Extend your Expertise and Product Offerings by Partnering with an A-Licensed, Underground Utilties Expert.
Our Job is to Make You Successful by Extending your Capabilities as a Builder, Delivering Quality Projects, On Time, and On Budget with as Little Fuss as Necessary.
As a fellow contractor, we at Freedom Underground understand the demands of managing a major construction project and what is important to you. Reliable, on Time, and on Budget. This is what you promise your clients and what you demand of your sub-contractors.
When you work with us, we strive to make each job another step towards a mutually successful business partnership. Our mission is to deliver quality workmanship, meet deadlines, and stay within budget. We know our success depends on your success.
Whether you are working on a residential expansion, an ADU, an entire townhome complex, or a small commercial development, coordinating utility upgrades—such as water, sewer, gas, and electrical lines—requires precision, compliance with public asset regulations, and technical know-how. We specialize in handling these aspects, leveraging over 17 years of experience and strong relationships with local public works departments. All of our work with a Lifetime Workmanship Warranty, protecting your client’s interests and your professional reputation.
At Freedom Underground, we hold both the A-General Engineering Contractor License and the C36 Plumbing License. We regularly partner with Builders to install underground utility lines both on private property and on the public street. As Underground Utility Line Specialists, we have the expertise and licensing required to handle the public works permitting process and complete projects that involve public streets.
Contact Us Today for Underground Utility Expertise
Call us today at 408-693-6018 or use our contact form to schedule a consultation so we know how we can help make you successful. For specific projects, send us your approved building plans, including the utilities work, so we can provide you with a free estimate. Our email is [email protected].
If you are still in the planning phase, feel free to send us your work-in-progress plans. We may be able to provide a ballpark estimate.
Why Trust Freedom Underground for Your Construction Project?
At Freedom Underground, we hold both a C36-Plumbing License and an A-General Engineering Contractor License, which qualifies us to manage any utility connections to public water or sewer mains in City or County streets. Our extensive experience in projects that involve public assets makes us the ideal partner for contractors and builders who need utility work done quickly and efficiently, with minimal disruption.
- Lifetime Workmanship Warranty: Peace of mind that your home’s repairs are backed for the long term.
- Satisfied Customers: Our reviews showcase the quality and reliability of our work. See how we have restored comfort to homes like yours.
- Past Project Examples: Explore our portfolio of past projects. We put our expertise in underground utility repairs on display with photos and videos. If you want an example specific to your needs, just ask, we help many homeowners experience successful remodeling projects.
- Transparent Pricing: We offer clear, upfront pricing for Standard Services services such as a camera inspection and utility locating (which can be useful if you do not know where your underground pipes lie and do not want to inadvertently build on top of them). For remodel projects, we provide a written, detailed project estimate. Our written estimates are tailored to your project, providing a cost-effective solution.
- Encroachment and Building Permit Handling: Navigating permits can be complex, especially encroachment permits which are required when impacting city or county-owned assets such as a street or sidewalk. We will handle the paperwork, required insurance, etc to comply with city and county requirements. If you also need a building permit for the private property plumbing, we will obtain that permit as well. Follow this link if you wish to know more about what to expect when your project includes an encroachment permit.
- Modern Tools and Methods: Using Trenchless Technology when allowed to minimize disruption to your existing landscape or interfere with other contractors working on the property. Please note that nearly all public works departments require an open trench for the public works portion.
- Detailed Service Pages: Learn about the specific types of projects we excel at, complete with examples, photos, and videos.
- FAQs: Find answers to common questions about what to expect during a project.
Avoid Delays with Expert Permit Handling
Securing the necessary permits—especially encroachment permits for work affecting public assets like streets or sidewalks—adds complexity to your project. These permits are managed separately from building permits, which can lead to potential delays. At Freedom Underground, we streamline your process by handling the entire encroachment permit procedure. Please note that permit approval typically takes 3-5 weeks from submission, and it takes time to gather required documents like plans, Certificates of Insurance (COIs), and performance bonds when necessary.
How We Help Keep Your Project on Track
- Planning: We engage with your project plan early so we can coordinate our work with your other teams. We want to assess potential constraints we have to work under and other dependencies. We proactively inform you when construction site access may be impacted by our work so you can plan accordingly.
- Communications: Our teams communicate internally daily, as needed to handle materials, problems, or questions as they come up. In the mornings, we hold our Daily Scrum Meetings so that the teams coordinate and issues can be resolved. Freddy, our CEO, will also call our clients to discuss anything that impacts the project.
What to Expect When Working with Freedom Underground
When your project impacts public or utility assets, the additional process burdens of encroachment permits add to an already complex and time-consuming task. As a specialist in underground utility solutions, we simplify this for you by offering:
- Expert guidance from start to finish for the scope of work you hire us for.
- Clear communication and upfront pricing.
- Reliable service, backed by our lifetime workmanship warranty.
- Permitting and Compliance: We manage all aspects of permitting, from building permits for private property plumbing to encroachment permits for city assets.
- Expert Utility Installations: Whether upgrading water, sewer, gas, or electrical lines, our team ensures smooth installation with minimal disruption to your project plan.
- Post-Project Support: We stand behind our work with a lifetime workmanship warranty, ensuring your customers enjoy years of reliable service and confidence in their business relationships with you.
We offer a more detailed FAQ for Builders/General Contractors if you wish to know more about what to expect when working with us.
Our Services for Contractors and Builders
- Water Line Upgrades: From the side of your home or ADU, through the water meter, to the connection at the utility main in the street, or just the public works portion.
- Sewer Line Upgrades: On your private property, from the cleanout at the property line to the sewer main in the street, or just the public works portion.
- Underground Gas Line Connection: Connecting gas lines from your main home to an ADU.
- Underground Electrical Conduit: Installing electrical conduit from your main home to an ADU.
- Storm Drain: Install underground storm drain lines from downspouts on the home to connections to the city’s storm drain main line.
- Septic System Installation: We are an experienced septic system installer, authorized to install Orenco’s Advantex Systems
- Sidewalk and Driveway Curb Restoration or Expansion: As a licensed A-General Engineering Contractor, we are equipped to handle sidewalk and driveway curb projects. New water lines typically require new, larger water meters which in turn require new utility boxes thus necessitating the need for sidewalk restoration.
- Street Restoration: We restore the street in compliance with local building codes and work with the assigned Public Works Inspector.
- Debris Removal: During trenching in public areas, excavated dirt, asphalt, or concrete cannot be returned to the street or sidewalk. We use clean base rock or slurry and remove excess debris from the property. Note that dirt excavated from private property will usually be returned with any excess hauled away.
- Excavation: Our projects usually require excavation. We have three excavators, a dump trunk, two skid steers, and several hand tools.
- Encroachment Permit: We file for and obtain the permit and manage inspections.
Explore our full list of Services
Common Questions from Contractors and Builders
- “Can I use your A-License to get the permit but have my crew do part of the work?”
Often, the General Contractor has a crew that can install the private property plumbing. In these cases, we can leave a stub for sewer connections and the water meter. We cannot allow another crew to work on water or sewer under the scope of the encroachment permit. However, we can allow some items to be added to the water or sewer encroachment permit. An example would be the planting of a city tree inside the planting strip or a driveway curb–this is an actual example from a past project. - Will my sewer or water service be interrupted during construction?”
Yes, but any interruption will be brief, only as long as necessary to make the connection. We always provide advanced notice either to you or the homeowner directly, whichever you prefer. A new water line will already be live before switching the private property line to the new meter. For the sewer line, we may ask that the homeowners avoid using it while we are cutting or making the connection. - “When does Freedom Underground need to get involved?”
Ideally, we are involved during the planning stage. Sewer lines require the proper slope to function, so early involvement prevents surprises. We can also suggest cost-effective alternatives and identify potential issues early. However, no matter where you are in your project, hiring a specialist such as Freedom Underground ensures you have the expertise and licensing required to get the job done right, with less hassle. - “Where should my underground lines be installed?”
The answer depends on your project and construction site. While an engineer or architect’s building plan may specify a location, we often find that site inspections may reveal better options. Getting an underground specialist involved can guide your planning to find the optimal solution. - “How long will construction take?”
The timeline depends on the complexity of the project. Some projects, like water or sewer line upgrades, could be completed within a week, while others may take longer due to external factors like permitting and weather. We will work with you and your contractors to establish an efficient schedule and provide a written estimate with our time expectations. - “What happens if I encounter unexpected issues during construction?”
Unexpected issues can happen, especially with older homes or utility lines. Our team is equipped to handle these challenges, offering quick solutions that minimize delays and keep your project moving forward.
Why Choose Freedom Underground | Lifetime Warranty | Customer reviews |
FAQ: What You Can Expect from Freedom Underground Plumbing | FAQ: General Engineering Contractor | Pricing for Standard Services |
Water Leak Detection and Location Tools | Trenchless Technology | City and County Resources for Permits |
Past Project Examples Browse examples of our completed projects, complete with photos and videos, so you can see the quality of work you can expect when you choose to partner with us. | Our Customer-Focused Blog Helpful articles and insights for homeowners on plumbing, water, sewer, gas line, and electrical conduit issues. | Explore our Services The specific types of services we can help you with. |