Plumber - West Columbia, SC
Average rating
4.35
4.4
Average rating
Average rating
Rick K.
11/14/2014
Extremely Professional? Check Exceeded Expectations? Check, Check Incredible Plumbing Skills? Check, Check, Check R G Murphy Plumbing is not one of those “Large Fleet, 100 person” plumbing companies. Instead, it is owned and operated by the same person: Richard G Murphy. The requirement? To “simply” take out a “drop in” sink and put in a new one. I had asked him to see if he could send someone AND coordinate that someone with the other installers and repairmen in my kitchen yesterday; for I was replacing everything. That’s when I was told “he” WAS that “someone”. Upon my request, he continued to call me, in between his other jobs, to see if it was the correct, convenient time for him to show up yet – it finally was. My doorbell rang – he was on time within a 10 minutes leeway. I was immediately impressed with his professional look, personality, and friendliness. Upon asking me my general concerns and requirements (just to confirm what I had already told him on the phone), he then started to work. Due to poor decisions and poor craftsmanship by the previous remodeler, Richard ran into several problems he was not expecting. The largest? Rather than having clamped the sink into place as should have been done, the previous contractor had used sealant to “mount” the “porcelain over steel” sink to the granite counter top. Richard warned me that removing the sink was going to be difficult and a delicate operation so as not to chip or actually break out a chunk of the granite – rather than simply unclamping it, he would be forced to “chisel out” the sink delicately inch by inch. As life would have it, he got to the very last couple of inches when the granite did crack – actually about a 3” pie shaped chunk. I’ll skip ahead and tell you that the cream colored silicone/sealant he used to repair it (put it back together) was SO professionally and expertly done, that my husband STILL doesn’t know it ever happened – I’ll append this review years from now if he ever does. Allow me to backtrack, I was amazed by the fact that he, and he alone was the one doing the job not only quickly yet expertly, but took the new sink out of the back of my crossover and took it into house all by himself – something I could not do. The next issue was that the sink drains I had picked to match the color of the sink (a brushed copper) wouldn’t fit with the current/old garbage disposal. Being OCD, I was not about to have a silver garbage disposal sink drain with a copper sink and copper drain for the other sink bowl. Rather than my or his having to make a long run to a “big box” store, he had two different horsepower models of standard garbage disposals that were standard for the sink/drainers for what I had picked already out on his truck. Again, the OCD in me chose the most powerful unit – one never knows when one may have to “dispose” of an entire bovine meal. Then the next issue arose. The new sink WAS installed and granite successfully repaired – the only way I knew the granite had been repaired was that the sealant had not quite yet turned clear so I still could see it – now, even I, have to feel for it for it’s virtually invisible. HOWEVER, the sink I chose was deeper than the original one. Richard was then required to cut and refit all the plumbing currently in place. Bottom line: there was a cacophony of issues that Richard had to tackle that neither one of us expected. He methodically, professionally, expertly, and quickly amazingly resolved each one. Whatever you do, do NOT get a “big fleet” plumber to whom you’ll pay exorbitant labor costs and overpriced parts and accessories. Choose R G Murphy plumbing if you want it done and done correctly!!! PS: Rather than running you out of the room to leave him alone while he worked (we all have been there), Richard actually preferred my staying in the kitchen and talk with him about local things and a few state/national news making me feel like he cared for me as a person – not as just another customer.
Address
1635 Burnham St
West Columbia, SC 29169