On schedule. Licensed. Permit-ready. Clean work. Tri Express Plumbing is the San Diego plumbing subcontractor built to keep your projects moving — remodels, ADUs, tenant improvements, and residential new construction throughout all of San Diego County.
Finding a reliable plumbing subcontractor in San Diego is one of the most persistent challenges general contractors face. The pool of licensed, insured plumbers who show up on schedule, pull their own permits, communicate proactively, and invoice cleanly is smaller than it should be.
Tri Express Plumbing was built to be the answer to that problem. We operate like a professional trade partner — not a residential service company that dabbles in GC work on the side. Our processes, documentation, and scheduling standards are designed around how construction projects actually run.
We've been working alongside San Diego general contractors on remodels, ADUs, and tenant improvements since 2008 — building long-term relationships with GCs who value reliability over the lowest possible bid.
The best GC-sub relationships are built on one thing — the sub doing exactly what they said they'd do, when they said they'd do it, without the GC having to manage them. That's the standard we hold ourselves to on every project.
We show up on the schedule we agreed to. We pull permits before rough-in. We pass inspections the first time. We flag issues early rather than letting them become your problem at final. And we invoice clearly, on time, with the documentation your project manager needs.
Call to Discuss a ProjectSchedule reliability is the foundation of every good GC-sub relationship. We commit to mobilization dates and keep them — because we understand that a missed rough-in day doesn't just affect plumbing, it cascades through your entire project schedule.
We pull all required permits for our scope of work and manage the inspection process independently. You never have to chase permit status or coordinate inspections on our behalf — we handle it and keep your PM informed.
When we encounter a condition in the field that affects scope or schedule — existing pipe conflicts, undersized gas lines, unforeseen structural issues — we communicate immediately. No surprises at final inspection.
Detailed written scopes before work begins, itemized invoices at completion, and change order documentation that protects both parties. The paper trail your project manager needs to keep the job on budget and on record.
Failed inspections cost everyone — time, money, and schedule. We install to code, we don't cut corners on rough-in, and we pass inspections first time on the overwhelming majority of our projects throughout San Diego County.
We're not looking for one-off jobs. We're looking for GC partners who value reliability and want the same plumbing sub on every project — which means we're invested in your success on every job, not just the current one.
Rough-in and finish plumbing for kitchen remodels — sink supply and drain relocation, dishwasher connections, garbage disposal, and island plumbing configurations.
Full bathroom rough-in and trim-out — shower systems, tub connections, toilet rough-in, vanity supply and drain, and all fixture connections for new and remodeled bathrooms.
Complete plumbing for ADU and garage conversion projects — new supply runs, drain connections, water heater installation, and all fixture rough-in and trim-out.
Plumbing scope for commercial and residential tenant improvements — breakroom, restroom, and utility connections coordinated with your project schedule and inspections timeline.
Complete PEX or copper repiping as part of larger renovation projects — coordinated with demo and drywall schedules to minimize project timeline impact.
Tank and tankless water heater installation for remodel and new construction projects — including gas line upgrades, venting modifications, and all permit requirements.
A missed mobilization date doesn't just delay plumbing — it pushes back framing, drywall, and every trade that follows. We treat schedule commitments as non-negotiable. When we commit to a date, we're there.
Permit delays kill project schedules. We apply for permits immediately upon scope approval, track status proactively, and keep your PM informed — you never have to chase us for an update you should have received automatically.
Field conditions change. When we encounter something that affects scope or schedule — an existing pipe conflict, a gas line issue, an unforeseen condition — we call immediately. Early communication is always better than a last-minute surprise.
Invoice surprises create friction and erode trust. We provide detailed written scopes before work begins, document all change orders in writing before proceeding, and invoice exactly against what was agreed. No line items that weren't discussed.
| What Matters on a Project | Typical Plumbing Sub | Tri Express Plumbing |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule reliability | ✗ Commits, then reschedules | ✓ Commits and shows up — every time |
| Pulls own permits | ✗ Inconsistent — often left to GC | ✓ Every project, every time — independently managed |
| First-time inspection pass rate | ✗ Variable — corrections common | ✓ High first-pass rate — work to code, every time |
| Proactive communication | ✗ Must be chased for updates | ✓ Flags issues early, updates PM proactively |
| Written scopes & change orders | ✗ Verbal agreements, invoice disputes | ✓ Written scope before work, change orders documented |
| License & insurance on file | ✗ Sometimes expired or incomplete | ✓ CA Lic #926629 — full COI provided in your format |
| County-wide coverage | ✗ Limited service area | ✓ All of San Diego County — one sub for your whole portfolio |
We work alongside general contractors on projects throughout all of San Diego County — from coastal remodels in La Jolla and Del Mar to inland ADU projects in El Cajon and Santee. One sub, consistent standards, county-wide.
"Finding a plumber who shows up on time and passes inspections first try sounds like a low bar — but it's surprisingly rare in this market. Tri Express hits it every time. They're on every kitchen and bath remodel we do in San Diego."— General Contractor, San Diego Remodels
"We do a lot of ADU work across the county and needed a plumbing sub who could handle the full scope independently. Tri Express pulls their own permits, passes inspections, and communicates without being chased. That's the whole package."— GC, ADU & Garage Conversion Specialist
"The invoice always matches the scope we agreed on. That sounds basic but it's not. We've had subs add line items after approval that weren't in the original scope. Tri Express is completely straight on pricing — that's built trust over a lot of projects."— Project Manager, Residential Remodel GC
"They called us immediately when they hit an undersized gas line on a kitchen remodel — not after the fact. That early communication saved us from a significant schedule delay. That's the kind of sub you keep calling."— General Contractor, La Jolla & Del Mar Projects
Call our office at 619-843-6692 or email [email protected]. We'll provide CA Contractor License #926629, certificate of insurance with general liability and workers' comp in your required format, and any additional documentation your company requires. We can typically complete the onboarding process within 24 hours of your initial contact.
We work on residential remodels (kitchen, bathroom, whole-home), ADU and garage conversion projects, tenant improvements, and residential new construction throughout San Diego County. We don't sub on large commercial projects — our focus is residential and light commercial where our experience and responsiveness deliver the most value to GC partners.
We pull all permits required for our plumbing scope independently — the GC never has to manage permit applications or inspection scheduling on our behalf. We apply immediately upon scope approval, track status proactively, and provide permit documentation for your project file at completion.
All change orders are documented in writing before we proceed with any out-of-scope work. When field conditions require a scope change, we communicate immediately, provide a written change order with cost impact, and wait for approval before proceeding. No verbal agreements, no surprise line items at invoice.
For planned projects with adequate lead time, we can typically schedule within 5–10 business days of scope approval and permit application. For projects requiring faster mobilization, call our office directly to discuss scheduling availability — we work to accommodate GC timelines whenever possible.
Yes — we carry full general liability and workers' compensation insurance and provide certificates of insurance in whatever format your company requires. Additional insured endorsements available upon request. Contact our office at [email protected] for COI requests.
Call our office to discuss your upcoming projects, documentation requirements, and how we integrate into your existing workflow. License and insurance documentation provided same-day.
619-843-6692CA Lic #926629 · Full Liability & Workers' Comp · All San Diego County