I got a quote to install a utility sink in my laundry room. It was $3850, plus tax, plus permit. Am I wrong to think that is a bit unreasonable? They would have to tap into the hot and cold lines and the drain. Yes they would have to cut open the wall but we planned on that. Is that price a “I don’t want to do it” price?

Depends on how far they have to go to tap into the water lines and drain.

I would think it seems high but to many unknowns.

Get a few estimates and compare them.

Less than 5ft for all lines. I will get a few more quotes but damn if it’s going to be that expensive, the wife will just have to wish for a utility sink.

That is out of control

permit-$100.

materials-200-300

labor- 1 day


I plumbed mine old house with a deep sink the int he garge and the hardest part was drillin thru the brick to tap into the hot & cold PEX under the sink and then draining into the nearby main drain to the house's kitchen sink drain line...

-two pex "T"s
-six copper rings for the PEX
-borrowed crusher for the PEX
-one or two PVC 45's ten feet of 2in PVC..
-used my drill to cut thru the brick (cost a hole saw bit)
-some PVC glue
-PVC purple cleaner
-Permit
-one day on my day off
-1/2 case of beer...
-deep sink from lowes
-30 feet of PEX
-one can of Great Stuff to fill in the gaps....

If your existing plumbing is copper, learn how to sweat pipes. It ain't that hard.
If PVC, even easier.
If PEX, buy the damned tool. They're not that expensive.

IMO, someone's trying to screw you royally.

YouTube is your friend.

I don’t know if I want this to be a DIY project... The washer and dryer sit above my car. At worst I can’t see this job, all said and done, costing more than $1k.

Permits? Why do you need a permit to install a sink? We have built entire buildings on the farm with no stinkin' permits...

Is the sink made of GOLD?

**DISCLAIMER** I am *NOT* a plumber.

Sounds like a “We don’t need or want the work” price to me.

If the plumbing is there or nearby, as in on the same wall (hot, cold, drain) I would have very little hesitation in learning how to do it myself for that kind of money.

Permit? Nope, not gonna bother. No reason for the county or city to make money off of it. Youtube, google, do it right and to code and no worries.

Years ago when we had a hot tub installed I had a low bid of $1200 and a high of $1950 for the electrical work which consisted of going from the breaker box, through the garage wall, 25’ run in conduit above ground attached to side of house to a service disconnect and then to the tub.

Did it myself in an afternoon for just over $200 in parts (GFCI was $98 of that). $250+/hr for labor seems a bit excessive to me.

Ran fine, lasted long time...

It sounds high. If they had to run the drain a mile and then vent it thru the roof ...

The better wall hung Mustee thermoplastic sinks are well under a hundred bucks; stainless commercial, two hundred. https://www.google.com/search?...ub&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

The brass deck mount faucets are no longer $30, but they're not more than double.

Without all the fact, lets play loose with the numbers. Material $400 plus $200 to run around and get it. Two days at $800 per day. You're still at $2,200 for a seemingly over-priced job.

Is the plumber coring through masonry? Venting?

It does seem high. Figure the labor rate at around $100 an hour. This isn't what the plumber is getting but is his wage, insurance, overhead, his van, and profit for the company. It is a days labor so figure 800 labor. Materials figure 500.

Is he drilling through tile?
Is your vent cast iron?
Is he tying into existing 1/2" lines for your washer or upsizing your lines to 3/4" to handle the washer and sink?

Just a few possibilities that would add cost.

quote:

Originally posted by sjp:
Permits? Why do you need a permit to install a sink? We have built entire buildings on the farm with no stinkin' permits...

Around here, Maryland/DC area you need permits for any new plumbing or electrical.

Now a homeowner may do this stuff and not worry but a good contractor will want to follow the rules.

I am not a licensed plumber but I worked with my step father who was a master plumber.....even if you had to jackhammer cement to tie into the waste line that seems high.

license , bonded and insured plumber with triple A b.b.b. rating , might be $250- $350 high.

some guy with a truck $800.00

You could do all the prep work/cut the hole in the wall/drill through the studs to the lines/pick up all the parts at HD and clean-up/closing up the wall/mud/sand/mud/sand/paint yourself.

That seems outrageous to me. Having said that, to me, the factors that would cause a wash sink to be ridiculously costly would be the tapping into the drain system if that was a big deal and/or the venting - like having to run a new vent up through the roof if the existing drains were not up to code or could not handle another drain line per code limits.

Get a couple more estimates from reputable companies. Bet you will find a significant variance.

You could also ask the guy that gave the estimate to give you a finer breakdown as to the tasks involved and the relative cost of each. That would tell you what aspect is running up the cost.

quote:

Originally posted by Sailor1911:
That seems outrageous to me. Having said that, to me, the factors that would cause a wash sink to be ridiculously costly would be the tapping into the drain system if that was a big deal and/or the venting - like having to run a new vent up through the roof if the existing drains were not up to code or could not handle another drain line per code limits.

Get a couple more estimates from reputable companies. Bet you will find a significant variance.

You could also ask the guy that gave the estimate to give you a finer breakdown as to the tasks involved and the relative cost of each. That would tell you what aspect is running up the cost.

I have to say if in his break down he has added plumber’s crack repair that might account for the jump in costs!

same idea, but propane and not water. 170/hr. I know a pluming heating guy here (master plumber, 28 yrs old charges $190/hr). Ive quoted and won many a job where ths labor is equal/more than the unit price. ie: Rinnai Direct vent wall heater, etc. Labor is huge on quoting a job. Just giving you perspective. sigguy( the 1st)

quote:

Originally posted by SIGGUY (THE 1ST):
same idea, but propane and not water. 170/hr. I know a pluming heating guy here (master plumber, 28 yrs old charges $190/hr). Ive quoted and won many a job where ths labor is equal/more than the unit price. ie: Rinnai Direct vent wall heater, etc. Labor is huge on quoting a job. Just giving you perspective. sigguy( the 1st)

$190 an hour for a plumber????????? It aint brain surgery. The MTU dealer here only charges $116 an hour to work on a $500,000 engine where extreme expertise IS NEEDED.