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Above All Plumbing vs We Love Small Jobs
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing a specialized plumber with workers comp to a general contractor without it—fundamentally different services and liability exposure.
| Above All Plumbing | We Love Small Jobs | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 28 years | 31 years |
| License # | 739199 | 703749 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Newark, CA | Oakland, CA |
| Website | www.aboveallplumbing.com | welovesmalljobs.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Above All Plumbing
Customers consistently praise Above All Plumbing for responsive emergency service, efficient troubleshooting that prevents unnecessary repairs, and clear communication from both technicians and office staff.
We Love Small Jobs
We Love Small Jobs earns loyalty through long-term relationships spanning decades, with customers highlighting their willingness to handle unusual tasks and their competent crew that delivers work on time and within budget.
Key Takeaway: Above All receives specific recognition for emergency availability and technical problem-solving in plumbing, while We Love Small Jobs is valued for accepting small or specialized jobs that other contractors decline.
Customer Reviews
Above All Plumbing
The team is professional and responsive! We asked to replace the pipes and installed a new RO filter under kitchen sink, the new pipes are beautiful!
Junior worked tirelessly on the leak at our place and was super kind and communicative.
From start to finish Above All Plumbing has been superb. We were recommended by a family friend. Rick, the owner answered the call right away and by the end of the day, Dawn had called to fit us in. C...
We Love Small Jobs
My attic ladder fell down and needed replacement parts for repair and avoid replacing the entire ladder. We Love Small Jobs searched at length before finding the right fitting parts, scheduled the re...
We Love Small Jobs is a wonderful organization, run by super helpful and professional staff. The job they did for us was done superbly well by a competent, very helpful crew, both on time and on budge...
I am giving We Love Small Jobs 5 out of 5 stars. Over the last 20+ years WLSJ has done both small and large jobs on my house. Here is a list of the work done over the years for me: tore out, refram...
Consider Above All Plumbing if...
- ✓ You have a plumbing issue: leaking pipes, clogged drains, water heater problems, faucet installation, or sewer line concerns
- ✓ You need emergency plumbing service or same-day response for urgent situations
- ✓ You want full insurance protection including workers compensation to eliminate your liability exposure
- ✓ You value specialized plumbing expertise for troubleshooting complex drainage or pipe issues
Consider We Love Small Jobs if...
- ✓ You need general contracting work like framing, structural repairs, or remodeling that's outside plumbing scope
- ✓ Your project involves unusual or hard-to-source repairs that other contractors have declined
- ✓ You're willing to verify your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and accept potential liability gaps
- ✓ You have small repair jobs or odd tasks that benefit from a generalist approach
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → If considering We Love Small Jobs: Ask directly about liability coverage and confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're protected if a worker is injured on your property during the project.
- → If considering We Love Small Jobs: Request current certificate of insurance documentation and ask whether they carry general liability coverage at minimum.
- → For either company: Ask for references from projects similar to yours in scope and complexity completed within the past year.
The Bottom Line
This comparison only makes sense if you're unclear whether you need a plumber or a general contractor. If you have plumbing issues—leaks, drains, water heaters, pipes—choose Above All Plumbing. They specialize in exactly that work, carry full insurance including workers comp, and have a strong track record for emergency response. If you need framing, remodeling, or structural repairs, We Love Small Jobs has the right expertise, but you must address the workers compensation gap before hiring. Contact your homeowner's insurance to confirm you're protected if a worker is injured, or request proof that We Love Small Jobs has obtained coverage. Don't proceed with any contractor lacking workers comp until you understand your liability exposure.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If a contractor's employee is injured on your property and the company lacks workers comp, your homeowner's insurance may be responsible for medical bills, lost wages, and legal costs. This can result in significant out-of-pocket expenses and insurance rate increases. With Above All's coverage, their insurance handles worker injuries, protecting you from this liability.
We Love Small Jobs may coordinate with licensed plumbers for projects requiring plumbing work, but they're not plumbing specialists. If your primary need is plumbing repair or installation, Above All Plumbing's dedicated focus provides deeper expertise in diagnosing issues, troubleshooting complex problems, and handling emergency situations. For structural or general contracting needs, We Love Small Jobs is the appropriate choice.
Not meaningfully. Both are veteran contractors with 28 and 31 years respectively, placing them in the same experience tier. The critical differences are trade specialization and insurance coverage, not the marginal difference in tenure.
Project size doesn't reduce injury risk. A worker can fall from a ladder during a small repair just as easily as during a large remodel. The liability exposure exists regardless of project scope, so verify your homeowner's policy covers contractor injuries before proceeding, or consider contractors with full insurance coverage.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Alameda.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 13, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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