Understanding Site Variations and Avoiding Unexpected Costs

A site variation (or extra) refers to any addition to a job not included in the original agreement e.g. quote, specification. For instance, if you initially requested your tiler to quote for tiling only the shower area but later decide to tile the entire bathroom, that’s an extra—requiring more materials and labor—and they won’t absorb that cost due to your change of mind.

It’s crucial to document all extras in writing, preferably on a formal site variation document. An email suffices, but the primary goal is ensuring both parties are protected.

The Danger of Day Rates

When a company offers a day rate for extras, it’s akin to giving them a blank cheque. Proper job pricing demands a clear, detailed specification (LINK INCOMING) outlining exactly what’s included. It should cover the finest details—who is responsible for screws and nails? How many coats of paint will be applied? What methods will be used for each part of the job? Making good.

Lacking this level of detail, costs can quickly escalate. For example, if you remove your roof and hire a bricklayer for the walls or a carpenter for the timber frame, you might overlook the need for a roofer to make it weather-tight. Without comprehensive planning, you won’t know what’s included, what’s an extra, and the true cost of the project. Then you get a roofer come in, see's your desperate and wants to charge you £50,000 to do a roof!

My Costly Mistake

Reflecting on my embarrassing story Choose the Right Contractor, I encountered an unexpected extra on day one—muck away. The job should have included at least one or two muck aways, yet all I received in the WhatsApp quote was one skip. One skip for the entire job! I should have halted the work immediately.

Fixed Pricing Over Day Rates

This is why I firmly advocate for fixed pricing. Day rates expose clients to paying more than anticipated despite having an agreed price.

When I undertake a job, I will ensure everything is documented in a clear specification and have a fixed pricing structure. If there’s an extra, both the customer and I will know instantly. No surprises. The extra will be priced as transparently as everything else in my business How we Price and Quote our Works That’s how construction should be—transparent and fair.

Take before photos!

Consider this scenario: You hire a roofer for a small job. As they finish or even halfway through, they claim many of your tiles are damaged or that all the tiles on the hips are loose. Without before photos, how can you be certain they didn't cause the damage while working? Now, they're attempting to charge you for repairs to issues they created! Stay vigilant and protect yourself!

If in doubt, always get a second opinion. Trust your gut!

Next this roofer tells you, your felt is deteriorating, and you need a new roof! But is it truly falling apart, or is someone attempting to deceive you into unnecessary work? If you ever have doubts, call me. I'll provide a second opinion. You’re not obligated to follow my advice, but rest assured, I have nothing to gain from offering it. My advice is currently free of charge.

I hope you find this article useful! I will be talking about it on my Youtube channel in the next few weeks. Please subscribe for updates.