Plumbers in Minneapolis (St. Paul: general contractor, university, tile)

[Eli34]

As a tilesetter here in California, I have been very tempted to move to Minneapolis where wages are the same as here, but cost of living is a fraction what it is here. At the moment, I am trying to get into another career that pays better, but if that doesn't work out, Minneapolis is my backup.

[pvoyd]

Is the supply of plumbers' and electricians' licenses in Minnesota, or Minneapolis only, constrained by any regulation?

[BryaninMSP]

Originally Posted by pvoyd

Is the supply of plumbers' and electricians' licenses in Minnesota, or Minneapolis only, constrained by any regulation?

The supply is not constrained; it's not like taxi medallions. There are additional requirements (beyond the state license) for Minneapolis for plumbers. Not sure about electricians.

[Drewcifer]

It is constrained by the labor market, there are more job openings than there are skilled workers looking for jobs.

[pvoyd]

While there is not a limited number of licenses (like taxi medallions in NYC), state requirements certainly reduce the supply of (at least) plumber labor. I looked up state regulations - 4 years/7000 hours of apprenticeship is required before an apprentice plumber can even apply for a journeyman license.

I am not implying that plumbing does not require intelligence and expertise, having done (and botched and recovered) some home plumbing jobs. However, expertise and experience required to be a good plumber are probably comparable or less to those needed for a good car mechanic. I am not aware of similar state regulations on mechanics.

[Kavalier]

It's funny.


My father had a bad toilet seal on the main level of his house probably 5 years or so. So he had a plumber come deal with it.


Guy stopped in, had me help him move the toilet, went to Menards, came back, put a cheap little $5.00 seal in, had me help him more the toilet back, and as I recall he charged my dad at least $1,000.00 for that. I think it might have been more, but it was $1K at least, for like probably an hour total of labor on his end.


Fast forward to recently, BOTH bolts that hold said toilet down rusted/snapped clean off. The toilet was completely wobbly due to his (apparently) so cheap he didn't even spend a couple more dollars to get brass bolts instead of the cheapest he could get his greasy hands on.



So after my dad kicked out $1K+ to this guy for shoddy work (I think), maybe 5 years later his shoddy job has got me dealing with it in a house I now own. Well my buddy's dad stopped by and he and I did: the bolts, a new seal, a new inner fill valve, all in a couple hours and I paid him $100.


It wasn't that difficult, either. And now that I know all the ins and outs of a toilet (it's rather pedestrian if you ask me), I am far less afraid of such tasks.


I'm bumping because I wanted to ask if anyone knows what a plumber would charge for those tasks?: fill valve, base bolts and new seal?


I'm thinking I saved quite a bit having done all three on my own, but I am curious.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by Kavalier

It's funny.


My father had a bad toilet seal on the main level of his house probably 5 years or so. So he had a plumber come deal with it.


Guy stopped in, had me help him move the toilet, went to Menards, came back, put a cheap little $5.00 seal in, had me help him more the toilet back, and as I recall he charged my dad at least $1,000.00 for that. I think it might have been more, but it was $1K at least, for like probably an hour total of labor on his end.


Fast forward to recently, BOTH bolts that hold said toilet down rusted/snapped clean off. The toilet was completely wobbly due to his (apparently) so cheap he didn't even spend a couple more dollars to get brass bolts instead of the cheapest he could get his greasy hands on.



So after my dad kicked out $1K+ to this guy for shoddy work (I think), maybe 5 years later his shoddy job has got me dealing with it in a house I now own. Well my buddy's dad stopped by and he and I did: the bolts, a new seal, a new inner fill valve, all in a couple hours and I paid him $100.


It wasn't that difficult, either. And now that I know all the ins and outs of a toilet (it's rather pedestrian if you ask me), I am far less afraid of such tasks.


I'm bumping because I wanted to ask if anyone knows what a plumber would charge for those tasks?: fill valve, base bolts and new seal?


I'm thinking I saved quite a bit having done all three on my own, but I am curious.

Try aiming better

[demtion35]

Originally Posted by Kavalier

It's funny.


My father had a bad toilet seal on the main level of his house probably 5 years or so. So he had a plumber come deal with it.


Guy stopped in, had me help him move the toilet, went to Menards, came back, put a cheap little $5.00 seal in, had me help him more the toilet back, and as I recall he charged my dad at least $1,000.00 for that. I think it might have been more, but it was $1K at least, for like probably an hour total of labor on his end.


Fast forward to recently, BOTH bolts that hold said toilet down rusted/snapped clean off. The toilet was completely wobbly due to his (apparently) so cheap he didn't even spend a couple more dollars to get brass bolts instead of the cheapest he could get his greasy hands on.



So after my dad kicked out $1K+ to this guy for shoddy work (I think), maybe 5 years later his shoddy job has got me dealing with it in a house I now own. Well my buddy's dad stopped by and he and I did: the bolts, a new seal, a new inner fill valve, all in a couple hours and I paid him $100.


It wasn't that difficult, either. And now that I know all the ins and outs of a toilet (it's rather pedestrian if you ask me), I am far less afraid of such tasks.


I'm bumping because I wanted to ask if anyone knows what a plumber would charge for those tasks?: fill valve, base bolts and new seal?


I'm thinking I saved quite a bit having done all three on my own, but I am curious.

IT would seem your dad should have gotten an estimate first to how much the job was going to cost...

[Kavalier]

Originally Posted by demtion35

IT would seem your dad should have gotten an estimate first to how much the job was going to cost...

I think he just called him on an emergency type of deal. I still think he massively overpaid.

[Umbria]

Originally Posted by Kavalier

I think he just called him on an emergency type of deal. I still think he massively overpaid.

Yes he was over charged - greatly, even by today's standards. Should have reported it to Better Business Bureau and trashed him on social media.