Plumb Works Adds Tomorrow’s Plumbing to Historic Decatur Building

The reputation of Plumb Works around metro Atlanta speaks for itself. In addition to its acclaimed residential service, its commercial jobs continue to receive rave reviews.

When Lenz, Plumb Works’s marketing agency of record, moved into its new home, an historic building on the Decatur Square, it didn’t have to look far. Of course, they chose Plumb Works, a plumbing service with a broad understanding of how plumbing challenges can clog the lines of a dynamic business such as Lenz, causing big disruptions and costly downtime.

The new Lenz building at 545 North McDonough St. dates all the way back to 1922. A literal cornerstone of the Decatur Square, brimming with rich history, it was designed by famed architect William Sayward. Reportedly costing $110,000 to build, it was credited as Decatur’s first modern, fireproof structure. Beginning in 1924, it housed Decatur Bank and Trust Company, the place where legendary professional golfer Bobby Jones deposited his winnings, and the financial hopes and dreams of Decaturites seemed possible.

In 1925, the building served as the first home of the Decatur Library, which was the precursor to the DeKalb County Public Library. Through the years, it played host to tenants including additional financial institutions, lawyers, and retailers. Its exterior has seen it all. The building stood firm during the foundation-rattling tunnelling and excavation project in the late 1970s that helped bring the MARTA rail system to life. The 1996 Olympic Torch was raised high on the Old Courthouse steps, mere feet from 545’s front door. After the removal of a longstanding Confederate monument in 2020, the 545 North McDonough Street building now proudly serves as a neighbor to a statue honoring esteemed Civil Rights leader John Lewis. 

Tackling the plumbing system of a building such as 545 requires a sweeping knowledge of the task at hand, top-shelf skills, and a team of seasoned professionals. Plumb Works provided all that and more to help get the new Lenz digs flowing into the future. 

We sat down with Plumb Works owner, Jerome Sabol, and service manager, Josh Czerniak, to learn more about how the team approached such a significant job as this.

On the Project Itself

“First of all, it was simply an honor to work on a 100 year-old building on Decatur Square. The job actually went pretty well. We worked with Leafmore Group construction. Thankfully, there weren’t a lot of challenges. It was your typical plumbing installation like we usually do for commercial offices. Some new bathrooms, a new break room, and kitchen. The kitchen was probably the only challenge over there, which wasn't too big of a deal. There was a lot of plumbing we had to remove and disconnect, so we took great care not to disturb Jeni’s Ice Cream, a neighboring business. That turned out great. So did the logistics. It's usually harder to navigate a job in a place like Decatur Square or even downtown Atlanta. Things like parking and load-in can be tough. But with extensive planning and preparation, everything went off without a hitch.”

On How a Commercial Job Differs from Residential

“There are certain things you have to do for a commercial project that you don't do for a residential house. The main water line that comes into the building requires a device called a backflow valve. We updated one of those, and that's something that the county and city require. And once a year, that valve gets tested by a certified backflow tester and reported to the city. That valve basically makes sure no contaminated water can back up into the county drinking water system. And all commercial buildings have to have that for safety. For example, a beauty salon could move in, and if they’re in there mixing cosmetic chemicals in the sink and it somehow siphons back into the water piping system, it could contaminate the drinking system. Someone next door can drink that, and it wouldn't be good. So the backflow valve provides commercial buildings an extra layer of protection.” 

On Their Expertise in the Commercial Space

“We have almost 40 years of strong experience in commercial plumbing. Plumb Works specializes in light and medium commercial jobs. The Lenz building would fall into that category, which is right in our wheelhouse. While we don’t do the big 50-story skyscrapers and that sort of thing, we may provide service in a condo unit in one of those buildings. Although we don’t do brand new plumbing for those types of massive, industrial buildings, we’re your go-to source for any small to mid-size commercial project.” 

Plumb Works Goes Commercial

The Plumb Works team services a wide range of commercial structures, including banks, retail spaces, restaurants, churches, educational facilities, and more. Plumb Works knows that when it comes to your plumbing, time is money. Its commercial plumbers will work quickly and efficiently to get you up and running, and thriving.

Reach out to our experts by calling 404-524-1825 or scheduling an appointment online.