Walk it before you price it
A repipe is not priced from square footage. Two houses the same size can be very different jobs depending on how the pipe gets to each fixture. Walk the whole house, and the attic or crawlspace, before you write a number. More on that in how to walk a job before you quote.
On the walk, record:
- Fixture count: every sink, toilet, tub, shower, hose bib, washer box, water heater, ice maker and dishwasher.
- Access: attic, crawlspace or slab. Attic and crawlspace runs mean fewer wall openings; slab homes usually route through the attic and drop down walls.
- Walls: where you will need to open drywall or plaster, and what the finish is (smooth, textured, tile, wallpaper).
- The main: the condition of the main shutoff, whether there is a pressure regulator, and the pressure.
- The water heater and its connections, and whether it is near the end of its life.
PEX vs copper
| PEX | Copper | |
|---|---|---|
| Material cost | Lower | Higher, and moves with metal prices |
| Labor | Faster; long flexible runs, fewer fittings | Slower; more fittings and soldering or press fittings |
| Wall openings | Fewer, because it can be fished through | More, because runs are rigid |
| Customer perception | Some homeowners worry about plastic | Seen as the premium option |
| Check locally | Accepted materials and fittings vary by jurisdiction and water conditions | Same |
Most residential repipes are PEX because it is faster and needs fewer holes. Offer copper as a tier when the customer asks for it or local practice favors it, and price it with a current supplier quote, since metal prices move.
Access, openings and drywall patching
This is where repipe quotes go wrong. You have three honest choices, and the quote must say which one you are pricing:
- Patch only: openings closed with drywall and taped, ready for the customer's painter.
- Patch and texture: matched as close as practical to the existing finish.
- Patch, texture and paint: often done by a sub you trust, priced per opening or per room.
Count the expected openings on the walk and price each one. Say in writing that tile, wallpaper and specialty finishes are not matched unless listed. Protect floors and furniture, and include the cleanup time.
Permit, inspection and how long it takes
Most jurisdictions require a permit for a repipe, with an inspection before the walls are closed. That inspection sets the job's rhythm: pipe in, pressure test, inspector signs off, then patching. Include the permit fee, the time to pull it and the inspection trip in the price. See how to handle permits and inspections.
Plan crew-days, not hours. As an example, a two-person crew might do a two-bath PEX repipe in a single-story house with attic access in two days of piping, with patching on another day after inspection. Your own timesheets from past jobs are the real guide. Tell the customer how long the water will be off each day.
A worked Good, Better, Best quote
Example only, with made-up numbers. Harbor Line Plumbing quotes Ava Reyes: single story, two baths, attic access, 16 fixture points, about 10 wall openings. Crew cost is $152 an hour per plumber, and the shop targets a 30 percent margin.
| Good | Better | Best | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pipe | PEX | PEX | Copper |
| Walls | Patch only | Patch and texture | Patch, texture and paint |
| Extras | None | New fixture shutoffs | New shutoffs, main shutoff and pressure regulator |
| Labor hours (2-plumber crew) | 32 h | 36 h | 48 h |
| Materials | $1,100 | $1,450 | $3,300 |
| Patching | $600 | $1,100 | $1,700 |
| Permit and inspection | $350 | $350 | $350 |
| Example price | $9,900 | $12,000 | $18,100 |
Each price is total cost divided by 0.70 and rounded up. Present the middle option as your recommendation and explain each one in a sentence. The Good, Better, Best layout lets Ava choose the finish she wants instead of comparing your one price to someone else's. More in how to present Good, Better, Best.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pricing per square foot instead of per fixture and per opening.
- Leaving drywall out of the quote and arguing about it at the end.
- Forgetting the hose bibs, ice maker or washer box in the fixture count.
- No contingency or change order plan for what you find inside walls; see how to handle change orders.
- Not telling the customer how many days the water will be off.
How SWITCHBOARD handles this
On a Job Walk in SWITCHBOARD, the plumber goes room by room with photos and voice notes, lines come from the shop's Price Book, and the three tiers are ready at the end for Ava to pick, sign and pay the deposit. A big repipe can then be billed in parts with staged invoicing.
Questions people ask
How do you price a repipe?
Count the fixtures, plan the route and wall openings, choose the pipe, then price crew-days of labor, materials, patching, and the permit and inspection. Divide total cost by one minus your target margin.
Is PEX or copper better for a repipe?
PEX is faster to install and needs fewer wall openings, so it usually costs less. Copper is often seen as the premium option. Check what your jurisdiction accepts and let the customer choose between tiers.
How long does a whole-house repipe take?
It depends on the house, the access and the crew. Plan in crew-days from your own past jobs, and include the wait for the inspection before walls are closed.
Does a repipe quote include drywall repair?
It should say clearly. Offer patch only, patch and texture, or patch, texture and paint, and state that tile and specialty finishes are not matched unless listed.