water main pricing

[misinformed]

I have recently got a couple of over the phone quotes
from some local plumbers to replace my water main. The
specs. are as follows, 55' from meter to house with 3/4"
copper and no obstructions in the way (trees, sidewalks, etc).
The average cost has been $65 per foot, low is $50 and high
is $80 per foot. My questions are what is a fair price and is
there anything other than licensing and insurance that that
I should be looking for. I am not trying to pay an unreasonable
price, but at the same time I want to make sure that I get the best
person for the job. Thanks in advance for your advice.

This is taking place in Nashville, TN

[DUNBAR PLUMBING]

Tell them you want the piping inspected by the plumbing division in your state.



The range of pricing is fairly accurate, given the short distance from meter to house.


Make darn sure they use bank run, pipe sand for the ditch; no dirt backfill on that line. :check:

[Service Guy]

If you really want a good plumber, then why is the price seem to be your main concern? I recommend getting a relationship with a plumber, that you can count on again and again. Price is secondary to good service and a company you can count on.

[ToUtahNow]

I have recently got a couple of over the phone quotes
from some local plumbers to replace my water main. The
specs. are as follows, 55' from meter to house with 3/4"
copper and no obstructions in the way (trees, sidewalks, etc).
The average cost has been $65 per foot, low is $50 and high
is $80 per foot. My questions are what is a fair price and is
there anything other than licensing and insurance that that
I should be looking for. I am not trying to pay an unreasonable
price, but at the same time I want to make sure that I get the best
person for the job. Thanks in advance for your advice.

This is taking place in Nashville, TN

It would be hard to give you a reasonable price sight (and conditions)unseen. Still if you are getting bids of between $2,500 and $4,400 for a 55' long 3/4" copper water main I just might move to Nashville. Even if the dirt was rock hard and needed to be jackhammered it seems $2,500 would be on the high side.

Mark

[Service Guy]

Phone quotes in general are unreliable, as Mark pointed out.

[G3sprinklers]

I'm not in the plumbing trade but will have to agree that phone quotes will always run high. There are too many unforseen things. What might look like a clear path to you may not really be. Also you did not mention if the house end terminated in the basement, under a slab or in a crawl space. Is this new construction or an existing house. Are there inspection fees associated with the install, maybe one was figuring on not getting inspection and onother was. What about any landscaping that has to be delt with, seed and straw grassed areas, flower beds, tree roots (cutting them can kill trees), sod, stepping stones, etc.
Are you in the middle of town where parking is at a premium, been on service calls and had to leave service truck parked a block away, makes it tough getting tools.
I have had customers that did not even want you to get on their grass to install underground pipe (6, 8, 10 inch pipe for a fire line).
Nothing against you personally but I prefer to meet my customers to be, can get a feel of how they will act when I get to the jobsite. If they are too picky or just in left field then the price will go up or might not even take the job on.
Another thing about phone quotes is most of the time people are just price shopping and contractors get tired of being used for the third price and never getting any work.
Call a local rental company to see wat a ditch witch rents for by the day, delivered. Then add at least 10% profit ad 10% overhead to it.
Call a local supply house to see what copper pipe cost then add at least 10% and 10% to that.
Then figure for two men for eight to ten hours each at......oh say $60 to $90 per man hour. Why so high you ask, have to pay for wages (not only for the workers that show up to do the work but the one who makes out the invoice, the one who answers the phone to give you a quote, the owner), unemployeement, workers comp., liability, work truck, gas, truck insurance, contractors license, business license, office, electrical for the office, telephone service, etc, etc. (makes me wonder if I'm charging enough)
Might be some inspection fees associated also, could range from $25 to maybe $150.
If there is an inspection required and a pressure test to be seen by the inspector, then figure on scheduling with the inspector which will lead to day two, more man hours at ........oh say $60 to $90 per man hour.
If there is anything beyond throwing the dirt back into the ditch add for that also.

So see its not really that cut and dry because every job is not the same.
Not trying to rag on you at all but just some of the things us contractors have to take into account.
I guess this makes it about as clear as mud.

Good luck with it.

G3

[PlumbingSkool]

If you really want a good plumber, then why is the price seem to be your main concern? I recommend getting a relationship with a plumber, that you can count on again and again. Price is secondary to good service and a company you can count on.

Excellent advice, and I am NOT just backing him because I am a plumber also,

BUT a plumber is more important then a Doctor , so why does everyone just go for price....

Do you walk out of the Doctors office when he tell your price ...no....no you don't

So yes, Build a relationship with your plumber :kiss:

[PLUMBER RICK]

dig the ditch yourself and then get a price to have the plumber install it.

you put the dirt back yourself;)

i don't mind when the owner farms out the ditch digging.

i'm a plumber, i charge the same for digging or plumbing.

rick.

[lovetheUSA]

You didn't mention how deep the tie-in at the meter end is, how deep the ditch is, etc. I assume all the plumbers are familiar with the area and know that information. Although it is not small change, the range of bids...about $2500 to about $4000....that is not a wide range for a job like this, bid site unseen. What if the low bid guy gets there and finds your yard criss-crossed with sprinkler lines? Or a phone or calbe TV cable?

Anyway, your biggest concern should be a well-recommended contractor with up to date liability and workers comp insurance and bond. Those things can be verified with the state licensing board. Many states you can check those online. Easy.

[ToUtahNow]

dig the ditch yourself and then get a price to have the plumber install it.

you put the dirt back yourself;)

i don't mind when the owner farms out the ditch digging.

i'm a plumber, i charge the same for digging or plumbing.

rick.

I tried to save a few dollars at a McDonalds that way but the owner would not let me behind the counter.

Mark

[PlumbingSkool]

I tried to save a few dollars at a McDonalds that way but the owner would not let me behind the counter.

Mark

LOL , MORE pickles :)...more pickles, give me more pickles .....:rotflmao1:

[ToUtahNow]

By the way for anyone wondering the frostline in Nashville is 12".

Mark

[misinformed]

My big concern is not the pricing, but rather the quality
of the job, sorry if that was not clearly stated in my
earlier post. I am a new homeowner as well as new to
the area so this is going to be a building block for my
relationship with a plumber. What I have gather from
your help is that I should verify what back fill they are
going to use, license, insurance, and focus on the
plumber that is going to physically come to my home
for a quote. If I am missing something pleas let me now.
Thanks again for all your help

[khlee815]

Tell them you want the piping inspected by the plumbing division in your state.



The range of pricing is fairly accurate, given the short distance from meter to house.


Make darn sure they use bank run, pipe sand for the ditch; no dirt backfill on that line. :check:


What does the "bank run" mean?

[JCsPlumbing]

Gotta' say that while sand can be good, I've seen the trenched ground used as the filler and last 30+years. TN is comparable to NC. Just keep the rocks away.

NO TRENCHING CAN BE QUOTED ACCURATELY OVER THE PHONE!

You 'fellas ever get near one of those "WARNING, FIBER OPTIC CABLE!" signs?

Just one of the reasons you need to see the job first.

J.C.

[ToUtahNow]

What does the "bank run" mean?

Bank-run sand is a type of fill used in construction. It is usually just taken from the "bank" of the river and then used in it's raw form rather than any processing.

Mark

[Rooterforever]

As a small plumbing outfit in central arkansas, we charge $79/per man hour. the rates in Nashville should be similar, although they could be slightly higher. I'll lay out my costs for a job that you described:

100' Type L sleeved : $300
trencher/excavator: $300
permit: $50
labor: $1500 (or $158 x 10hours) assuming we have problems

total: $2150

Actually, this is on the high side and could probably be done for a bit less. Not sure about the profile of your neighborhood, but in Little Rock, plumbers pricing reflects the zip code and you should be aware of this as it applies to you.

[Chemeng]

You can use "L" type copper for underground water supply to a house? In Toronto, only "K" type is acceptable.

[JCsPlumbing]

You can use "L" type copper for underground water supply to a house? In Toronto, only "K" type is acceptable.

Yes.

K-Even better.:)

J.C.

[Tom W]

I just charged $3,000 for 50' of* sewer pipe replacement.* Five feet at the house nine feet at the edge of the property where I tied into the sewer line.. big job to do it properly and safely.* I had to step the width of trench back twice to get to the correct depth safely.-Tom

[Chemeng]

By the way for anyone wondering the frostline in Nashville is 12".

Mark


I like that 12" frost line in Nashville....In Toronto minimum is 4 feet. I remember replacing a collapsed clay sewer line with my dad in January some years back. It was a particularly cold January (are any Januarys warm in Toronto?). Anyway the top 20 inches of soil were frozen solid! Like concrete! Had to break through the soil with an electric jack hammer, the rest had to be dug with a shovel, gas and water lines close by- no backhoe here!

[richinflorida]

5'-9'! Wow! That's standard where you live in such a cold climate. Here in SW Florida, there is no frost line. Water lines only have to be 12" deep by code. Based on the digging/trenching involved, I think your $3000 is a bargain!:D

[khlee815]

You can use "L" type copper for underground water supply to a house? In Toronto, only "K" type is acceptable.

OPC and IPC allow K and L soft copper for underground water distribution system.

[lovetheUSA]

In your area, is the "dig alert" service free? Don't even think about digging before it is tested.

Around here, if there is fiber optics, or what they call level 3, then Telco standby is required. You do pay for that!

[Chemeng]

In Ontario, you call one number (1-800) to get them to come out and mark ALL the utilities (water, gas, sewer, electric, cable, phone, etc.). I also called them when I replaced a fence where the posts went down 4 feet. The service is free, and they came out in 1 day!!!