The timeline for installing a new water line depends heavily on where the line is going, how long a run is required, what pipe material is being used, and whether the route travels through finished walls and floors or through open space like a crawl space or unfinished basement. A simple new outdoor spigot tapping off an existing line in an accessible location might take two to three hours. A new supply line running from the main to a bathroom addition through finished walls could take a full day or more. Expect the water to be off for part of the project, and expect some level of wall or flooring access — but a good plumber will minimize both.

What Drives the Timeline

The single biggest factor is access. Running a water line through an unfinished basement or crawl space is fast — a plumber can cover a lot of linear footage quickly without cutting into anything. Running that same line through finished drywall requires cutting access holes at intervals, threading pipe through insulation and framing, patching afterward, and coordinating with whoever is doing the drywall repair. In Denver-area homes built on concrete slab foundations (common in some Aurora and Lakewood neighborhoods), routing new lines through the slab isn’t practical, which means lines must travel through walls and ceilings instead.

Pipe material also affects speed. PEX is flexible and can often be fished through walls with fewer holes than rigid copper. That flexibility is particularly valuable in Front Range homes where routing through insulated exterior walls or around obstacles in older framing is common. A plumber who defaults to PEX for new runs can often complete the job faster and with less drywall damage.

Water Shutoff: How Long and Which Areas

The water will need to be shut off at least briefly while the new line is tapped into the existing supply. In most cases, this is a matter of minutes — the plumber shuts off the zone or main, makes the tee connection, and restores water while the rest of the line is run. For longer projects or where the tap-in point requires extended work, the shutoff may last one to two hours. In a whole-house scenario with multiple tap-in points, water may be off for several hours. Your plumber should tell you upfront what to expect so you can plan accordingly — filling water jugs ahead of time for a long shutoff day is a practical step.

  • Simple exterior line tap (outdoor spigot): 2–3 hours, minimal disruption
  • New supply line to a finished room through walls: 4–8 hours, some drywall cuts required
  • Supply line through unfinished basement or crawl space: typically faster with less disruption
  • Full bathroom addition supply lines: half day to full day, permit and inspection required
  • Colorado’s clay and expansive soils can complicate any exterior underground line work — factor extra time if digging is involved

What to Expect for Disruption

For most new water line projects, disruption is limited and temporary. Expect some dust from drywall cuts, noise during drilling and pipe work, and limited water access during shutoff periods. If the plumber needs to open walls, those areas will need drywall patching after the work is inspected — coordinate with a drywall contractor or handyman to close up once the rough inspection is passed. In Colorado, inspections are required in most jurisdictions before walls are closed, so build that step into your timeline.

Done’s plumbing team handles new water line installations throughout the Denver metro, from simple spigot additions to full bathroom supply rough-ins. Visit our pipes and lines page for more detail, or learn about our broader plumbing services. Contact us to schedule a site visit so we can give you an accurate timeline and scope for your specific project.