Bigger or unusual job? Compare bids from local pros and you pick who does the work.
The service
What remodel plumbing rough-in is, what a visit covers and where the line is.
The short answer
Plumbing rough-in is the stage after framing and before insulation and drywall when pipes are installed inside open walls and floors. Remodel Plumbing Rough-In in San Francisco is booked through pros who cover its 28 ZIP codes, in neighborhoods such as The Mission, Noe Valley, and The Sunset. SF's microclimates mean fog, wind, and moisture vary dramatically by neighborhood. Providers account for this in material selection. Each rough-in plumber on NorTech writes their own bid and warranty, and the choice of pro is yours.
What a remodel plumbing rough-in visit includes
What is included depends on the jobs you pick and on how each pro sets up their visit and timing. You see the exact scope with each pro's price before you book.
- Review of drawings and fixture schedule
- Supply, drain, vent and gas rough-in for each fixture
- Valves, boxes and stub-outs in correct positions
- Pressure and leak testing
- Rough inspection with the city
- Coordination with the framer, electrician and drywall crew
Pick what is on your list
Tick what you want done, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, and you can describe anything else when you book.
Drain, waste and vent
Tick what you want done. One visit can cover several.
Tick jobs above, or add your own. Your list goes under the booking card and to the pro you choose, so they see exactly what you need before they arrive.
What shapes a remodel plumbing rough-in job
These are the things that make one job different from another. Mention them in your notes so each pro can scope your job properly.
What is not part of remodel plumbing rough-in
Knowing where the line is keeps the visit on track and keeps you safe. When a job belongs to a specialist, NorTech tells you before you book.
- Rough-in is licensed trade work, and any job that reaches $1,000 in labor and materials is done by a licensed contractor.
- Finish plumbing: setting the toilet, sink, faucet, tub spout and showerhead after tile and paint. That is a later visit.
- Framing, drywall, tile and insulation. Other trades handle those stages around the plumber.
- Electrical, HVAC and low-voltage rough-in. Those need their own licensed trades.
- Design drawings, engineering and structural changes to the building.
- Excavation and trenching for new sewer or water service lines outside the building.
- In San Francisco, sF DBI permit requirements are among the strictest in California. Smaller jobs stay within the handyman exemption; permitted work is bid on by NorTech-verified licensed contractors.
License and permits for remodel plumbing rough-in
Rough-in plumbing for drains, vents, supply and gas is licensed-trade work, and it is done by pros who hold the license.
Rough-in commonly needs a permit and a rough inspection before the walls are insulated and closed. The permit is pulled by your pro, who also books the rough inspection with the building office. Gas piping is usually tested and inspected as well.
Check the pro profile for their license, and ask to see the permit and the signed rough inspection before the walls close. Keep both with your project records.
Plan your visit
How booking works, how to get ready, and what to expect where you live.
How booking remodel plumbing rough-in works
Say what needs doing
Add your ZIP and a few words about the job.
Compare pros near you
Each pro sets their own price and warranty. NorTech does not pick for you.
Book the pro you pick
Add photos and details on their page. Your card is held and only charged after the work and the photos.
Photos and a warranty
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free.
Before you book remodel plumbing rough-in
Quick things that save a trip. Tick them off as you go; none of it is required to book.
Share the plans and fixture schedule
Give the pro your drawings, a list of fixtures with counts and locations, and the make and model of the main ones. Rough-in heights and valve bodies depend on them.
Confirm the stage of the project
Rough-in happens after framing is complete and before insulation and drywall. Tell the pro whether framing is finished and when other trades are scheduled so the inspection fits in.
Photograph the open walls and floors
Take clear photos of the framing, the slab or crawlspace, the attic access and the existing pipes. They help the pro price accurately and spot conflicts.
Choose the fixtures first
Tubs, shower valves, wall-hung toilets and vanities each have specific rough-in measurements. Decide before the pipes go in so changes do not mean opening finished walls.
Tell the pro about the sewer and water main
Note where the sewer cleanout, water main and shutoffs are. If you do not know the sewer condition, a camera inspection first can avoid trouble.
Leave the inspection tags in place
Ask your pro when the inspection is scheduled, and keep any posted permit visible. Covering pipes before the inspection is complete can mean reopening finished walls.
Say where in San Francisco you are
Add your neighborhood, for example The Mission, Noe Valley, and The Sunset, or your ZIP code to your notes. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, and it tells them how far they have to travel.
How where you live changes remodel plumbing rough-in
Best time to book remodel plumbing rough-in
Rough-in sits in the middle of a build schedule, so timing follows the project. Dry, mild weather lets exposed framing stay clean, and it helps trenching and slab work for drains run smoothly. In San Francisco, the dry season from late spring to fall is the easiest time for outside work, and the fall calendar fills before the first big rain.
Often booked together with remodel plumbing rough-in
Book several services with one pro. Pros set their own bundle discounts.
A large remodel puts rough-in at a fixed point in the schedule, between framing and drywall.
Converting a garage into living space often adds a bathroom, sink or laundry and needs new drains and supply.
New walls and layouts in a bathroom remodel set the rough-in plan.
Gas runs to ranges, dryers and water heaters are often completed together with the water and drain rough-in.
Around San Francisco
Where in San Francisco the work happens, and the cities close by.
Remodel Plumbing Rough-In across San Francisco
Pick your neighborhood to see what homes there tend to need. Pros choose the neighborhoods they cover, so enter your ZIP code to see who covers yours.
Cities near San Francisco
Pros often cover more than one city. The rings show 5 and 10 miles from the center of town.
Other services in San Francisco
Each one has its own page for this city.
Ideal for the long punch list of small fixes that pile up in older SF Victorians and Edwardians, from sticking doors to loose trim, with each pro's visit price shown before you book.
See pros in San FranciscoMany SF flats have original plaster-and-lath walls that crack with settling and seismic movement, and providers can patch both plaster and modern drywall cleanly.
See pros in San FranciscoTall ceilings, ornate Victorian moldings, and compact condo rooms all get a fresh, even finish that holds up to the city's damp, foggy microclimates.
See pros in San FranciscoPerfect for pre-sale punch lists and turnover on TIC units, condos, and rentals across high-turnover neighborhoods like SoMa and the Mission.
See pros in San FranciscoOriginal SF doorways shift on steep-slope foundations, so providers re-hang, adjust, and weatherproof doors that stick or no longer latch in older homes.
See pros in San FranciscoDrips fixed or a fresh faucet installed — any brand, kitchen or bath, clean and leak-free.
See pros in San FranciscoTrust and answers
What backs the work, who is licensed and insured, what customers say, and your questions.
Backed by your provider’s warranty. If covered work fails, your provider makes it right, free.
Looking for a licensed plumber? Bigger jobs and anything that needs a permit go to a verified California C-36 contractor. See licensed plumber services.
San Francisco homeowners
Remodel Plumbing Rough-In reviews in San Francisco
Verified remodel plumbing rough-in reviews from San Francisco homeowners will appear here.
Be the first remodel plumbing rough-in review in San Francisco
Your pro backs the work with a workmanship warranty — if covered work is not right, your pro makes it right, free. Book with confidence and tell San Francisco how your pro did.
Book Remodel Plumbing Rough-In in San FranciscoFrequently asked