RICHMOND, VA — Commonwealth Plumbing Systems has been a trusted provider of plumbing services in the greater Richmond area since 1990. Originally family-operated, the company was founded by Cary and Natalie Phillips, who were later joined by their two sons, Michael and Josh. Over the years, the company has grown into a 30-person powerhouse— a team of skilled professionals with a reputation for reliability, professionalism, and customer satisfaction.
Commonwealth Plumbing, which specializes in tract-housing plumbing, partners with residential builders on rough-in and trim-out plumbing projects. The company completed approximately 650 new-residential projects (single- and multi-family) in 2023.
With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Jay Loving serves as the Purchasing Manager for Commonwealth Plumbing Systems, Loving oversees company inventory to ensure an adequate supply of rough-in and trim-out kits for its crews. Loving emphasizes Commonwealth's comprehensive approach in its services to home builders: “We begin with the groundwork for a home, progressing through sewage work and rough-in plumbing, and then finish with trimmings.”
Dearborn Provides Superior Value for Contractors
Commonwealth Plumbing recently switched to Dearborn TrueBlue Bath Waste Rough-In Kits for all their bathtub rough-in projects. The company has installed approximately 2,000 kits since May 2023.
For years, the company had used a competing brand of drains and trims. However, during a 2023 meeting with Oatey sales agent Dan Dougherty of The Joyce Agency, Loving quickly recognized the advantages of adopting Dearborn® True Blue® Rough-In Kits and Trim Kits and currently uses them exclusively.
True Blue PVC and ABS Bath Waste Rough-In Kits are designed for applications requiring a bath waste and overflow drain with integrated test features. The overflow and drain elbow components come pre-assembled for added convenience and easy installation. True Blue’s overflow gasket is made with an innovative foamed rubber material that provides better compression and memory than traditional gaskets, creating a more reliable seal that will rebound and prevent leaks.
The rough-in kits are compatible with True Blue Trim Kits, which are easily installed with the overflow test, and are available in a variety of modern designer finishes, including Brushed Gold, Brushed Nickel, Champagne Bronze, Matte Black, Oil Rubbed Bronze, White, Chrome, and Black. The press-in trim veneer installs simply with the overflow test plug, eliminating the need for additional tools or sealants. Installers can choose from touch-toe, uni-lift, or push ‘n' pull stopper styles.
“The trim kits caught my attention right away,” recalls Loving. “One feature that stood out was the accuracy of their finishes, which match perfectly with the Moen faucets that our customers purchase from us,” he explains.
By contrast, the finishes of Commonwealth Plumbing’s previous supplier were slightly off, “and we'd received complaints about them,” he continues. “But since we started using Dearborn's TrueBlue Kits, we haven’t received a single complaint.”
The Benefits of Dearborn True Blue
Loving quickly recognized the advantage of this change to both Commonwealth Plumbing and its customers. The Dearborn trim kits offer an impressive range of finishes that exude a higher-end feel, surpassing the quality of their previous kits. Noting the rising popularity of the Black and Champagne Bronze finishes, Loving understood the importance of finding trim kits that could meet the increasing demand.
Loving was impressed by the positive feedback he received from his crew and their genuine enthusiasm for the new kits. Many crew members took the time to express their satisfaction with the improved functionality. Loving credits this to the tool-free and testing features of the rough-in kits.
Oatey has meticulously designed its bath waste kits with practical features, including the overflow cover that effortlessly secures in place with a simple clockwise turn, eliminating the need for additional tools or screws.
Furthermore, True Blue kits offer the convenience of depth adjustability, allowing for a seamless and hassle-free installation on various tub styles and thicknesses with just another clockwise turn. This innovative solution simplifies what would otherwise be a complex installation, requiring precise alignment and screw fixation.
Joyce Agency’s Dan Dougherty further attests to the efficiency of these kits, again noting the streamlined, tool-free installation process. With nearly 2,000 kits installed and counting, the resulting time savings are invaluable to Commonwealth Plumbing and the home builders it serves.
Another notable time-saving feature is the quarter-turn overflow test plug, designed to ensure fast and reliable testing. “Our previous kits always gave the guys a hard time when they attempted to remove the test plugs,” Loving recalls. “If their tools failed, they had to reach down into stagnant water manually.”
“The Dearborn test plug is markedly easier to remove, resulting in a far more convenient testing process,” Loving concludes. “The functionality of the test plugs has been a significant advantage to our installers.”