I get where you’re coming from—nothing worse than a “surprise” price hike after you’ve already planned everything out. But I’ve also seen it from the other side, where material costs suddenly jump and the contractor’s stuck eating the difference. Personally, I think a 30-day window is fair, but if delays are on their end, that’s on them. Had a roofer try to blame a rain delay on me once... nice try, buddy. Just wish more folks would lay it all out upfront so there’s no drama.
Just wish more folks would lay it all out upfront so there’s no drama.
Totally agree—honesty up front would save everyone a headache. I’ve seen price quotes get messy when the job drags out, but I’m with you, if the delay is on the contractor, they should eat that cost. The 30-day window makes sense, but what about when materials spike like 10% overnight? Not saying it happens every week, but I watched a supplier bump shingle prices twice in one month last year. No way to predict that.
I’m curious, do most folks here actually read the fine print on quotes? Some contracts have built-in clauses for material hikes, and others don’t mention it at all. Seems like a lot of trouble could be avoided if both sides just spelled out what happens if prices change or weather hits. Had a customer blame me for a two-week rain delay once—like I control the clouds...
How do you all handle it when the weather really does push things back? Do you expect the price to stay the same even if it’s months later?
If I’m being honest, I don’t think it’s fair for homeowners to just eat the extra cost every time there’s a delay, especially if it’s out of our hands. I get that materials can spike, but if I sign a contract for a certain price, that’s what I budgeted for. Last year, my siding job got pushed back because of rain, and the contractor tried to tack on an extra $800 “due to market changes.” Didn’t fly with me. If weather delays are common in your area, build that into the timeline or be upfront about possible price changes—don’t spring it on folks after the fact. Otherwise, how are we supposed to plan?
If weather delays are common in your area, build that into the timeline or be upfront about possible price changes—don’t spring it on folks after the fact.
Couldn’t agree more. Where I live, rain delays are just part of life—if contractors aren’t planning for that, it’s on them, not us. I get that material prices can jump, but if I’ve got a signed contract, I expect that number to stick unless there’s some wild, unforeseen event (like a hurricane wipes out the lumber yard or something). Otherwise, what’s the point of a contract?
Had a similar thing happen with my deck last year. The guy tried to add $500 for “lumber increases” after a two-week delay. I pulled up our contract and pointed out there was no clause about price changes. He backed down pretty quick. Not everyone’s comfortable pushing back, though, which is why clear terms matter.
If contractors want to protect themselves, they should spell out exactly how long a quote is valid and under what conditions it might change. Surprises are for birthdays, not home projects...
I’m right there with you on the “surprises are for birthdays” thing. I’ve had my fair share of home project curveballs, and it’s always the budget that takes the hit. Last year, I got a quote for a new fence—nothing fancy, just basic cedar. The contractor said the price was good for 30 days, which seemed reasonable. But then we had a stretch of rain that pushed everything back, and suddenly he wanted to “revisit” the numbers. I pulled out the original paperwork (I keep everything, probably to an annoying degree) and pointed out the 30-day clause. He grumbled but stuck to it.
I get that prices can change, especially with how wild lumber costs have been lately, but if there’s a timeline on the quote, that’s what I expect. If it’s not spelled out, I’m not paying extra just because the weather didn’t cooperate. I’m not running a lumber futures market over here.
That said, I do think it’s fair for contractors to protect themselves if there’s a legit, unpredictable spike in costs. But that needs to be in writing, not just a “hey, prices went up, sorry” text after the fact. I’ve seen contracts with escalation clauses tied to specific indexes or supplier quotes, and while it’s a bit more paperwork, at least everyone knows what to expect.
Honestly, I’d rather have a slightly higher quote that’s locked in than a “too good to be true” number that’s going to balloon later. At least then I can plan for it and not have to raid the emergency fund because someone didn’t factor in a rainy week.
Bottom line, if you’re signing a contract, read every line and don’t be afraid to ask what happens if there’s a delay or price jump. It’s awkward, but way less awkward than arguing over an invoice later.
