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R B Travis vs Star Rooter And Plumbing
Alameda Plumbing Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Star Rooter brings 19 years of experience versus R B Travis's 4 years, a meaningful difference for complex plumbing projects.
| R B Travis | Star Rooter And Plumbing | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 4.7 |
| Years Licensed | 4 years | 19 years |
| License # | 1084502 | 884481 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Livermore, CA | San Lorenzo, CA |
| Website | www.serviceexperts.com | www.starrooter.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
R B Travis
Customers consistently highlight R B Travis's punctuality with scheduled arrival windows, clear explanations of problems before starting work, and professional communication throughout the service process.
Star Rooter And Plumbing
Star Rooter customers emphasize same-day emergency availability, thorough diagnostic practices including camera inspections and crawlspace examinations, and efficient completion of complex projects often within a single day.
Key Takeaway: Star Rooter's feedback centers on diagnostic depth and rapid response capability, while R B Travis earns praise for communication clarity and scheduled service reliability—reflecting veteran versus growing operational maturity.
Customer Reviews
R B Travis
Excellent work and we appreciate his professionalism
Have made multiple calls over more than 3 years. Consistently received expert service. Shoutout for Cody. Professional, good listener, fast and knowledgeable about his job. I would recommend RBTravis ...
Outstanding service from Javier at R.B. Travis. HomeServe scheduled R.B. Travis to fix two clogged sinks in my home (kitchen and bathroom). Javier called ahead, arrived on time, and went above and be...
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 R B Travis if...
- ✓ Your plumbing issue is straightforward (leaking faucet, clogged drain, standard water heater replacement) and doesn't require complex diagnostic work or specialized equipment.
- ✓ You're coordinating service through a home warranty provider and want a contractor experienced in working within those systems.
- ✓ Predictable arrival times and clear advance communication about scheduling matter more to you than same-day emergency availability.
- ✓ You prefer working with a responsive growing company where you'll likely interact directly with technicians who take time to explain each step.
Consider Star Rooter And Plumbing if...
- ✓ Your home is older and you're facing potentially complex issues like main line problems, sewer lateral concerns, or infrastructure that may need replacement rather than repair.
- ✓ You need same-day or emergency weekend service and want a contractor with established systems for rapid response.
- ✓ Your project involves municipal compliance work, sidewalk excavation permits, or coordination with utility districts where experience with regulatory requirements matters.
- ✓ You value diagnostic thoroughness with camera inspections and crawlspace examinations to identify underlying problems before they escalate.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask R B Travis how they handle diagnostic work for hidden plumbing issues and whether they have camera inspection equipment available if needed.
- → Ask Star Rooter about current scheduling availability and whether their emergency responsiveness applies to your specific location within their service area.
- → Request references from both companies for projects similar in scope to yours, particularly if you're facing a major installation or replacement.
The Bottom Line
For straightforward plumbing repairs and installations where the scope is clear, R B Travis offers reliable service with excellent communication and punctuality at four years of established operation. For complex diagnostics, emergency situations, major infrastructure projects, or older homes where problems may extend beyond the obvious symptoms, Star Rooter's 19 years of experience provides meaningful advantages in problem-solving depth and operational systems. If your issue involves uncertainty about the underlying cause, requires same-day response, or touches on municipal compliance, Star Rooter is the stronger choice. If you're scheduling routine service and value clear advance communication, either contractor will serve you well.
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Frequently Asked Questions
For truly straightforward repairs like replacing a faucet cartridge or clearing a simple drain clog, the experience gap matters less—both companies handle these competently. The difference becomes significant when problems aren't what they initially appear to be, such as a leak that stems from corroded piping throughout a wall, or a drain issue that indicates sewer line deterioration. Star Rooter's additional 15 years means more pattern recognition for identifying these hidden complications early.
Experience doesn't automatically mean higher pricing, though veterans often charge appropriately for their diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Both companies receive feedback about transparent pricing and sticking to quotes. The cost consideration is whether Star Rooter's thorough diagnostics might identify necessary work that a less experienced contractor would miss, potentially saving you from emergency repairs later.
R B Travis lists sewer line service and exterior line repair in their project types, indicating they undertake this work. However, Star Rooter's customer feedback specifically mentions multiple complete sewer lateral replacements, home repipes, and sidewalk compliance projects, suggesting they handle these complex jobs more routinely. For major infrastructure work, frequency of experience matters when unexpected complications arise during excavation or when coordinating with municipal inspectors.
Star Rooter receives consistent customer mentions of same-day service and weekend emergency availability, suggesting this is an established part of their operation. R B Travis emphasizes scheduled service with advance notice and punctuality but doesn't have the same pattern of emergency response feedback. If you're facing a weekend plumbing crisis, Star Rooter demonstrates stronger track record in this specific area.
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 12, 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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