Plumbing paperwork, done properly

Plumbing estimates get disputed over two things: what the fixture actually is, and what happened when you opened the wall. Write the fixture make and model so nobody assumes the builder-grade version, and name the code upgrades a modern install triggers — expansion tank, pan and drain, seismic strapping — before the inspector does. A homeowner who reads those on your estimate understands why the cheap bid is cheap.

Pick your document

  • Plumbing estimate

    An estimate is your best professional judgment of what a job will cost, given before the work starts.

  • Plumbing quote

    A quote is a fixed price for a defined scope of work — the number does not move unless the scope does.

  • Plumbing invoice

    An invoice is the request for payment once the work is done — the document that actually gets you paid.

What belongs on plumber paperwork

  • Fixture make, model and finish — "toilet" and "comfort-height elongated, brushed nickel trim" are different bids
  • Code upgrades the install triggers: expansion tank, pressure-reducing valve, pan and drain line
  • Access notes — whether the price assumes an accessible shutoff and a workable clearance
  • Whether drywall, tile or finish carpentry repair is included, since it usually is not
  • Permit and inspection, which most jurisdictions require for water heaters and repipes

How plumbers price work

Residential plumbing splits between flat-rate task pricing and hourly service work. Flat-rate is the norm for known jobs — a water heater swap, a toilet install — because the customer wants a number before you start. Hourly with a service-call minimum fits diagnostics and anything behind a wall. The honest middle ground is a flat price with a stated allowance for what you cannot see.

The builder ships with 12 plumbing line items to start from, grouped into 3 sections. Edit the rates once and they save to your own price book.

Open the Plumbing builder

Questions

Should a plumbing estimate include drywall repair?
Only if you are actually doing it — and say so either way. "Access holes cut as required; drywall repair and paint by others" on the estimate prevents the most common plumbing dispute there is, which is a customer expecting to get their wall back finished.
How do I price a job when I cannot see the pipe?
Quote the visible scope as a fixed price and carry an allowance with a stated unit rate for what is behind the wall — for example, so many feet of replacement at a per-foot price. The customer gets a real number and you are not absorbing a discovery you had no way to price.
Do I need a permit for a water heater replacement?
In most US jurisdictions, yes, and it is inspected. Put the permit on the estimate as its own line rather than burying it in labor: it shows the customer why a permitted install costs more than the handyman quote they also received.