I can't recommend Penrose Plumbing - not because of the work their team did, but because of the lack of transparency and integrity in the way this project was handled.
When my general contractor hired Penrose Plumbing, the house was originally designed to be 1400 sq. ft., 2 bed/2 bath. Partway through, the project was cut in half to 700 sq. ft., 1 bed/1 bath. The general contractor never informed Penrose Plumbing about the reduced scope, and when they showed up, it was obvious the job was much smaller than the original bid.
At that point, the right thing to do was either:
1. Rebid the project based on the smaller job.
2. Find a way to add value to justify the original cost.
Instead, Penrose treated it like they got the "bank error in your favor, collect \$10,000" card. No adjustment. No conversation. Just business as usual at double the price. So they sent me the bill and hoped I wouldn't notice.
Outrageous Pricing - No Justification
- Plumbing this tiny house ended up costing almost as much as the well and almost as much as the septic system.
- Penrose used cheap materials - Pex Type B (which reduces flow/pressure at every fitting) and cheap plastic fittings. For the price, I expected Pex Type A or oversized tubing with Pex B and brass fittings. Honestly, they could have run copper lines for what I paid.
- To confirm my suspicions, I got bids from two other licensed plumbers:
- $7,000 - This included more work than Penrose completed.
- $9,800 - This covered the full job, PLUS setting all fixtures.
Penrose didn't even finish my job!
On Top of That...
Because of the materials used, I'll likely have to replace the entire supply side to get rid of the plastic fittings. This adds even more cost to a project that was already overpriced.
The Real Issue - Trust
I contacted Penrose Plumbing about this. They admitted the bid was never updated for the smaller house. Their solution? Offering to set the fixtures - bringing them up to the $9,800 bid I received elsewhere. That's still $6,000 short. I requested a refund for the overage, and they said they would "check their books." That was a month ago, I haven't heard back.
The Bright Spot
The plumbers on-site did quality work. They were professional, skilled, and easy to deal with. This isn't about them - it's about the lack of communication and accountability from the business itself (specifically the owner).
Bottom Line
This experience isn't just about money - it's about trust and fairness. When you hire someone, when they're going to come into your home, you should be able to trust they won't exploit a situation just because they can. Based on my experience, I can't recommend Penrose Plumbing.
If you value integrity, look elsewhere. read more
