Quick price snapshot
| Your Problem | What It’s Called | Ironclad Price | Austin Range | Ask Why If Over |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipes are old and corroded throughout house | Whole-house repipe (copper or PEX) | $8,500 | $5,000-$15,000 | Over $18,000 without detailed scope |
What this price usually includes
This page isolates Ironclad’s published number for whole-house repipe (copper or pex) so you can compare one quote against the Austin market before you book anyone.
At Ironclad, the published reference point is $8,500. The broader Austin range we track is $5,000-$15,000. If you are being quoted over $18,000 without detailed scope, the burden is on the company to explain the access problem, code upgrade, emergency timing, or scope change that pushes it there.
What moves the number up or down
Final pricing usually changes for one of four reasons: access, material grade, code-driven add-ons, or bundled work discovered after diagnosis. A clean quote should spell out which of those is driving the difference instead of hiding it behind vague line items.
Detailed breakdown
Ironclad price: $8,500 | Austin range: $5,000–$15,000
All supply piping in the house replaced. Old pipe (copper, galvanized, polybutylene, CPVC) removed or abandoned and new pipe (usually PEX, sometimes copper) run to every fixture. This is a major project, typically 2-3 days for a standard Austin home.
Where your $8,500 goes at Ironclad (standard 3-bed, 2-bath, ~1,800 sq ft):
You pay: $8,500.00
Credit card processing: - $255.00
Net to company: $8,245.00
Materials (PEX pipe, fittings,
manifold, hangers, shutoffs,
escutcheons, misc): - $1,200 (14%)
Technician labor (2 plumbers
x 2.5 days): - $2,000 (24%)
Permit: - $150 (2%)
Truck / disposal / equipment: - $350 (4%)
Overhead: - $1,800 (21%)
Company profit: $2,745 (32%)
This is a high-margin job. The materials are relatively cheap (PEX pipe is $0.50-$1.50 per linear foot). The labor is the big cost, and even that is concentrated into 2-3 days. The profit margin reflects the complexity, the risk the plumber takes (any leak behind a wall is a callback), and the warranty obligation.
What makes it cost more than $8,500:
- Larger home. Every additional bathroom, fixture, and linear foot of pipe adds materials and labor. A 4-bed, 3-bath, 2,500 sq ft home might run $10,000-$12,000.
- Two-story home. Running pipe between floors is more complex than single-story.
- The old pipe is galvanized and corroded in the walls. Removal is harder. Sometimes the plumber can abandon the old pipe in place and run new PEX alongside it, which is faster. Sometimes the old pipe has to come out.
- Drywall repair is needed. The plumber cuts access holes to run new pipe. Patching and painting those holes is typically NOT included in the plumbing quote. Budget an additional $500-$2,000 for drywall/paint depending on how many access points and whether you DIY the patching or hire it out.
What makes it cost less than $8,500:
- Smaller home / fewer fixtures. A 2-bed, 1-bath might be $5,000-$6,500.
- Slab-on-grade with attic access. The plumber can run PEX through the attic to every fixture without going through walls in most cases. Faster, fewer access holes, less drywall damage.
When repipe is the right call vs when it’s overkill:
Repipe makes sense if:
- You have galvanized pipe (pre-1960s homes). It corrodes from the inside and restricts water flow. If your water pressure is dropping and the pipe is galvanized, it’s not going to get better.
- You have polybutylene pipe (gray plastic, 1978-1995). This material deteriorates and is prone to sudden failure. Many insurance companies won’t cover homes with polybutylene. Replacement is a smart move.
- You’ve had multiple pinhole leaks in copper in different locations. One leak is a repair. Three leaks in three years in different spots is systemic copper corrosion, often from Austin’s water chemistry.
Repipe is overkill if:
- You had one leak. Fix the leak. Monitor the system.
- Your home has copper that’s in good condition. Copper lasts 50-70 years when the water chemistry cooperates. Don’t replace functional pipe.
The repipe sales pitch to watch for: Some companies lead with repipe because the ticket is $8,000-$15,000 instead of $300 for a spot repair. If someone recommends a repipe after looking at one leak, get a second opinion. Ask them to explain what evidence shows the problem is systemic rather than localized.
How to compare this quote
Use this checklist before you approve the work:
- Does the scope clearly match pipes are old and corroded throughout house or is the company quietly selling a bigger job?
- Are they showing why the quote is above Over $18,000 without detailed scope with photos, test results, or code notes?
- Are disposal, permit, restoration, and emergency premiums separated so you can see what is real and what is markup?
- If another option exists, did they quote it side by side instead of forcing one path?
If the answer is no, step back and compare against the full Austin plumbing price guide before approving anything.