How long should it take a plumber to install a sink?

Question

I had a plumber install a new sink and faucet. The old sink was already out and the faucet was new. It took him 3.5 hours and I was charged 407.08 ! He was supposed to be coming out to do that and to fix a small leak under each bathroom sink (2)(which he never got to) the lady on the phone told me about 500.00 to do all of it. Did I get totally ripped off?
P.S. it was a self rimming sink (not undermount)

Answer 1

If you were charged $407.08 for Labor ONLY, then you were ripped off. That is almost $120. / hr. The last time I dealt with a plumber (just over a year ago) the rate was $65./hr. I would be calling the company and discuss their hourly rates, it wouldn't hurt to call the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been any complaints about the company, and also call 1 or 2 other plumbers and ask what they would charge for the work you had done. The 3.5 hours to install a new sink is not excessive, just the amout he charged.

Answer 2

Installing A New Bathroom Sink

Answer 3

Sounds a little pricey.
But since they do charge by the hour there sould be a posted rate on their work ticket.
Also for futures.....look for a skinny plumber , the fat bastards always take longer.
Was charged $85 to install a new kitchen faucet & the sink had to be pulled out & replaced because of no room to work.
Think it took less than an hour.
Best regards

Answer 4

Personally , I think you needed to shop around and get a few estimates. Plumbers are notorious for high fee - as they do the work no one really wants to mess with but that seems stiff to me.

The one website for do-it-yourselfers I found said it "should" take 3 hours and that included removing the old sink.

Next time get out the yellow pages and call a few different companies - let them know exactly what you need done and that you are looking at other companies that do equal quality work. Competition makes for the best deals.

Answer 5

Does seem like he took a long time. I'm no plumber, but if the sink matched the cutout, it wouldn't take me more than a couple of hours including installing new faucets with compatible fittings

Answer 6

A bit long to do that, it should be about a 2 hour job in total if everything was straight forward, but that is never the case. Hate to put down plumbers but the rip off ones give the rest of us a bad name.

Answer 7

You were TOTALLY taken to the cleaners. Should have been no more than $150 unless there is something more that had to be done that he didn't tell you about. And that includes fixing the leak!
My plumbers could have done this job in 30 minutes!

Answer 8

I just had mine redone and they charged me 75.00 took them less than 45 minutes and they took the old one out too...I would take a video of where it is located..to show the simplicity of it..take underneath shots..and turn them in to bbb, local contaractor associations..and actually see if there is a protection place there to report ripoffs..I would call other plumbing contractors as well.and get a rough estimate over the phone..this is a verysimple chore to do..even an undermounted sink..would take less than an hour..Did you ask for thier license number? I would search it and even see if they are licensed..simply search"comapny license search for.Your area

Answer 9

Typically, if that is all you called the plumber out to do then the charges are about right. Plumbers tend to charge more and at different rates for hourly work. Especially if he had to come out after hours and depending how far you were from where they operate. As for the leaks he didn't get to... y didn't he get to that?

Answer 10

Should have taken a good plumber about an hour.But the story is they charge you by the hour so you see they work slow.