Bathroom & Kitchen Plumbing
In a New York apartment, the plumbing is rarely the hard part of a bathroom job. The approvals, the access, and the schedule are.
This covers everything from a single dripping faucet through to full rough-in for a bathroom or kitchen renovation: fixture replacement, shutoff and supply line work, shower and tub valve replacement, and moving supply and waste to a new layout.
Small jobs are genuinely small. A faucet, a toilet, or a disposal is usually a flat-rate visit. Where costs grow is when we pull a fixture and find what's behind it — seized shutoff valves that haven't turned in thirty years, a corroded closet flange, or galvanised supply lines that shouldn't go back into service. We flag those and price them separately rather than absorbing them silently or discovering them on your invoice.
Renovation work is a different animal here. Most buildings have alteration agreements, require approved plans and licensed contractors, restrict work hours, and want a certificate of insurance before anyone starts. Those requirements are set by your board and managing agent, not by us. What we can do is work to them and tell you honestly what our part needs.
When this is likely your problem
What's included — and what isn't
Included in the quote
- Removal and disposal of the old fixture
- Installation of your fixture or one we supply
- Connection to existing supply and waste, with new wax ring and bolts on a toilet
- Rough-in of supply, waste, and vent for a renovation layout
- Final connections after tile and cabinetry on a renovation
- Leak check under pressure before we finish
Quoted separately
- Fixtures, faucets, valves, and trim if supplied by us
- Replacement of seized shutoff valves or corroded supply lines, flagged and approved first
- Closet flange repair, which is only visible once the toilet is pulled
- Tile, plaster, cabinetry, and any finish restoration
- Permits, filings, and building alteration agreement fees
- Structural changes needed to route a drain through a joist or bearing wall
What drives the price
We quote after diagnosis, not before. These are the factors that move the number most on this particular service:
- SCOPEA like-for-like swap versus relocating a fixture to a new position.
- CONDITIONWhat's behind the fixture — valve, flange, and supply line condition.
- FIXTUREWhether the rough-in dimensions of your chosen fixture match what's in the wall.
- BUILDINGAlteration agreement, approved plans, COI, and permitted work hours.
- STAGINGRenovations need at least two visits, rough-in and trim, spaced around other trades.
NYC note
If you're renovating, your building almost certainly has an alteration agreement setting out approved hours, insurance requirements, and sometimes an approved-contractor list. Get a copy early — it's the single most common cause of renovation delays we see, and it's much easier to plan around than to discover mid-project.
Related services
What the visit involves
Confirm what fits
We check your fixture's rough-in against what's actually in the wall before install day.
Flag what's behind it
Old valves, flanges, and supply lines get inspected and priced before we replace anything.
Do the work in stages
On renovations, rough-in before close-up and trim after finishes, coordinated with your GC.
Pressure test
Every connection gets run and checked before we call it done.
Questions about bathroom & kitchen plumbing
Can I supply my own fixture?
Yes, and a lot of clients do. Send us the model or a link before the visit so we can confirm the rough-in dimensions and valve compatibility. The most common avoidable delay we see is a fixture that arrives needing a different rough-in than the one already in the wall.
Why might a simple faucet swap cost more than quoted?
Almost always because the shutoff valves under the sink have seized. In older buildings, valves that haven't been turned in decades often won't close or won't reseal afterwards. We inspect and tell you before replacing them — you'll never find that as a surprise on the invoice, but it's worth knowing it's a realistic possibility.
Do I need building approval to replace a toilet?
For a straight like-for-like swap, usually not, though some buildings want notice for any work involving a water shut-off. Renovations that move fixtures or open walls generally do require an alteration agreement and often approved plans. Your managing agent is the authority on this — we'll work to whatever they require.
How many visits does a bathroom renovation need from a plumber?
Typically at least two: rough-in before the walls close, and trim after tile and fixtures are in. Sometimes a third for demolition-stage disconnection. We coordinate those dates with your contractor so the schedule doesn't stall waiting on us.
What happens if you open a wall and find bad pipe?
We stop and show you. Galvanised supply line, prior unpermitted work, and corroded fittings are common finds in pre-war buildings and genuinely outside the original scope. You get the finding, a price, and the choice.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call and describe what's happening. You'll get an honest read on urgency and cost before anyone comes out.