A repipe in Louisiana costs less than in most states, because plumbers here earn less than the US average. Many homes here were also built in the years when polybutylene and galvanized steel pipe were common. Louisiana plumbers earn an average of $30.11 an hour, about 13% below the US average of $34.70. For a 1,800-square-foot Louisiana house with two bathrooms and a crawl space, this site's calculator estimates about $5,800 to $10,700 for PEX, a flexible plastic water pipe. That call goes to a repipe company serving your area, and this site never charges you for it. Once the company has seen your house, it quotes you one set price.
How does a Louisiana home's age affect its pipes?
The typical Louisiana home was built in 1983, a little newer than in most states. About 1 in 4 Louisiana homes were built from 1980 to 1999, when polybutylene and Kitec pipe were in use.
On top of that, 17.6 % of homes date from before 1960, back when galvanized steel was the usual choice for water pipe. A house built in either period may have older pipe, but its age alone won't tell you what is in the walls. Only 29.6 % of Louisiana homes were built in 2000 or later.
Don't know what's in your walls? This site's pipe identifier can name eight different pipe types just from their color and texture.
Repipe prices by house and pipe type
The prices in this table are rough estimates from this site's Louisiana calculator. A crawl space is the open area beneath a raised floor. A slab means a concrete floor poured right on the ground, with pipes running below the concrete or embedded in it.
| House | Price |
|---|---|
| 1,200 sq ft home with one bath, PEX over a crawl space | roughly $3,700–$7,000 |
| 1,800 sq ft home with two baths, PEX over a crawl space | roughly $5,800–$10,700 |
| 1,800 sq ft home with two baths, PEX on a slab | roughly $7,600–$14,800 |
| 1,800 sq ft home with two baths, CPVC over a crawl space | roughly $6,700–$11,600 |
| 1,800 sq ft home with two baths, copper over a crawl space | roughly $8,500–$17,100 |
| 2,400 sq ft, three baths, two floors, PEX, crawl space | roughly $7,400 to $14,600 |
CPVC refers to stiff plastic pipe in a cream or tan color. Copper is metal pipe that gets soldered together at the joints. Bedrooms don't affect the price, because repipes are priced by bathroom count and square footage. Two bathrooms is what you'll find in most 3-bedroom houses.
Why do labor and slabs change the bill?
Labor makes up about 70 % of a repipe bill, so Louisiana's lower wages work in your favor. If your house sits on a slab, the crew has to reach pipes under or inside the concrete, and a national guide says that adds 25% to 50% to the labor.
Two quotes for the exact same job can be $2,000 to $5,000 apart, a national guide reports. A set quote from a company that has actually walked through your house takes the guesswork out.
Permits, patching, and staying home
Permit fees run about $50 to $800, according to a national guide. Ask whether your quote covers the permit and the wall patching, so there are no surprises on the final bill.
Most families stay put while the work happens. For a 1,800-square-foot, two-bathroom PEX house over a crawl space, the calculator estimates two to three days using national average labor.
Plumbing code and inspections in Louisiana
Louisiana used to have a plumbing code it wrote itself. Houses there have been governed since 2016 by the International Plumbing Code, 2021 edition, which a state code commission sets. The plumbing rules are enforced by your parish or city building official, who also issues the permit. That commission issues the license each inspector must carry. As a homeowner, you may hire a licensed private inspector too, yet the local office must have them on its list or under contract.
Roughly 10.5 percent of Louisiana residents get their water from a private well instead of city water. The national share is about 15 percent, which is higher.
When a repipe is worth it
Once low water pressure, discolored water, or leaks turn up in more than one spot around the house, a national guide says a repipe is usually worth it. If that sounds like your house, call now: a repipe company in your area will see your house and give you one fixed price, and the call costs you nothing.
Checking a plumber's license
Plumbing licenses in Louisiana come from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. Before you sign anything, pull up the plumber's record on the board's plumbing page to confirm the license.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics supplies the wage figures, and the Census Bureau the home-age data.
How this site figures its prices
The calculator begins by blending a price based on the home's size with the typical rate for its bathroom count. It tacks on the upcharge for copper or CPVC, then scales the labor share, roughly 70 % of the bill, using Louisiana's plumber wage against the national average. At the end it adds the slab and second-floor charges and rounds everything to the nearest $100.
