Plumbing: what bids leave out
Plumbing bids for a TI or small building often start at five feet outside the wall and stop at the fixture stub-out. Everything outside those lines (site water and sewer, tap fees, saw cutting the slab, owner-furnished fixtures, gas piping, backflow testing) may or may not be in the number. Compare what's included before you compare price.
Level your plumbing bids with this checklist →
Standard scope checklist
Send this to every bidder and ask them to mark each line Included, Excluded or give an Add $. Silence is not inclusion.
| # | Scope item |
|---|---|
| 1 | Point of connection: where the plumbing scope starts (5 ft outside building vs. at the main) |
| 2 | Domestic water service and meter set |
| 3 | Sanitary sewer service to the main |
| 4 | Tap, connection and impact fees |
| 5 | Under-slab sanitary and waste piping |
| 6 | Saw cutting, trenching and patching of the existing slab |
| 7 | Domestic water distribution piping and insulation |
| 8 | Fixtures: furnished by whom, installed by whom, model per spec |
| 9 | Water heaters and recirculation |
| 10 | Backflow preventers and certification testing |
| 11 | Grease interceptor / oil-sand separator (if required) |
| 12 | Natural gas piping, meter coordination and connections |
| 13 | Roof drains and overflow drains to the storm connection |
| 14 | Floor drains, floor sinks and trap primers |
| 15 | Owner-furnished equipment connections (kitchen, ice machine, coffee) |
| 16 | Condensate piping for HVAC equipment |
| 17 | Cleanouts, hose bibbs and wall hydrants |
| 18 | Demolition and capping of existing plumbing |
| 19 | Coring, sleeves and firestopping of plumbing penetrations |
| 20 | Pipe testing, flushing and disinfection |
| 21 | Camera inspection of existing sewer lines |
| 22 | Permits and inspection fees |
| 23 | After-hours water shutdowns in occupied buildings |
| 24 | As-builts and O&M manuals |
| 25 | Sales tax, bond and prevailing wage |
Common exclusions and how they are worded
| Exclusion | Typical wording | Why it matters | Typical cost to cover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site utilities |
| Many plumbing bids stop at the building wall. The service lines to the street belong to the site utility contractor, and if neither bid carries them you have a gap. | TBD |
| Tap & impact fees |
| Utility fees and meters are often owner costs and can be sizable. Get the numbers from the utility early instead of finding them at permit. | TBD |
| Saw cutting & slab patch |
| Adding restrooms or moving drains in an existing building means cutting the slab. That work is often excluded and then needs a concrete sub. | TBD |
| Fixtures |
| Some bids include fixtures per spec, some install owner-furnished fixtures, and some leave out toilet accessories. The material cost difference is real. | TBD |
| Gas piping |
| Gas can belong to the plumber or the HVAC contractor. Make sure exactly one bid carries it, including connections to every gas appliance. | TBD |
| Backflow testing |
| Many jurisdictions require a certified test of new backflow preventers before occupancy. It's small, but it can hold up your inspection. | TBD |
| Grease interceptor |
| Food service spaces usually need a grease interceptor sized to local rules. It's a significant item that sometimes appears only on the civil or kitchen drawings. | TBD |
| Owner equipment connections |
| Kitchen and break room equipment need water, waste and sometimes gas. Get a written list of what each bidder connects. | TBD |
| Existing conditions |
| Tying into old cast iron or clay lines can reveal problems. Ask for a camera inspection or a unit price for replacing damaged existing pipe. | TBD |
| Firestopping & patching |
| Plumbing penetrations through rated walls and floors need listed firestop systems. Decide who does it. | TBD |
“Typical cost to cover” is TBD. We will publish ranges only once we have real, sourced data. Until then, use your own estimate or a confirmed add price from a bidder.
Questions to ask bidders
- Where does your scope start and stop? At the building wall, or at the public main?
- Are tap, connection, impact or meter fees included?
- Is saw cutting, trenching and patching of the slab included? How many linear feet did you assume?
- Are fixtures and accessories furnished and installed by you, per the specified models?
- Is gas piping included, and to which appliances?
- Does your price include backflow preventers and their certification testing?
- Which owner-furnished equipment connections are included?
- Will you camera the existing sewer before tying in? What happens if it's damaged?
Bid-ready plumbing contractors
Contractors who agree to price against the standard checklist above, with exclusions spelled out line by line. Listings are not live yet.
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist
Featured listing
Your company · City, ST
Bids on the BidGaps checklist