The SNZ blog
The SNZ Blog
Estimating, pricing and tendering, written from real experience. 67 articles for plumbing contractors who price their own work.
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All articles.
67 articles, newest first. Written from real estimating work, not generic advice.
01What the Water Pressure Test Really Asks For2026-10-16Read →02Outsourcing your plumbing estimating: how it works and when it pays2026-10-03Read →03How to check a hydraulic estimate before the tender closes2026-10-03Read →04What to send your estimator: the tender documents checklist2026-10-03Read →05QLD Trade Waste Charges 2026–272026-09-15Read →06VIC Trade Waste Charges 2026–272026-09-15Read →07NSW Trade Waste Charges 2026–27 — What to Allow2026-09-15Read →08Top 5 Estimating Mistakes Plumbers Make (And How to Avoid Them)2026-07-07Read →09How to Win More Plumbing Tenders (What Actually Separates the Winners)2026-07-06Read →10How to Calculate Bedding and Spoil for a Pipe Trench (Formula, Tonnes and Truckloads)2026-07-06Read →11How to Actually Market a Plumbing Business (It Is Not What the Blogs Tell You)2026-07-06Read →12How to Actually Work Out Overheads in Your Plumbing Business (The Costs That Eat Your Profit)2026-07-01Read →13You're Working Hard. Are You Actually Making Money?2026-07-01Read →14The Cheapest Estimate Is the One That Costs You Most2026-07-01Read →15The Honest Truth About Plumbing Estimating Software (From Someone Who Actually Uses It)2026-07-01Read →16Rainwater Tanks for New Homes – BASIX Compliance & Sizing2026-06-15Read →17Backflow Prevention: When RPZD Is Required & Tundish Setup2026-06-02Read →18Fire Hose Reels & Hydrants – When Required in Class 2 & 3 Buildings2026-05-18Read →19Pipe Bedding & Trench Width: The 75 mm Rule & Why It Matters2026-05-05Read →20Grease Traps for Commercial Kitchens – Sizing & Compliance2026-04-13Read →21Testing Plumbing & Drainage Systems: What’s Mandatory in NSW2026-03-16Read →22Isolation Valves: Where They’re Mandatory & Why Quarter-Turn Ball Valves Win2026-03-03Read →23NDIS SDA Plumbing Requirements – Class 3 Dwellings Guide2026-02-16Read →24Fire-Rated Penetrations for Plumbers – Collars, Wraps & Mastic Basics2026-02-02Read →25How to Size Hot Water Systems Correctly – Avoid Cold Showers in Large Homes2026-01-17Read →26Bushfire-Resilient Plumbing: New Clauses in NCC B4D6/B6D6 and AS/NZS Impacts – For High-Risk Areas, with Estimating Tips for Materials2026-01-13Read →27The AS/NZS 3500:2025 Flexi Hose Rules – What They Add to a Quote2026-01-13Read →28Top Factors Driving Up Plumbing Estimates (And How Homeowners Can Save)2025-12-29Read →29How to Estimate Plumbing Costs for Residential and Commercial Projects2025-05-29Read →30How Do I Keep My Team Motivated and Productive?2025-03-08Read →31How Do I Know If I’m Charging Too Much or Too Little for Plumbing Work?2025-03-08Read →32What’s the Best Way to Deal with Unreliable Workers?2025-03-08Read →33How Do I Find and Hire Reliable Plumbers for My Business?2025-02-24Read →34How Do I Manage Delays and Unexpected Problems on-Site?2025-02-24Read →35How Do I Prevent Employees from Leaving and Starting Their Own Business?2025-02-24Read →36How Do I Price Plumbing Variations Properly?2025-02-24Read →37How Do I Train Apprentices Without Losing Money?2025-02-24Read →38Should I Subcontract Plumbing Work or Keep Everything In-House?2025-02-24Read →39What Do I Do If the Builder Rejects My Variation Claim?2025-02-24Read →40How Do I Handle Builders Who Delay Payments for Months?2025-02-13Read →41How Do I Factor in Inflation and Price Increases Into My Quotes?2025-02-11Read →42How Do I Get Repeat Customers for My Plumbing Business?2025-02-11Read →43How Do I Handle Pricing Pressure from Builders Who Want Lower Quotes?2025-02-11Read →44How Do I Reduce Paperwork and Admin Time in My Plumbing Business?2025-02-11Read →45How Do I Set the Right Pricing for My Plumbing Services?2025-02-11Read →46How Do I Stop Underquoting and Losing Money on Jobs?2025-02-11Read →47How Do I Win Tenders for Large Plumbing Projects?2025-02-11Read →48What’s the Fastest Way to Do Takeoffs from Drawings?2025-02-10Read →49How Do I Handle Clients Who Keep Asking for Free Extras?2025-02-09Read →50Should I Invest in Plumbing Estimating Software?2025-02-09Read →51How Do I Avoid Bad Clients Who Don’t Want to Pay?2025-02-07Read →52How do I manage multiple plumbing projects at the same time?2025-02-07Read →53Should I Charge Hourly or Fixed Rates for Plumbing Jobs?2025-02-07Read →54Should I Hire More Plumbers or Stay Solo?2025-02-07Read →55How Do I Avoid Pricing Mistakes That Eat Into My Profit?2025-02-06Read →56How Do I Reduce Plumbing Material Costs?2025-02-05Read →57How Do I Track and Manage Job Expenses Effectively?2025-02-05Read →58How Do I Avoid Losing Money on Plumbing Jobs?2025-02-03Read →59How Do I Build a Strong Reputation as a Plumber?2025-02-03Read →60How Do I Compete with Cheaper Plumbers?2025-02-03Read →61How Do I Price Emergency Plumbing Jobs?2025-02-03Read →62What Should I Include in a Plumbing Estimate?2025-02-03Read →63What’s the Best Way to Estimate Plumbing Labour Costs?2025-02-03Read →64What’s the Difference Between Domestic, Commercial, and Industrial Plumbing Estimates?2025-02-03Read →65Why Am I Not Making Enough Profit on Plumbing Jobs?2025-02-03Read →66Why Are My Plumbing Quotes Getting Rejected?2025-02-03Read →67How Do I Price a Plumbing Job Correctly?2025-02-02Read →
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