What’s in a plumbing estimate
Plumbing scope splits into four big buckets: fixtures, piping, specialty systems, and the labor to install all three. A complete Vortex plumbing estimate covers each at the level of detail your bid format requires.
Fixtures
Every plumbing fixture on the schedule:
- Water closets (gravity, pressure-assist, flushometer)
- Urinals (flushometer, waterless)
- Lavatories (countertop, vanity, wall-hung)
- Sinks (kitchen, mop, service, lab)
- Showers and tubs
- Drinking fountains and bottle fillers
- Floor drains, floor sinks, area drains
- Roof drains and overflow drains
- Trap primers, cleanouts, vacuum breakers
- Specialty (eyewash, safety shower, dental, medical)
Each fixture is priced with its rough-in (carrier, trap, supply, vent, water hammer arrestor) as a complete assembly.
Piping
Domestic water, sanitary waste, vent, storm, gas, condensate, makeup water — by:
- Material — copper Type L/K/M, CPVC, PEX, no-hub cast iron, PVC Schedule 40, black steel
- Size — 1/2” through 8” for typical commercial, larger for service mains
- Service — DCW, DHW, DHW return, sanitary, vent, storm, gas, condensate
Output includes pipe linear feet, fittings count, valves, hangers, sleeves, and insulation.
Specialty systems
- Medical gas per NFPA 99 (oxygen, vacuum, medical air, nitrous, WAGD, instrument air)
- Lab gas (compressed air, vacuum, lab water)
- Compressed air distribution
- Process piping
- Steam and condensate (where part of plumbing scope)
- Acid waste and vent (lab)
Equipment
Water heaters, water softeners, recirculation pumps, sump pumps, ejector pumps, backflow preventers, mixing valves, expansion tanks, grease interceptors, sand/oil separators, lift stations.
Labor productivity
Plumbing labor productivity comes from the MCAA Labor Estimating Manual (Mechanical Contractors Association of America) for commercial work and the PHCC Estimating Manual (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association) for residential and light commercial. Both publish hours per linear foot of pipe by material and size, hours per fixture by type, and hours per fitting count.
We apply project-specific modifiers for:
- Renovation in occupied building
- Above-ceiling overhead work
- Below-ground depth (excavation reach)
- Hospital infection-control requirements
- Heights above 14’ floor-to-ceiling