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One Step Plumbing vs Star Rooter And Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Star Rooter carries workers compensation insurance and has extensive documented customer feedback, while One Step operates without workers comp on file and limited review history.
| One Step Plumbing | Star Rooter And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 5.0 | ★ 4.7 |
| Years Licensed | 22 years | 19 years |
| License # | 835677 | 884481 |
| Workers' Comp | — | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Berkeley, CA | San Lorenzo, CA |
| Website | onestepplumbing.net | www.starrooter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Star Rooter And Plumbing
Customers consistently highlight Star Rooter's same-day responsiveness, thorough diagnostic practices using camera equipment and crawlspace inspections, and transparent communication with clear pricing throughout projects.
Key Takeaway: Star Rooter has substantial documented customer feedback showing current service patterns, while One Step has limited review history available to assess their communication style, responsiveness, or project approach.
Customer Reviews
One Step Plumbing
One Step was able to come the same day. Garvey quickly figured out the source of the leak and had the parts on hand to fix our tub. Friendly and reasonably priced - my new go to for any future plumbin...
Star Rooter And Plumbing
We appreciated how quickly the plumbers were able to come to our home and ascertain the best course of action they should take. They were able to resolve the issue of the stoppage in the drain line wh...
Freddy was a great and a best work for me and family.
We had a great experience with Star Rooter! He took very good care of my parents bathrooms who are located in Castro Valley. Freddy and crew, were knowledgeable, great to work with and super polite. P...
Consider One Step Plumbing if...
- ✓ You have a simple plumbing repair where you'll be present during all work and have confirmed your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries on your property
- ✓ You have an existing relationship with One Step or a trusted referral from someone whose judgment you value
- ✓ You've verified directly with the company about their current insurance status and received satisfactory documentation
Consider Star Rooter And Plumbing if...
- ✓ You want to minimize liability risk with confirmed workers compensation coverage protecting you from potential injury claims
- ✓ Your project is complex or could reveal hidden issues requiring diagnostic equipment and crawlspace inspection
- ✓ You value documented patterns of transparent pricing, same-day availability, and clear communication throughout the project
- ✓ You need a company with proven capacity for major work like sewer lateral replacement or complete home repiping if your repair escalates
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask One Step directly about their current workers compensation status and request documentation, then confirm with your homeowner's insurance whether you're covered if a contractor without workers comp is injured at your property
- → Ask One Step for references from recent projects similar to yours, including contact information you can verify
- → Ask both companies for a detailed written estimate that specifies exactly what's included and their policy if additional issues are discovered during the work
The Bottom Line
Star Rooter And Plumbing is the clearer choice for most homeowners. The workers compensation coverage alone provides meaningful liability protection that One Step cannot offer, and Star Rooter's documented customer feedback shows consistent patterns of responsive service, transparent pricing, and capacity for both simple repairs and complex projects. One Step's 22-year history demonstrates business longevity, but without workers comp on file and with limited review history, you're taking on additional risk and have less information to predict your experience. Unless you have a strong existing relationship with One Step and have verified your insurance coverage for their work, Star Rooter offers better protection and more predictable service.
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Frequently Asked Questions
It means if a plumber is injured while working at your home, there's no workers compensation insurance to cover their medical bills and lost wages. Your homeowner's insurance could become the primary liability coverage, potentially leading to claims against your policy. Before hiring any contractor without workers comp, call your insurance agent to understand your exposure and whether your policy covers this situation.
Not practically. Both companies are in the veteran tier with 19 and 22 years respectively—both have seen multiple economic cycles and handled thousands of projects. The three-year difference is far less significant than the difference in workers comp coverage and documented customer feedback showing current performance patterns.
The data doesn't provide enough detail about One Step's project range to confirm. Star Rooter has documented experience with major infrastructure work including complete home repipes, sewer lateral replacements, and water line installations from street to house. If your project might involve complex work, ask One Step directly about their experience with similar projects and request references.
The injury risk exists on every job, regardless of size. A plumber can slip in your bathroom or get hurt accessing your crawlspace during a routine repair. The financial consequences of a serious injury without workers comp coverage can be substantial. It's worth a phone call to your insurance agent to understand your specific exposure before making this decision.
Looking for the Best?
See our ranked list of top plumbing contractors in Alameda.
Other Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparisons
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3rdGen Heating & Cooling
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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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