Budgeting Your Plumbing Upgrades

Preparing to take on a new plumbing project at your home? How much is this going to cost is an important question you are looking to have answered. What you expect to pay depends on the kind of project you’re taking on and the extent of the work that needs to be done. This is one area that even the most experienced DIY enthusiasts leave to the professionals. You can help by prioritizing what you want this project to do and what are you willing to compromise on. Keep in mind that in our COVID impacted world that building materials and supplies are in short supply, meaning order lead-times and costs will likely be higher than even a year ago.

Some of the factors that will affect your plumbing project and costs:

• Size of the home/project: The size of the project will also play a role in how much you can expect to pay. If you’re replumbing an entire home, then you’ll need to consider the size of the home. The more square footage you need to account for in the job, the more the project is going to cost ultimately.
• New plumbing vs. replacement:The way the job gets priced out will differ depending on if it is entirely new plumbing or if you are just replacing existing fixtures in the existing locations. Typically, it will cost less to install plumbing materials in a new home, because you won’t have to deal with drywall or insulation that will get in the way of the job. Re-piping a house means you’ll have to work around these types of obstacles, which is much more labour-intensive and will result in more time for completion. This is why it’s so important to make sure your plumbing is done to impeccable standards of quality when you build your home, as having to re-do it can be expensive and inconvenient later on.
• Costs of labor: The costs of labor will play a significant role in determining what you can expect to pay for the project. The more work-intensive the project and the more people needed to assist, the more you can expect to pay. Costs of labor also can vary from region to region depending on local industry standards.
• Materials used: If you’re focused mostly on piping, then you’ll need to consider the kind of materials you’re using for the project and how it will affect your piping. Brass and copper will have long lasting lives, but they’re going to have higher up-front costs than common types of plastic piping. If you want to lower the costs of your project, you can look into PEX, a cross-linked polyethylene tubing that is flexible and can be installed more quickly because it’s easier to work through walls.

Want to find additional ways to save money on your plumbing upgrades? Consider all of your material options, and be proactive with the decision to make the upgrades. Don’t wait until something goes wrong with your plumbing and you have an emergency situation—this will multiply the costs you can expect to pay for the project.

To talk with one of our professional plumbers about your project and to get a quote for the job, contact us today at: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063.

PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. and serves the East GTA, Durham Region, North to Lindsay & Peterborough, out to Cobourg and all points in between. All Rights Reserved.