Plumber / Contractor recommendation

Hello, We have just closed on a 100-year-old, 4-story, 2-family in Brooklyn that needs considerable upgrades to its mechanicals and to the bathrooms and kitchens. We are hoping to work directly with specialists for a few items, such as new electrical, roof, and to replace the lead water main. But the house needs quite a bit of plumbing upgrades throughout plus two new kitchens, 1 fully redone existing bathroom, and one added bathroom. Does anyone have any recommendations for a reasonable and reliable GC that specializes in plumbing? Thank you.

wallabout2

in Plumbers and Plumbing 10 years and 4 months ago

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ihhsitbcjyvev | 10 years and 1 month ago

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I recommend you to go with a professional General contractor. If you are finding any difficulty to search any general contractors in your area, Porch may help you to find the best professional in your area.

ihhsitbcjyvev | 10 years and 1 month ago

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I recommend you to go with a professional General contractor. If you are finding any difficulty to search any general contractors in your area, Porch may help you to find the best professional in your area.

jrjb2010 | 10 years and 2 months ago

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Nice topic. I am also looking for such a plumbing agency.

riva | 10 years and 4 months ago

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resident2 gave some good advice! We can help you out. Find us here: http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/hxaw

wallabout2 | 10 years and 4 months ago

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Thanks very much to you all for your advice. This is very helpful and we realize now we have a lot more to learn as we get started on this project. Thanks again.

greenmountain | 10 years and 4 months ago

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The terms are very confusing. I could pull a building permit, if I updated my registration as a GC with the DOB. But, I fear my insurance rate would go up if they see I am doing general construction – like building houses. So I am insured as a tile contractor, licensed by the DCA, and I can do generally everything that goes with tile, stone, mosaic. I am also on the shores of Wallabout Bay, known as the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It is terribly hard to find any of us in the Brownstoner Find a Pro. I hear they are going to fix that problem, been saying that for a while. But you can also find me here: http://brownstoner.staging.wpengine.com/greemountainconstruction Let me know if you want me to come have a look with you. My recommendations from ‘stoners are on my website.

catboot | 10 years and 4 months ago

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We used Gateway a few years back (MasterPlumber is frequently on the forum here). They were great – methodical and very tidy. Not cheap, but I believe you get what you pay for. The job was relatively small, so there was no CG involved. They handled all the permitting via e-file. The other great thing was they they didn’t blow us off because we were a small project (like some other well know plumbing outfits out there, who shall remain nameless). Good luck with your project.

c_w | 10 years and 4 months ago

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Wallabout2, congratulations on your closing and do take note of resident2’s advice. Because the scope of work is considerable with overlapping trades you’ll want a GC who will deal with all the specialists. Furthermore, because you’re adding two new kitchens and a new bathroom, you’ll need to file your project with the Dept. of Buildings. Consequently, because it gets filed, you’ll need an architect or engineer. Some design-build firms are also able to take you through the whole process: figure out what you want, draw it up and get it built.

resident2 | 10 years and 4 months ago

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GC’s are not Plumbers and with Plumbing there are only a few that are licensed to pull permits for a Water Main. Unless you have an awful lot of time on your hands as well as some experience; which I am assuming you do not for asking this question in the manner that you have. Your best bet is to look for a good GC that you can communicate well with and get very good direct references for. The GC will then sub out the plumbing to a licensed plumber; you can of course be in the loop for the choice of Plumber, but most GC’s have plumbers where they get priority services etc from prior working relationships and it is always better to have trades people that have all worked together before to get the job moving along and schedules worked out. But before you start asking GC’s to come in; spend some time in the house by yourself to work out what you think you really want. If you depend on your GC to decide what you want you will be disappointed.