterior amenity space. The amenity space will feature an outdoor pool and spa, barbecue grills, pet spa and dog walk, indoor/outdoor fitness center, massage rooms, yoga spaces, sauna, coworking spaces, game room, club room, lounge, and wine bar. Rooftop amenities include a rooftop lounge, demo kitchen, and sky deck providing excellent views of downtown San Diego.

The Lindley expects to earn LEED Gold certification. To achieve this standard, all demolition materials were responsibly recycled, and sustainably sourced materials will be employed throughout. Rainwater will be collected from the site and passed through biofiltration processes before entering stormwater drainage. Environmentally friendly cleaning products will be exclusively used in the buildings operations. Residents will also be able to enjoy EV fast-charging stations. Affordable housing is also a critical part of the development project. As part of The Lindleys entitlement agreement, Toll Brothers Apartment Living is making a significant contribution toward the development of affordable housing in San Diego, which helps to fulfill the citys initiative of increasing affordable housing opportunities for its residents. This contribution will directly support the construction of 44 affordable housing units off-site in downtown San Diego.

The Lindley marks the first Toll Brothers Apartment Living project to break ground in San Diego, and the third to break ground in California. It follows the 262-unit Cameo in Orange, Calif., which was sold in 2021, and the 218-unit Rafferty in Santa Ana, Calif., which is scheduled to open its doors to residents in early 2024. The Lindley represents the continued expansion of Toll Brothers Apartment Living in California.

As our first project in San Diego, we are proudly planting our flag here with The Lindley, said Charles Elliott, President of Toll Brothers Apartment Living. We will stay true to the brand that Toll Brothers is known for and bring to this market the same quality of product and service weve been delivering for over 55 years. The Lindley is located in perhaps the most vibrant part of San Diego, which is among the most dynamic areas of Southern California. The Lindley will appeal to the most discerning residents who want the perfect blend of luxury and lifestyle in the middle of it all.

The Lindley will be a Class A trophy asset situated in arguably the most desirable neighborhood in downtown San Diego, said Cathy Marcus, global chief operating officer and head of U.S. equity for PGIM Real Estate. In addition to its high-end features and amenities, the property will benefit from strong market fundamentals in San Diego overall, which has experienced employment growth largely driven by the technology sector and migration from other major cities.

Fred Cooper, Senior Vice President, Finance and Investor Relations for Toll Brothers said, The Lindley marks the fifth urban high-rise rental project we are developing in joint venture with PGIM and complements our current partnership projects in Boston, Cambridge, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. We are very excited to once again have the support of BNY Mellon and Wells Fargo as our construction lenders. Together, we look forward to bringing this LEED Gold-designed transit-oriented development project to fruition while also supporting the development of additional affordable housing units in downtown San Diego.

For more information about this community visit LiveTheLindley.com.

ABOUT TOLL BROTHERS Toll Brothers, Inc., A FORTUNE 500 Company, is the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. The Company was founded 55 years ago in 1967 and became a public company in 1986. Its common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TOL. The Company serves first-time, move-up, empty-nester, active-adult, and second-home buyers, as well as urban and suburban renters. Toll Brothers builds in over 60 markets in 24 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington, as well as in the District of Columbia. The Company operates its own architectural, engineering, mortgage, title, land development, golf course development, smart home technology, and landscape subsidiaries. The Company also operates its own lumber distribution, house component assembly, and manufacturing operations.

Toll Brothers was named the Worlds Most Admired Homebuilder in FORTUNE magazines 2022 survey of the Worlds Most Admired Companies, the seventh year it has been so honored. Toll Brothers has also been named Builder of the Year by Builder magazine and is the first two-time recipient of Builder of the Year from Professional Builder magazine. For more information visit TollBrothers.com.

Toll Brothers discloses information about its business and financial performance and other matters, and provides links to its securities filings, notices of investor events, and earnings and other news releases, on the Investor Relations section of its website (investors.TollBrothers.com).

2022 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license. Fortune and Fortune Media IP Limited are not affiliated with, and do not endorse the products or services of, Toll Brothers.

ABOUT TOLL BROTHERS APARTMENT LIVINGToll Brothers Apartment Living is the apartment development division of Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL), an award-winning FORTUNE 500 company, and the nation's leading builder of luxury homes. Toll Brothers Apartment Living brings the same quality, luxury, and service for which Toll Brothers is known to its exceptional rental and mixed-use communities in select markets, including Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Washington, DC. Toll Brothers Apartment Living communities combine the energy of vibrant locations with unparalleled amenities, resident services, design, and the expertise of Americas Luxury Home Builder. In 2022, NMHC ranked Toll Brothers Apartment Living the 11th largest apartment developer in the United States. The firm has developed nearly 8,500 units, has nearly 4,500 units under management, and controls a national pipeline of more than 20,500 units. For more information visit TollBrothersApartmentLiving.com.

ABOUT PGIM REAL ESTATEAs one of the largest real estate managers in the world with $209 billion in gross assets under management and administration,1 PGIM Real Estate strives to deliver exceptional outcomes for investors and borrowers through a range of real estate equity and debt solutions across the risk-return spectrum. PGIM Real Estate is a business of PGIM, the $1.4 trillion global asset management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU).

PGIM Real Estates rigorous risk management, seamless execution, and extensive industry insights are backed by a 50-year legacy of investing in commercial real estate, a 140-year history of real estate financing,2 and the deep local expertise of professionals in 32 cities globally. Through its investment, financing, asset management, and talent management approach, PGIM Real Estate engages in practices that ignite positive environmental and social impact, while pursuing activities that strengthen communities around the world. For more information visit pgimrealestate.com.

1 As of March 31, 2022, net AUM is $138 billion and AUA is $46 billion.2 Includes legacy lending through PGIMs parent company, PFI.

TOLL BROTHERS FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis release contains or may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate to matters of a strictly historical or factual nature and generally discuss or relate to future events. These statements contain words such as anticipate, estimate, expect, project, intend, plan, believe, may, can, could, might, should, likely, will, and other words or phrases of similar meaning. Such statements may include, but are not limited to, information and statements regarding: the impact of Covid-19 on the U.S. economy and our business; expectations regarding interest rates and inflation; the markets in which we operate or may operate; our strategic objectives and priorities; our land acquisition, land development and capital allocation priorities; housing market conditions; demand for our homes; anticipated operating results and guidance; home deliveries; financial resources and condition; changes in revenues; changes in profitability; changes in margins; changes in accounting treatment; cost of revenues, including expected labor and material costs; selling, general, and administrative expenses; interest expense; inventory write-downs; home warranty and construction defect claims; unrecognized tax benefits; anticipated tax refunds; sales paces and prices; effects of home buyer cancellations; growth and expansion; joint ventures in which we are involved; anticipated results from our investments in unconsolidated entities; our ability to acquire or dispose of land and pursue real estate opportunities; our ability to gain approvals and open new communities; our ability to market, construct and sell homes and properties; our ability to deliver homes from backlog; our ability to secure materials and subcontractors; our ability to produce the liquidity and capital necessary to conduct normal business operations or to expand and take advantage of opportunities; and the outcome of legal proceedings, investigations, and claims.

Any or all of the forward-looking statements included in this release are not guarantees of future performance and may turn out to be inaccurate. This can occur as a result of incorrect assumptions or as a consequence of known or unknown risks and uncertainties. The major risks and uncertainties and assumptions that are made that affect our business and may cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

Many of the factors mentioned above or in other reports or public statements made by us will be important in determining our future performance. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from those that might be anticipated from our forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

For a further discussion of factors that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from expected and historical results, see the information under the captions Risk Factors and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. This discussion is provided as permitted by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and all of our forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referenced in this section.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9c6664d-5eac-404e-ade6-0b37a964e83b

See original here:
Toll Brothers Apartment Living and PGIM Real Estate Announce Joint Venture to Develop 422-Unit Luxury Rental Community in San Diego, California -...

Dodge Speed Week is in full swing, and youll find nowhere else covering this momentous event quite as extensively as us here at MC&T. Day one is in the books and yielded so much it almost feels unjust to limit it to one single recap, but here goes nothing. Dodge started their mega marketing Never Lift Campaign, last year, providing a roadmap of 24-months of muscle that anyone could access via the Dodge Garage website. After day one of Speed Week, were more than halfway through that calendar.

Head of Dodge Brand Tim Kuniskis unveils 10 different jaw dropping updates to the Dodge muscle car brand in a 20-minute video. Heres a rundown:

Direct Connection Challenger Mopar Drag PakDodge adds a rolling chassis Drag Pak Challenger to its Direct Connection catalog, listed at just under $90,000 ($89,995). A screaming deal for an engine, and all thats missing is an engine.

Dodge Challenger Body-In-WhiteIn addition to the turnkey Drag Pak Challenger, Dodge is offering up a do-it-yourself kit that starts with body-in-white Challenger that comes without a roll cage for $7,995.

Direct Connection Catalog UpdatesThe Dodge Direct Connection catalog sees multiple additions like Bolt-on supercharger kits, and TorqueFlite 8-speed transmissions.

1970 Challenger Carbon Fiber BodySpeed Finale and Dodge have partnered up to offer a full carbon fiber 1970 Challenger body. A Roadrunner and Cuda were teased as well.

Dodge Challenger Convertible

Every Dodge dealer in America can now order you aChallenger Convertible from Drop Top Customs out of Florida.

Durango Hellcat ComebackThe much sought-after Dodge Durango Hellcat makes its return for the 2023 model year, with potential for further continuation.

Color ComebackB5 Blue, Plum Crazy Purple, Sublime Green, and Destroyer Gray, will be made available for 2023 model year.

2023 Model Year Is The EndDecember of 2023 will be the final month these cars will be produced. There have been 3 million made, supplying over one billion horsepower globally.

Last Call special editionsThese wont be available to order, rather allocated to highest volume dealers. First come first serve. A final special edition will be revealed at the 2022 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Horsepower TrackerStarting in October, Dodge will share exactly how to find one of the Last Call Charger and Challenger muscle cars via its tracker on Dodge Garage website, complete with weekly updates.

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Original post:
Dodge Speed Week, Day One Recap - Muscle Cars and Trucks

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Guide to Planting Trees or Shrubs Over or Near Septic System or Sewer Lines:

This article describes the types of trees, shrubs, or similar plants that should or should not be planted over or near septic fields or other septic system components.

Planting trees, shrubs, and even some ground covers over septic system components are causes of septic system failure in the drain field, leach field, seepage bed, or similar components.

We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need.

Watch out: While not all sewage or septic system effluents will always make nearby fruits or vegetables unsafe, in at least some conditions planting fruit trees, or vegetables (or anything else edible) over the septic drainfield might produce food that is unsafe to either because watering or rain splash-up sends sewage-contaminated water droplets onto the surface of the edible fruits or vegetables OR because in some cases pathogens may enter the plant system by means of its roots.

Wee SEWAGE CONTAMINANTS in FRUIT / VEGETABLES for details.

This is the only sort of tree that we suggest can be placed over septic system components with little risk of damage.

This is actually a metal sculpture. Even the placement of this "tree" could have damaged a septic field if during its installation heavy equipment was used to deliver the tree to this spot. Real trees will damage septic components by root movement or clogging.

If you have a shrub for which you have reliable knowledge about the maximum extent its roots will normally reach, you might think itd be ok to plant it exactly that distance from the nearest drainfield trench.

Watch out: the extra levels of nutrients delivered to the soils by the drainfield may attract roots from nearby trees or shrubs and cause them to travel farther than usual.

OPINION: keep shrubs with a known root travel distance 25% farther than that distance from the edge of a drainfield.

In this photo the light and excavated area is where the new home owner saw and dug into a smelly wet spot that appeared in the yard the morning after moving into their new home - a house built 30 years before and one which employed a home made septic tank.

While there were tree roots in the drainfield pipes of the system, the septic tank itself, which was too small, never pumped, and fully blocked, was the "root" cause of system failure in this case. (Pardon the pun).

Whether you are planting trees or planning a new septic drainfield, keep the drainfield or septic leach field away from trees or shrubs which are likely to put down deep or aggressive roots.

The pines in our photo (above-left) are white pines approximately 30 years old.

The roots will quickly invade and clog the buried effluent lines and may also cause them to move, break, or become disconnected.

The actual tree to septic distance needed depends on the tree variety and its normal root growth range.

Keep at least as much distance between the tree and the nearest drainfield component as the anticipated height of the tree at its maturity.

So if the tree will be 30' tall at maturity keep it at least 30' from the drainfield.

Some trees should be kept at much greater distances, up to 100' from septic fields, as we discuss just below.

Trees considered to have deep and/or aggressive roots that are likely to damage a drainfield include those listed below.

Japanese Angelica Tree, considered invasive in the U.S.

Warning: dense root system may kill nearby plants and block soil oxygenation.

See also Aralia spinosa in table below.

Sources

...

Above: the video camera line inspection shows a modest dislocation in a sewer line pipe joint through which roots are growing.

Even a small root intrusion or pipe joint dislocation can accumulate or block the flow of solid waste leading to slow gurgling drains and ultimately to a complete drain blockage. Our photos above show root invasion at 27 feet and at 83 feet in this buried sewer line in Seattle, WA.

See SEWER / SEPTIC PIPE CAMERAS

Some trees have less aggressive roots and may do less rapid or less extensive damage if they are a bit nearerto septic fields. These include:

OPINION-DF: Some authors accept the near-septic use of these less aggressive trees with the advice that "... their damage is likelyto be less severe". This seems silly to me. Any root clogging of septic systems is likely to be costly and inconvenient.

If you have a shrub for which you have reliable knowledge about the maximum extent its roots will normally reach, you might think itd be ok to plant it exactly that distance from the nearest drainfield trench.

But Id be careful: the extra levels of nutrients delivered to the soils by the drainfield may attract roots from nearby trees or shrubs and cause them to travel farther than usual.

OPINION-DF: Id keep shrubs with a known root travel distance at least 25% farther than that "known root travel distance" from the edge of a drainfield.

Some experts (Kahn, Allen, Jones) also point out that if you're planting on the edgesand lower toe of a septic mound, those plants need to be able totolerate the higher moisture levels found in those parts of the moundsystem.

In the photo at the top of this page, our field in northern Minnesota provided ample room to place septic system components more than100 feet from the nearest tree. But what about those tire track that show up in light snow? Driving over the drainfield can alsodamage it.

The following table of native (to New Zealand) or introduced species of shrubs and trees lists species that are considered suitable for planting over an evapo-transpiration system and should be acceptable over a mound system or conventional drainfield as well.

Note that other native species local to your area might also be suitable. [3] Separately at Grasses or Flowers we provide a similar table of suitable grasses.

Shallow root system, Native in South-Eastern U.S. Common names: devil's walkingstick, prickly ash, Hercules club, angelica tree, prickly elder, pick tree, toothache tree, shotbush

Watch out: see Aralia elata in table above.

Root depth 8 to 24" depending on species; non-aggressive, shallow spreading roots.

Might be ok over drainfield trenches more than 24" deep but safer to keep at least 25 ft. away or distance = canopy diameter + 10 ft. .

Original sources:

Watch out: even when trees are listed as OK to plant near a drainfield that NEVER means planting right atop the drainfield, and some of these trees must be kept considerable distance away.

Keep trees at least twice as far from the drainfield as canopy height or twice as far as the tree's expected root spread.

Blue sprue roots are shallow, just 2-3" deep,and slow growing, but the roots may extend 2-3 times the diameter of the drip line or the largest diameter of the tree canopy.

See Fechner, Gilbert H., BLUE SPRUCE Picea Pungens [PDF] USDA

Also see GRASSES or FLOWERS ok to plant over septic systems and drainfields or soakaway beds

Day provides suggestions for using a root barrier - excerpting:

Another effective,although expensive, technique that may be worth trying isinstalling a root barrier between your drainage field and treeplantings. Geotextiles, impregnated with a long-lasting herbicide that moves only a short distance in the soil, have beenused successfully to restrict root growth in street tree plantings.

To effectively stop tree roots, the barrier should extend from the soil surface to a depth of at least 2 feet.

Some roots may still grow under the barrier, but intrusion into the drain field should be greatly reduced. Install the barrier fabric at least 3 feet from the drain field so as not to disrupt the system. Allow at least 5 feet (the more the better) between the tree and the root barrier - more if it will be a very large tree.

Finally, never encircle the tree with the barrier material; this could effectively containerize your tree and prevent it from thriving. Instead, run the material the entire length of the drain field to prevent roots from getting into the field by going around the barrier.

Excerpt: This small suckering hardy tree or large shrub is nativethroughout North Dakota. Purple-leaved selections are popular landscape plants.

Fruits commonly used for jellies and jams. The largest tree form in North Dakota is 41 feet tall with a canopy spread of 28 feet.

This discussion has moved to TREE or SHRUB DISTANCE FROM SEPTIC FAQs

@Inspectapedia Com Moderator, Thank you for your response and recommendations.

@Kendell S,

From what I've read Elaeagnus has both a deep tap root and a spreading more-shallow root system. You should not plant this over your drainfield nor close to it. Normally we keep such plants well away from the septic drainfield - a distance greater than the expected canopy diameter which often predicts the minimum horizontal roof spread.

The plant is said to grow to > 9m in height and at least 4 ft or 1.3m wide and are usually kept 3m or more apart even from one another.

That planting separation recommendation you'll find at various plant sites for Elaeagnus would say your plants need to be 9 ft. apart and I'd figure for safe avoidance root invasion of your septic field you'd want plants no closer than 10-12 ft from the edge of the drainfield.

My reasoning is the experience that the high concentration of nutrients in septic effluent act as a sort of magnet that can attract the roots plants from greater than normal plant root horizontal or vertical distance.

How safe are Elaeagnus for a privacy shield say 6 feet apart over or near my septic drain field which distributes pumped effluent?

@Jill S,

Sorry, you're both right to ask for clarification of my earlier reply.

You can remove the trees if you like - saw down, cut up, carry away.

Leaving tree roots (and stumps) won't in and of itself cause trouble.

If roots are already in the drainfield piping then they're already causing trouble, dead or alive - by clogging the system and reducing its capacity - that's why I suggested a sewer line cam inspection.

Left in place tree roots and tree stumps of many species will ultimately begin to grow anew - so you haven't necessarily "killed" the trees and you might still in the future see a root invasion problem.

Watch out: driving heavy equipment over the fields such as a stump grinder or a truck to pick up tree parts can compress soil or collapse a drainfield line - damaging the system

My husband and I interpreted your response differently. If we would like to remove a few pear trees, should we be concerned that it might negatively impact the septic leach field?

@Jill S,

Ornamental pears like the Bradford tend to have shallow roots: perhaps you've been lucky and they haven't invaded your septic drainfield.

Why not have a sewer line camera inspection of the leach lines: if you see they are root free you might stop there.

We live in North Carolina and our septic system is almost 20 years old. There are ornamental pear trees and holly trees planted over the leach field. The pear trees are now three stories tall.

We have not had any problems with the septic system and are not sure if its better to just leave the trees or cut them down? In particular, if we remove the trees and the roots have invaded the septic field could this cause problems when the roots start to decompose? Thanks, Jill

@BRIAN RASMUSSEN,

The root system for Yucca plants are invasive, aggressively-seeking water (and storing it too), combined of a shallow root system seeking water and a deeper tap-root.

I've found that "normally-shallow" root systems will be attracted to a drain line if there are openings (hub type older drainfield pipes) and will absolutey be attracted to the drainfield trenches of septic systems.

So you'd want to keep such plants 2-4 x the plant's canopy size diameter away from the drainfield. 20-30 feet or more may be safe.

See details in this

YUCCA PLANT INFORMATION GUIDE - USDA [PDF] USDA, retrieved k2022/01/24 original source: https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/nmpmcrb12162.pdf

Available here at

https://inspectapedia.com/septic/Yucca-Plant-Information-USDA.pdf

Are Adams Needle yucca variety damaging to drain pipes and septic systems? Thanks, Brian

@Field Inspector K-Sneak,

You did a GREAT JOB KS - by working by hand and carrying off the cut-up logs from the septic mound.

That means you didn't drive heavy equipment over the mound system.

Now as long as there was no evidence that the tree-fall broke a pipe - which from your photos and our onsite inspection seem to be the case, and as long as the remaining end of that big tree is not on any part of the constructed septic mound, you can leave the rest of it alone if you like.

That sawdust won't hurt a thing - it's only of cosmetic import - because of its limited thickness and because it's spaced out. (You would not want to pile many inches of sawdust or any other compost atop the mound) as in too much thickness you might interfere with transpiration or with the availability of oxygen to the aerobic bacteria in the soil top layers.

@inspectapedia.com.moderator,

Update on the tree that fell across our septic mound system:

As you can see in my photo, I got that nasty old chain saw working an cut the tree into short segments that I could carry off of our septic moun. I stopped cutting back the fallen-tree once I had removed everything back to the bottom edge of the mound.

1. Is it OK for me to leave that sawdust on the septic mound or might it cause a mold problem?

2. Is it OK for me to leave the rest of the tree in place?

More here:
Planting Trees or Shrubs Near Septic or Sewer Lines - InspectAPedia

Septic System Cost by Size

The septic tank size you need varies significantly, depending on the home or building size you are servicing and the amount of waste produced. The most common way to break down the tank volume needed is by the number of bedrooms in the home. Historically, this is a good indication of the tank size needed.

A septic system for a two-bedroom house requires a minimum of a 750-gallon tank. Its cost typically ranges between $1,500 and $3,000. However, it is important to check local regulations because many municipalities require a minimum of a 1,000-gallon tank for a residential system.

The average cost of installing a 1,000-gallon septic tank is $3,000 to $7,000. The minimum size of the tank recommended for a three-bedroom house is a 1,000-gallon tank. Additionally, many local or state governments require a minimum of a 1,000-gallon tank. A 1,000-gallon tank typically handles 360 gallons of water per day. If you want to calculate your water usage, estimate your water flow, and multiply it by 1.5.

Typically, 1,200-gallon tanks cost between $7,000 and $12,000. A four-bedroom house needs a slightly larger tank. A 1,250-gallon tank is the minimum tank volume for a home of this size. This tank handles about 480 to 600 gallons per day of effluent. The cost varies significantly, depending on the tank material. Use the calculation above to estimate the water volume leaving your house.

Most homeowners pay $12,000 to $20,000 to install a five-bedroom house system. A tank up to 1,500 gallons should suffice, which comfortably handles anywhere from 600 to 900 gallons of water a day. Like the systems for a house with three or four bedrooms, a five-bedroom system cost varies by tank material and design.

Talk to local pros to get quotes for your septic tank installation

There are many different types of septic systems, and each has pros, cons, and costs. Costs depend on various things, including the lot size, soil type, house size, and weather conditions. The costs below are based on a 1,000-gallon tank in a three or four-bedroom house and do not include installation.

*additional costs per connection.

The average cost for an in-ground gravity system is $1,500 to $4,000. They are very simple in that they use gravity for water flow and filtration. A gravity system does not need a pump. The tank in these types of systems is very important. It should have risers-to-grade to help with maintenance and an effluent filter that filters out larger particles before the water leaves the tank. This system requires at least a gentle slope so that the water flows properly without a pump.

The typical cost for a conventional system is between $2,000 and $10,000. It is typically used at single-family homes or small businesses. It is an older design but one that works well, with a tank and then a trench that acts as a drain field. Typically, in this system, the trench is quite shallow, ranging from 18 to 30 inches, and constructed of gravel or stone. A geofabric is installed on top of the trench to allow water to enter the stone and prevent any sand or dirt from entering the clean soil. One downside to a conventional system is that the gravel and stone trenches take up a lot of space and might not work on a small lot.

An underground anaerobic system costs from $2,000 to $5,000. It is a very common option for homeowners. It is a fairly simple system that does not need additional chemicals or power. An anaerobic system uses bacteria that do not require oxygen to live to eat solid waste. The liquid waste is then piped out and distributed under the soil. As the water runs through the soil, the waste is naturally filtered out.

The average cost for an in-ground chamber system ranges from $3,500 to $10,000. A chamber system uses gravelless drain fields. This system has surged in popularity over the past few decades. Some benefits to a gravelless drain field include having a smaller carbon footprint1, and they are easier to construct and install. They are also beneficial when there is no consistent flow of wastewater, such as for a cabin or seasonal residence.

There are typically multiple chambers across the drain field connected to the tank by pipes. Chamber systems work well in areas with good, natural soil that will easily absorb the effluent.

A typical drip distribution system costs between $4,000 and $10,000 but can be much higher, depending on how advanced the technology is. A drip distribution system is dynamic and does not require a large mound of soil. This system, consisting of drip laterals or long lengths of tubing, is installed between 6 and 12 inches underneath the soil. Using a pump, a large dose tank distributes the water in timed deliveries. This system requires a fairly large area and needs power to operate. For example, if you add an electrical component, it will increase expenses.

The average cost for an underground pressure distribution system is between $5,000 and $7,000. Pressure distribution systems only need 2 feet of distance between the bottom of the system and the water table level. This is a huge advantage for people who live in areas with high water tables. This system includes a pump chamber that pushes the water out and distributes it evenly across a distribution area. The pump can also push water uphill. As a result, there must be good control over the pumps on/off action. These systems are slightly more expensive than a gravity system, but they overcome many barriers a gravity system2 cannot.

Expect costs for a recirculating sand filter system to range from $6,000 to $10,000. What makes this system unique is the sand filter portion can be installed above or below ground. Liquid waste, also called effluent water, is pumped into the top of the sand filter, which is typically constructed of concrete or PVC. The waste in the water is filtered out through sand and stone layers before entering the ground. This system is ideal for lots with a high water table or areas near surface water, such as a lake or river.

The average cost for a constructed wetland system is $6,000 to $10,000. This is a unique and interesting in-ground system that resembles a wetland. The effluent goes from the tank into what is called a wetland cell. Wetland cells are typically constructed of a liner, gravel, sand, and wetland plants. The plants must be chosen carefully because they will always be wet. The water flows into the wetland cell, and the plants, sand, and gravel filter out the waste. The water is then distributed into a drain field. This system can use gravity or a pump.

An average cost for a conventional in-ground system for a community is between $9,200 and $15,700. Then, there is an additional cost per home or connection added to the system, which typically ranges from $3,400 to $5,100 per added connection. Sometimes called a cluster system, a community system is decentralized, meaning it does not just serve one household. Typically, a community system serves at least two buildings. These are fairly common in rural subdivisions where there is a lot of space. These systems can be cost-effective and very efficient. The cost of a community system varies significantly because it depends on the type of system installed and the number of buildings or homes included in the system.

The cost of an underground evapotranspiration system is usually $10,000 to $15,000. This unique system has an interesting design, where water is put into an open-air tank, and the water evaporates. The tank is lined with a durable water-tight material so that no water leaks into the soil. With this system, the water does not enter the soil at all. Evapotranspiration systems need to be installed in the right climate. It must be hot, have a lot of sun, and be in an arid climate. If there is too much rain or snow, the system can fail.

An above-ground septic system ranges from $10,000 to $20,000. They are a unique design intended when the depth of the soil or bedrock is shallow, or the groundwater is high. They have a sand mound constructed in the area of the septic system. A pump pushes wastewater from the tank into the mound in doses. Then, the sand filters out the water before it enters the soil and groundwater. This design needs a lot of space to build. For a standard three-bedroom home, the mound will likely be 200 feet long. For larger homes, an additional 30 feet of length is added per bedroom. It takes up a lot of space, but it is beneficial if you have shallow bedrock or high groundwater.

The average cost for an underground aerobic system is between $10,000 and $20,000. This is also a popular system among homeowners. It utilizes bacteria that need oxygen to survive to eat solid waste. Due to this, the system pumps oxygen into the tank to activate the bacteria. These systems are more expensive to install and maintain but work well where other systems might struggle. These systems work on small lots in areas where the soil conditions are not conducive to other systems and where the groundwater table is too high to utilize other systems. It is also a good option if your home is located near a body of water.

Septic tanks come in different capacities based on how many gallons of water they hold. Average prices range from $720 to $10,000. The size of your house is the biggest factor in determining what capacity you need. The larger the house, the more bathrooms and connections needed to maintain a clean and healthy environment. Below are the most common tank capacities and the associated costs of buying each tank. Keep in mind that each capacity comes in concrete, plastic, or fiberglass3.

A 750-gallon tank costs $720 to $1,200. This capacity is ideal for small townhomes or single-family residences with two bedrooms. Most will only have one or two toilets connected to the system. Many 750-gallon tanks are plastic and installed above ground, but they can be used for underground systems.

Most homeowners pay $800 to $2,000 for a 1,000-gallon tank. This capacity suits a three- or four-bedroom home with two or three bathrooms. Plastic and precast concrete are common materials for 1,000-gallon tanks, usually used for conventional above or below ground systems. The average family home typically has a 1,000-gallon tank.

The average cost of a 1,200-gallon tank is $1,200 to $2,000, designed for homes with four or five bedrooms. Many 1,200-gallon tank systems are hooked up to three or four bathrooms. Alternative or engineered systems installed underground with a new drain field hold around 1,200-gallons.

A 1,500-gallon tank costs $1,300 to $2,500. This capacity is reserved for a large five- to seven-bedroom house, usually upwards of 3,000 sq.ft. There may be four, five, or even six bathrooms hooked up to the system. Fiberglass and concrete are used more commonly as the capacity goes up, but plenty of plastic 1,500-gallon tanks are available.

Expect to pay $2,500 to $4,000 for a 2,000-gallon tank. It can serve a small apartment or duplex with about 14 residents. Precast concrete is the preferred material for a long-lasting 2,000-gallon tank, which may be used by several people at the same time. Many of these larger tanks will be installed underground with a set drainage field.

If you need a 2,500-gallon tank, plan on paying $3,000 to $4,500. Small apartment buildings usually use this capacity for underground systems, with precast and plastic options readily available. The larger the tank is in size, the more labor involved to make sure it fits into place and has the proper support around it.

The average cost of a 5,000-gallon tank is $5,000 to $10,000, usually reserved for apartment buildings and community tanks. The sheer size of these tanks makes them an uncommon choice for the average homeowner unless they live in a sprawling property or farm where they want to store significant water and reuse it wherever possible by separating potable and non-potable water.

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There are several different materials for septic tanks. Each material has benefits. Some are more appropriate for different soil types, climates, or uses. They all do the same job, but there is a cost difference among them. The costs below are for a 1,000-gallon tank, which typically serves a standard three-bedroom home.

The average cost for a 1,000-gallon concrete tank is $800 to $1,250. Concrete tanks are very popular and the most common material used for tanks. They are durable and have a long life when made of high-quality materials and are constructed well. A good concrete tank can have a life of over 20 years. A concrete tank is very heavy, so big equipment is needed for installation. Other price factors impact the cost, depending on if it is precast or reinforced with rebar.

The typical cost of a plastic tank is between $830 and $1,400. Plastic tanks are more durable than you might think. They do not typically crack, but they can break if soil conditions change or shift. Plastic tanks are much lighter than their concrete counterparts and are typically less expensive to install. While the cost of the tank is similar, the installation costs vary greatly between a plastic tank and other heavier materials.

The typical cost for a 1,000-gallon fiberglass tank is $1,600 to $2,000. Fiberglass has many unique benefits. It is not a porous material, so there is very little chance algae will grow on the tank. It also is very sturdy and does not deteriorate underground. Like plastic tanks, fiberglass tanks are lighter than concrete or steel, so they are cheaper to install. There is also no chance of fiberglass cracking, which could happen to concrete.

Installing a septic system can be a lot of work, depending on the system type. It is an extremely technical project that should be carried out by a professional contractor. Not only do all connections need to be made perfectly to ensure the system does not leak, but the grade and depth of the components are also very precise.

Hiring a contractor for the project ranges between $1,500 and $4,000. This cost includes the system design, filing permits, and excavating and installing the system. For a contractor to do the design, it usually costs between $600 and $800. An hourly rate for a contractor varies based on the location, costing between $150 and $200 per hour. While the total project cost changes based on the system type, the hourly rate is pretty standard and should not change. A typical installation job should take two to five days or 16 to 40 hours.

The installation has several phases. First, the contractor completes an inspection to determine the scope of the design and if any soil tests are needed. The contractor then designs the system and applies for the permits. After this, excavation occurs. Next, it is time for the system installation. Once the installation is done, an inspector needs to approve it before filling in the soil and finishing the project.

You may not have realized it, but your septic tank was very likely impacted by the pandemic and may still be impacted. Septic tanks are sized based on projected need. This includes the number of water sources in the home, the number of occupants, and how many hours a day they are home.

When the pandemic was declared in March 2020, most non-essential workers and school children began staying or working from home. This put high stress on septic systems because more people were using the systems for more hours a day than they may have been designed for.

While some people resumed their normal lives and schedules after a short period, an estimated 25% to 30% of the workforce will continue to work from home once the pandemic is over. Many families have also turned to homeschooling to avoid disruptions during this time, meaning many families are spending more hours at home than before the pandemic.

This may mean your septic system is overburdened. It may need to be pumped more frequently than before, need additional service, or be replaced entirely, depending on its age and condition. Families with septic systems should have them inspected and talk with their septic company about addressing their needs.

Its normal for pieces of a septic system to age and wear over time. System maintenance is usually cheaper than installing a new system because design and excavation are already done. Additionally, most systems have fairly independent pieces that are easy to replace, such as tank lids or filters.

Signs that your tank needs to be replaced include noticeable cracks or damage, unusually strong smells of sewage, standing water, slow sink/shower draining and toilet flushing, patchy grass, or contamination in nearby water sources. Remember, the average lifespan of this system is 20 to 30 years. If yours is several decades old, it may need to be replaced. If you have increased your house size substantially and added new bathrooms, you may need a bigger tank. The average tank removal cost is $5,000 to $6,000.

You can replace the tank baffle ($300 to $900), tank lid ($150 to $500), and tank filter ($200 to $300). If the tank pump fails, it costs typically between $200 and $500. Replacing the leach field is more expensive, costing between $2,000 and $20,000. Hiring a specialist for the replacement is usually between $125 and $175 per hour. The hourly rate may vary based on area, but it should be fairly consistent for any type of septic installation or repair.

A septic tank inspection is most commonly done when buying a home and usually costs $300 to $600, with many inspectors charging based on the size of the tank and the scope of the inspection. This inspection evaluates the age, condition, and pumping power of the tank to ensure it is working optimally. Homeowners can opt for tank inspections every three to five years to ensure that everything is fine with their systems and that no performance issues or damage needs to be addressed.

Home inspectors do a visual inspection of the tank. They ask several questions about the age of the house and the date of the last inspection. Inspectors turn on all the taps and flush every toilet to check the water pressure and draining. They need to check the drain field to look for standing water or a cesspool.

In a full inspection, inspectors take off the tank cover to look at the water level and whether it changes when more water comes in. Sometimes inspectors use a dye test, putting special coloring into the draining water to see how much filters into the tank. Then the tank is pumped, and the inspector checks for any absorption backflow. By looking for absorption issues or backages, they can see if anything needs to be fixed.

Installing a drain field, also known as a leach field, costs $3,500 to $11,000. The drain field is an important part of the system that carries the wastewater back into the soil after it filters through the tank. Drain fields are typically connected to the tank by perforated pipes running 2 to 4 feet underground. These pipes carry the water into the soil, where it drains out beneath the grass. When installing a drain field, a specialist will look out for the surrounding soil environment to ensure the ground can handle the influx of wastewater. Both installers and homeowners must monitor for signs of drain field clogging or flooding. A swampy, soggy area of the yard or a strong sewage odor can indicate issues with a drain field, which could cost $2,000 to $10,000 to remediate.

A tank riser is a pipe installed on the top of a ank to give you access to the tank at ground level. This makes your system more accessible and makes maintenance and repairs cheaper, faster, and easier. The average plastic or concrete riser cost ranges from $300 to $600, with plastic being lighter and slightly easier to use. Concrete risers are a little more expensive toward the higher end of the range, but they are very durable and can end up saving money in the long run by creating an access point to your tank that is at grade.

Sewer pipes in septic systems are slightly different from the typical sewer pipe. They are a different size and usually are a minimum of 4 inches in diameter. These pipes have protection around them, such as baffles or sanitary tees typically constructed of concrete, fiberglass, or plastic, and need to be acid-resistant. The most common materials for sewer pipes for these systems are PVC and cast iron. The cost depends on the pipe length and location. The material cost of the pipe is between $100 and $240 per linear foot of material to replace or install a sewer pipe. The cost for a plumber to do the installation or repair is typically between $45 and $200 per hour.

While the distribution box might not seem like a major component in the septic system, it is one of the most important pieces. The distribution box is where the effluent flows through to get to the drain field. It is the connector between the tank and the drain field. If the distribution box is damaged or not functioning, it can cause the entire system to fail.

A distribution box is not very expensive, usually between $50 and $100 for a plastic distribution box. Concrete is more expensive because the boxes are heavier and have to be precast or cast in place. The cost of a concrete distribution box is usually between $600 and $650.

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Mobile homes connect to these systems the same way as any other building or home. The major difference when designing, installing, or connecting a system to a mobile home is that the placement is critical. A tank cannot withstand the weight of the home if you move it. As a result, the tank and septic system needs to be in a location where the home will not be hauled over it.

The most common system type used for mobile homes is a conventional one with a standard drain field. The average cost to install and connect a system like this to a mobile home is typically between $3,000 and $5,000.

While a septic system is a simple onsite sewage solution that collects wastewater for basic treatment, a cesspool is a shallow underground pit for sanitary waste disposal. A septic system pumps wastewater and eventually filters it out through pipes into the soil drain field. But a cesspool simply holds the waste in place inside a concrete-lined pit. A cesspool cant filter waste, so it eventually contaminates the nearby soil. To prevent soil contamination and enjoy a cleaner, safer system for the long term, homeowners may choose to replace a cesspool with a full septic system. To do this, expect to pay at least $4,000 to $6,000. Prices may be higher depending on the size of the cesspool, deterioration of the surrounding soil, and the requirements for the new system. The process should take just a few days, although installers must ensure the stability of the soil around the cesspool. The cesspool needs to be drained, the concrete liner removed, and then installers will work the soil accordingly. Once the soil is ready, the new system can be installed.

Converting an anaerobic system to an aerobic one costs $5,000 to $10,000. Anaerobic systems are less expensive, costing $2,000 to $5,000 as a traditional and common septic system with relatively no oxygen in the tank. Aerobic systems support bacteria that live off oxygen and help break down sewage, making them more expensive, around $10,000 to $20,000.

The advantages of converting from an anaerobic system to an aerobic one include the cleaner effluent flowing out of the system, which minimizes the chances of groundwater contamination. If you live somewhere with a high water table, an aerobic system helps prevent water pollution. The main downside is, of course, the higher installation costs. Additional maintenance is also involved, like checking the air injection and electrical systems.

The advantages of a septic tank outweigh the disadvantages for most homeowners. This project is a sizable investment, costing from $720 to $10,000, but its money well spent when you can dispose of waste in a safe, sanitary way. Septic systems also give homeowners independence and peace of mind knowing they can use their sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets without worrying about clogs and backups in a community sewage system.

Septic systems protect the environment by removing pollutants from surface water and replenishing groundwater. They protect your familys health and the wider health of the community by reducing the risk of pollutant and pathogen transmission. On the downside, these systems may encounter problems, especially as they age. Damage to the tanks and other sections of the systems may require repairs. If the drain field overflows, you will also need to get that fixed. Even so, the maintenance requirements of a modern system are minimal, especially if it was properly installed by a professional.

Septic tank maintenance is a necessary and preventive aspect of having a septic system. Like most systems in your home, some maintenance is necessary to keep everything in the proper working order. In this case, most maintenance is considered preventative. The most important maintenance task is pumping and cleaning the tank every three to five years. This is a pretty standard timeline, no matter which system you have. Cleaning costs usually range from $400 to $1,000 and include any tools and equipment the plumber or specialist may need. Most maintenance does not need any material replacements, so you will only pay if something needs replacing.

A septic system costs $3,100 to $9,600 to install while connecting to a main sewer line can be slightly more affordable, around $1,500 to $8,000. Think of this system as your own personal sewage system. A septic system treats wastewater on site, with an underground tank and pipe system on your property. If your home plumbing system is not hooked up to a septic system, it is connected to the main city sewer line. Sewage connections carry the wastewater from your home and route it underground to a city or county treatment plant.

A holding tank is seen as a temporary solution for holding wastewater, costing $500 to $4,000 compared to $3,100 to $9,600 for septic systems. As the name suggests, a holding tank holds wastewater but doesnt have a system to filter the waste. Once a holding tank reaches capacity, it must be emptied, with most requiring monthly, if not weekly, pumping.

Holding tanks are a better option for tiny homes, trailers, boats, or RVs, as they are not designed for larger family homes. Unlike a holding tank, a septic tank is a full system that filters wastewater and sends effluent out into the drain field and surrounding soil. A full septic system is more expensive but requires less maintenance and is more permanent than temporary holding tanks.

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A pump alarm may be necessary with some systems, such as a pressure distribution system. These alarms are triggered when the wastewater level gets extremely low. If the pump continues to run when there is no water to distribute, it can ruin the pump. A tank alarm ranges from $100 to $500.

It may be necessary to clear some land and do preparation work on the site before installing a septic system. Land clearing prep work costs between $1,600 and $8,000, with prices varying based on the size of the land and the scope of the work. This is important because even the most advanced system wont work well if the soil cannot support it. Land preparations usually start with soil testing, with the average perc test for septic costs around $600 to $800. This test reveals how long it takes for the soil to drain and will help your installer understand the best place to install your system and which type of tank is most suited to your property.

Once you settle on the right spot to install the system, its time to excavate the area for the drain field. Most contractors include this in their installation costs because the elevation, slope, and system depth are all extremely specific. After installing the system, your contractor cleans up the surrounding landscaping to protect and secure the tank.

The average cost of installing a septic system is between $3,100 and $9,600, including the system and installation. Anaerobic, gravity, and chamber systems are on the lower end of that average, usually costing $1,500 to $5,000. More expensive systems include the mound system, aerobic, and evapotranspiration and range anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000.

A 1,000-gallon tank usually costs between $800 and $2,000, but the price varies depending on the tank material. A concrete tank has the cheapest material cost, between $800 and $1,250, but it is the most expensive to transport and install because of its weight. A plastic tank is slightly more expensive, $830 to $1,400, but its weight makes it much cheaper to install, and heavy machinery is usually not needed. A fiberglass tank usually ranges between $1,600 and $2,000.

A septic system typically lasts between 15 and 40 years. This is usually determined by the quality of the tank and the drain field. A concrete tank is extremely durable. When constructed well, it is fairly indestructible and can easily last 40 years. The lifespan of a plastic tank is about 30 years. The drain field can also be a limiting factor on the age of the system. The drain field type does not affect the lifespan of the system. However, the quality of the soil and drainage is a huge factor. Not doing maintenance on the system is one way to shorten the life of any system.

The smallest area a septic system will usually fit in is a -acre lot. Most homeowners with small lots opt to use an aerobic system. Most systems, such as an anaerobic or chamber system, typically need at least a one-acre lot. Mound systems need the most space because the mound itself is usually a minimum of 200 feet long.

Heavy rain can cause problems for all types of systems because they can flood the drain field. If the drain field floods or the soil is saturated, the effluent septic water cannot effectively drain into the soil. This can cause major backups in the tank and even flooding.

A small septic system for a two- or three-bedroom home can handle about five loads of laundry per day. This does not include any other water being used and is based on using an old washer with a 1,000-gallon tank. The washer type is a major factor because older washers can use up to 40 gallons per wash. New energy-efficient washers usually use 12 to 15 gallons of water.

The average 1,500-gallon tank costs $1,300 to $2,500. This capacity is ideal for a large five- to seven-bedroom house around 3,000 sq.ft. or more. Homes with four, five, or six bathrooms can benefit from a 1,500-gallon tank, usually made of fiberglass or concrete, although plastic tanks are also available.

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2022 Septic System Installation Cost | New Septic System Cost - Fixr.com

Well be looking at root killers for septic tanks, including the best brands in the market.

Many times, tree or shrub roots become the enemy of our septic systems. This is because such roots may infiltrate into tanks through tiny cracks.

As they penetrate such tanks, roots create even wider cracks which lead to a problematic system.

This article will discuss a solution for root penetration in septic tanks with special reference to root killers. Root killers have been around for some time and have provided relief for many households.

To understand this better, youll need to look at the contents of a septic tank.

Septic tanks hold waste which is usually separated into 3 phases; scum, effluent, and sludge. The effluent layer is rich in nitrates which are considered good fertilizing agents.

When tiny cracks begin to form on septic tanks, a slow action by tree roots begins. Roots will need to gain access to a source of nutrients that are being held in septic tanks.

As this situation unfolds, groundwater also infiltrates the septic tank.

This leads to a situation where the tank fills up easily.

Before you ever decide to use root killer for septic systems, youll need first to confirm that a root issue is existent.

Tree roots cause a myriad of problems for your septic tanks as well as the entire system. The best way to find out if roots are the issue is to look for certain symptoms.

These symptoms include frequent pumping of septic tanks, sitting water on the drain field, poor drainage, and patches of green in the leach field.

Lets briefly discuss each of these problems for a better understanding.

When roots interfere with septic tanks and systems, they block off your drain field and pipes.

This negatively impacts your septic tank as it becomes more easily filled up than usual. Septic tanks are meant to be pumped once every 3 to 5 years.

With root actions, you may be pumping your tanks much more frequently than normal.

Now, this symptom is only speculated. An actual inspection of the septic tank by a technician will determine if the issue is due to tree root presence or if other things are responsible.

When a drain field becomes overwhelmed by excess water, it results in a situation where it hardly absorbs.

This results in sitting water on the drain field. As your septic tank fills up easily due to cracks caused by roots, it fills up easily. This results in excess water being delivered to the drain field.

Are you experiencing sluggish drains in your toilet and sinks?

The first thing that comes to mind when you notice this problem is the possibility of a full septic tank. Now, what if its not due for pumping?

If so, there could be other reasons, among which is the possibility of root penetration.

Are you noticing the growth of lush green grasses and shrubs above your leach field?

This may be due to the escape of nutrient-rich water from your septic tank. This is mostly the case when roots cause a blockage of distribution pipes.

As mentioned earlier, theres no way of knowing that tree roots are present within your septic tank.

The symptoms listed above are only that and will need to be further investigated. When its determined that roots are present, an appropriate treatment will be necessary.

This brings us to our main focus; root killers for septic tanks. A wide range of root-killing products has been developed by different companies to combat the root menace.

A tree must have been planted too close long after the septic tank was installed.

In other cases, septic tanks were installed within proximity to trees. Whatever the case is, your best bet is to find the most appropriate treatment.

Root killers are specially formulated chemical products that are designed to act on roots within proximity to a septic tank. These products are applied to wither or kill tree roots.

This prevents them from further encroachment into your septic tank.

There are lots of root killer products on the market. Youll have to make your choice of what best fits your needs. Each of these products comes with user instructions.

Youll need to make your preferred pick based on customer reviews and expert recommendations.

Most root killers are in the form of septic tank additives.

These chemicals are designed so that they dont affect digestive bacteria found in septic tanks when applied. However, any plant roots within such tanks are destroyed.

So how about corrosion? Will your tanks corrode when these chemicals come in contact? Not at all! Your tank remains in perfect working condition.

When it comes to root killers, youre likely to be spoiled for choice as there are tons of them.

Each of these makes serious claims about its efficacy. Its left to you to find out whats best or what isnt. This is possible by going through customer reviews.

Some popular products include Hi-Yield Root Killer, Zep Root Kill, and Roebic Foaming Root Killer.

Others include RootX Root Killer, Root Destroyer, and much more. As mentioned earlier, most of these are septic additives that can be applied through the toilet or drainage.

After confirming the presence of roots, the cracks or openings resulting from their penetration will need to be fixed.

In other words, killing plant roots isnt enough to resolve the problem. Other issues may develop include a septic tank that fills up too fast.

Youll need to discuss with your technician the best ways to resolve the problem.

Here are the best root killers for sewer lines.

One of the main problems affecting sewer lines is the presence of plant or tree roots.

These cause all sorts of issues, such as entangling pipes with hair-like masses. Though tiny, these hair-like masses are likely to form clogs as they hold on to toilet tissue and other debris.

The best response to root problems affecting sewer lines is to apply commercial or homemade root killers. As the name implies, a root killer will fight back by killing off all roots within your sewer lines.

This allows for fewer interruptions and better functioning of your sewer system.

Tree roots are notorious for causing sewer line issues.

In other words, trees and shrubs are the major causes of root problems. This is because plants and trees will readily tap from nutrients contained in wastewater being transported by sewer lines.

With root killer products, you wont have to worry about cutting down your trees as a preventive measure. Trees themselves provide a lot of benefits.

Your best bet will be to find the most effective root killers to safeguard your sewer lines. So, what are they? There are several!

When applying a root killer, you want to ensure the product reaches every part of your sewer lines.

The top part of sewer lines may be left out when the right type of root killer isnt reached. This is where the foaming root killer comes in handy. It reaches all sides of the pipe.

This isnt to take anything away from root killers containing copper sulfate. These, too, are effective. However, the only difference is that such products wont reach the top side of the pipe.

With this information provided, lets consider some of the top root killers for sewer lines. Its also important to note that this follows no particular order.

When it comes to the most effective root killers for sewer lines, no particular product can be pointed out as being the overall best. Rather, several root killer products from popular brands can be listed as being among the best.

These root killer products are largely divided into two types; copper sulfate or rock salt and foaming dichlobenil pesticide. While both categories will readily kill off roots, their applicability depends on the situation at hand.

Top brands include Roebic K-77, Sanco Industries, FDC, Roebic FRK-1LB, and ROOTX. Others include ZEP, Root Reach, Green Gobbler, Rooto, and Earthworks.

Lets provide further details on each of these root-killing products.

If you wish to eliminate roots in your sewer and septic pipes, Roebic K-77 is one of the trusted products to consider. It not only kills roots but also prevents re-growth, thus improving flow and drainage.

Roebic K-77 is non-corrosive as such, safe for all plumbing types.

Youll need to apply once every 6 to 12 months. This product saves you a lot of expenses in costly digging as well as rooter service.

This product is used in both sewer and septic systems.

Root Destroyer is best applied when you first notice reduced flow. It contains copper sulfate crystals that act on all invasive sewer line roots. While killing such roots, it wont harm your trees.

Its important to note that Root Destroyer will temporarily reduce bacterial action. However, this only lasts 15 days after which full bacterial action is restored.

Its designed to only kill roots within the leach line and nothing more.

FDC is another top root killer product with about 99% copper sulfate purity.

These are bright blue crystals that go by several names such as blue vitriol, cupric sulfate, blue copper, and bluestone among others. FDC is also known to have many other applications.

If you need the best foaming root killer for sewer lines, this is one product to get as it reaches all slides of your sewer lines for maximum action. All roots in sanitary sewers are eliminated, plus it foams on contact.

What more? If youre concerned about the safety of your plumbing, Roebic FRK-1LB will serve just fine.

This granular concentrate is easy to use and provides real results. In addition to killing all roots, Roebic 1LB serves to prevent recurring growth.

ROOTX is also a foaming root killer that reaches areas (top of sewer lines) where most root intrusions occur.

Not only are roots killed, but it also strips off grime and grease on roots with its surfactant formula. With ROOTX, you wont have to deal with the recurring growth of roots.

ZEP Root Kill will readily kill off roots found within your sewer lines.

With such roots dead, normal system flow is fully restored. You dont have to be worried about the safety of your shrubs and trees as no damage is done. ZEP Root Kill contains copper sulfate.

Root Reach is designed for use in both sewer and septic lines. Its a foaming-only agent thats designed to fill pipes with foam. This product can also be mixed with other cleaning agents for the best results.

Some examples of these cleaning agents include Dichlobenil, Root Gone, Copper Sulfate, and Drain Free, etc.

Another foaming root killer to consider is Green Gobbler.

It reduces repair costs, prevents re-growth, saves you money on repair costs, and also safe for your plumbing. Youll need to follow all use instructions to apply this product.

Rooto helps clear roots from your sewer pipes and also eliminates new growth. Rooto is fast and easy to use and also harmless to bacteria. It comes in a plastic container measuring about 2lb.

Rooto comes in liquid form.

Earthworks root killer comes in powder form consisting of copper sulfate crystals. Its purity level is about 99.9% with ease of use and also providing value for money.

Root killers for septic tanks perform an excellent job of ridding invasive root growth. This solution also positively affects the general performance of your septic tank as well as the entire system.

These are some of the best root killers for sewer lines. Here, you have the option of choosing what works best for your situation. You dont need to wait until your sewer lines are clogged.

By applying any of these, youre able to rid your sewer and septic lines of all root intrusions.

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20 Best Tree Root Killer For Septic Tanks And Sewer Lines

There's no way around it -- installing a new septic system is expensive. This is especiallypainful if you find that you need to install a new septic system while you're in the process of sellingyour house. And unfortunately, there's no generic answer to how much a septic system will cost. Theonly sure way to find out is to get a number of competing quotes.

Septic systems will vary in price depending on a few different factors such as material costs, the company which you hire to install the system, the area in which you live and the type of septic system which you have installed. In general, gravity-powered conventional septic systems are the least expensive. In some parts of the United States you can get such a system installed for $3,000 - $5,000. On the otherhand, in Massachusetts my neighbors often paid $15,000 or more!

Concrete septic tanks are generally cheaperthan high density polyethylene tanks -- though they won't last as long.Other types of septic systems such as aerobic tank systems cost substantially more, as they require morecomplicated electrical pumps and alarms.

A quick call to your Town Hall should provide you with the costs for any permits you will need during theprocess.

The best approach to estimating your costs is to get on the phone with your friends and neighbors. Findout who had a septic system installed, and which septic companies they used. Local realtors are alsolikely to provide a wealth of information on this topic, as they have likely dealt with home sellerswho needed to have a septic system replaced (likely on very short notice!)

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Estimating the Cost of your Septic System