Cost of Plumber

[tch7198]

I recently had a new kitchen sink and bathroom sink replaced. Both sinks had to be replumbed as the old piping did not match up. The plumber was here for about 6 1/2 hours. Is this a normal installation time? What would be the approximate cost for a job like this? I had already purchased the sinks and the plumber provided the plastic pipe. Iknow that I got royally screwed. I will tell you how much This Fool paid after I hear your ideas on this topic. I live in Rhode Island---that may give you a clue...LOL.
Larry C.

[Jimmer]

Larry,

I am not going to either guess the amount you paid or give you a quote on what you should have paid. There are too many variables for making a job difficult and time consuming.

My only comments are that in the future use someone you trust or a friend has given positive feedback on. Get a written quote up front. Tell them that if they run into any difficulties that they need approval from you to do additional work or incurr additional expense.

I hope your future home improvements go better.

Jim

'Just a handyman trying to help'

[painter]

There are many variables way beyond the scope of this post, but since you were billed for 6.5 hours – and yes, it can take that long if “things do not line up”, I would use $65/ per hour as a very general rule of thumb for a licensed plumber with insurance and overhead. Figure another $100 for marked up materials and I would say (my best guess) you should have paid about $500. (Plus or minus 20% - depending on where you live)

Beyond this, if you feel you were ripped off, you probably were. There are many ways to pad a job by billing for unnecessary time and material. There is no way to know.

If it was a simple swap out of fixtures, you probably did not need a licensed plumber. In hind site, you could have saved quite a bit by doing it yourself or hiring a handy man. Licensed people get paid for what they know, not always what they do.

Ok – so now what did the bum charge you?

[tch7198]

The company that i had do the job does a lot of advertising on TV and the radio---that should have been a tipoff right there and then that they must have a lot of overhead. I was charged $825 for the work. I must add that we were without a kitchen sink for almost a week since I could not find anyone to come out to do the job. The guy did give me a quote before he started and I was ready to send him "packing"(there would have been a $49 fee however). The reason why I didn't send him on his way was because my wife probably would have divorced me. She was "spitting nails" when she thought that I wasn't going to have him do it. Nothing like the wrath of a woman (lol).
After we had the job completed I must have met 10 people who said that they knew a plumber who would have helped me out(Isn't that always the way--after the fact) My wife later realized that we got "ripped off" and she was angry--especially when she realized that as an RN she has to work 3.5 days to earn what this guy earned in 6 hours. Well, chalk it up as a lesson learned.
Larry

[Hube]

Would you buy a new car without finding out the price before you buy it? I don't think so, but thats what YOU did when you got this plumber to come to do the job. ALWAYS inquire as to a price breakdown BEFORE getting ANY work done. Hube

[tch7198]

The blame lies totally with me!!!! I have been telling everyone that i know(and even ones that I don't) NOT to call this company.

[joy]

I will try to make this brief. I need advice, please. My current plumber would like to charge me to do the following.
install owner's vanity
remove existing wall hung sink and drain
remove recess medicine cabinet
rough drain into cabinet area
patch drywall at medicine cabinet, spackle three coats
next day, install owners vanity, top, mirror and light
provide shut off valves and trap for same
He'd like $2,276.00 -- note I have provided my own sink and faucet (custom made and it's quite pricey at $2,000) I live in PA. And my husband says this is too much. But other plumbers won't even keep their appointments. I just don't want to be ripped off. Please tell me your thoughts.

It's hard to find reliable vendors.
JOY

[Josh]

Joy,

I would hire a handyman for this, there's no reason that you need a licensed plummer to be doing demo work and retouching drywall. These things are not that hard to remove and install. Just call around I think there's even a place called rent a hubby that does all kinds of handiwork.