There’s an unwritten tradie law that states, whenever you drive past a job you’ve worked on, you must roll down the window, point it out and ‘can’t help’ but say, “See that building?…” We all know how it goes…

As Sam, the owner of Watermaster Plumbing explains, when it comes to leaving your mark on a landmark project it creates a real sense of pride, because not everyone gets to be part of something that unique.

For the record, we caught up with Sam to chat about the projects keeping his team busy across Melbourne’s CBD and Bayside region, what he’s most proud of in his career so far, why he continues to back in Kembla copper tube and piping systems, and what it takes to carve out a place alongside the industry’s biggest players.

What is it like being a part of some of Melbourne most monumental buildings?

I have been involved with some of Melbourne’s most iconic buildings, one of which I worked on during its construction phase and still maintain today…some 25 years later. It has been interesting to be a part of the buildings journey from when it was new, right through to today and what it has taken to keep it running after all these years.

It’s a reminder of the hard work, early starts and countless hours that went into landing and bringing the project to life. It’s definitely one of those ones where you can be that dad that says, “See that building, I did the plumbing on that”.

What does a typical day-in-the-life look like for you? What are you most proud of in your career so far? 

Anyone in business will tell you it is a tough gig; we have created an environment and empowered our staff to contribute to the running of the business. This has provided them opportunity to grow and further themselves but also allowed me to create a work-life balance where I can be available for my family.

We continually take on and successfully complete jobs that companies of our size would not normally do, we punch above our weight and do it well. Watermaster Plumbing turns 20 next year, has been crowned Australian Trade Small Business Champion in the plumbing category multiple times, and I think all of the above is something to be proud of. We love that as a small business we can deliver projects that companies normally four (4) x our size would do. The team enjoys the challenge, and it keeps work interesting.

Why is Kembla copper tube and our KemPress system the right fit for your jobs? 

The most important thing for us when choosing the product was quality followed by the support from the manufacturer. This combined with competitive pricing made the choice pretty straight forward.

We choose KemPress and Kembla copper because our business is built on quality and service and the products we use must reflect that. The Kembla tube we use is Australian made and their business is in Australia, which means quality and strong support, if we needed it.

How does KemPress perform on projects of scale? 

We found Kempress to be a good press-fit system. The installation was straight forward, and we were well supported by Kembla and the merchant.

We’re currently using almost 5 tonnes of tube and more than 100 fittings per floor. When you’re working at that scale, with a team of our size, you need products and support your team can rely on. The last thing you want is material issues slowing the job down or creating rework.

Why do you back copper over other options on site?

In many of the commercial projects we service, copper is the logical choice. Other piping systems simply could not stand up to the temperatures and pressures required, making copper the best solution for these works. Not to forget it has been in use for hundreds of years with a proven track record.

What advice would you give an apprentice that you wish you had heard (or did hear) growing up in the industry?

My advice for an apprentice would be to put your head down and learn as much as you can and use your initiative. There are many in the trade that cannot think for themselves and if you can problem solve and execute you will be a great tradie.

What pointers would you give to someone in the first few years of running their own business?

My advice for a new business owner would be to seek education on how to run a business. The first thing is to know what it costs to run your business every hour and why, otherwise, how do you know what to charge? Charging a rate just because someone else is won’t end well for you.

Earning the opportunity to work on major projects, is a testament to Sam and his team’s years of quality workmanship, hard-earned reputation and proven track record of delivering outstanding outcomes backed by quality products.

If you’re a plumbing professional looking for materials that offer durability, efficiency, and ease of use, look no further than MM Kembla. We are committed to supporting tradesmen with products that make every job smoother, safer, and more reliable. Find your nearest merchant or contact us today to learn more about our quality range of copper tubes and fittings.