Plumbing Contractor

Plumbing contractors can be individuals working on their own or can be owners of small or large plumbing business or they can even be contractors hired by large businesses. A plumbing contractor, just like most other contractors, is responsible for meeting with the clients, making an estimate of the costs of the job, getting agreement on this estimate with the customer and then completing or overseeing the completion of the job or project. A plumbing contractor for a large company may oversee a foreman or journeyman plumber that has a supervisory role on the job site or in a small company the contractor may also be the plumber on the site.

Some plumbing contractors work in a specific area of plumbing such as building contraction of apartments or multifamily dwellings such as hotels or condos, working on new home construction, or working on commercial or industrial plumbing installations. Some contractors may also work exclusively in the retrofit business that involves upgrading plumbing in existing buildings to prevent plumbing problems or to bring the building up to code or new regulations. Based on the type of job the plumbing contractor will need to decide how many plumbers and labors will be needed, as well as the supplies they will require.

Plumbing contractors that have their own business have to complete all required paperwork, get building permits as required, maintain their contractors license, file insurance and all required paperwork, invoice for clients and oversee the operation of the company. In addition they need to have several different certifications based on the various types of installations they complete in their plumbing jobs. Keeping up with current plumbing practices as well as staying familiar with local, state and federal building codes is also part of the responsibilities of a plumbing contractor.

Common work activities include:

• Hiring, training and supervision of staff. This may include working with apprentice plumbers or hiring plumber's helpers on a project by project basis.
• Bidding on projects or providing estimates based on the information provided by the client and from looking at the project.
• Completing all plumbing from installing fixtures to plumbing repair or building new residential or commercial buildings.
• Ordering supplies and equipment as needed. Managing inventory to prevent down time when waiting for parts.
• Keeping current on all regulations, restrictions and building codes that pertain to plumbing new or existing buildings.

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