Hidden Cost Series: A Plumber Explains What's Really Behind Your Project Costs
plus the $300 service that could save you thousands down the road
Welcome back to our Hidden Costs series - our series where we interview someone from the trades and talk through all of the questions we wish we could ask about bids, process, and how to avoid costly mistakes. In our inaugural post we interviewed a finish carpenter and it was so helpful that I immediately started thinking about who to talk to next. My first thought…talk to a plumber because when something goes wrong with plumbing it is often the most destructive and expensive, as I have experienced within my own home and my clients homes.
We interviewed a local second-generation plumber who grew up in the business and runs a very successful and trusted plumbing company that specializes in both commercial and residential projects. I learned a lot (and even had to Google a couple of terms) so I think you will learn something too. Let’s dive in…
Why plumbing isn’t simple
Plumbing may seem straightforward: water in, water out. But in reality, it sits underneath almost every major decision in a home:
framing and structure
floor height and slope
tile layout and waterproofing
cabinetry and wall conditions
fixture placement
Which means a “small design change” rarely stays small. It often impacts multiple trades at once, including plumbing.
Red flags when bringing a plumber out to bid
One of the most helpful parts of this conversation was talking about what to pay attention to when a plumber is actually on site, pricing your project. For me in the past, it has come down to price and if they are recommended - but there are a few clearer signals worth noticing: