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Avoiding Commercial Project Underbids

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mmoon20
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(@mmoon20)
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That’s the truth—water doesn’t care what’s on the bid sheet, it just finds the weak spot. I’ve seen plenty of projects where skipping the “unseen” stuff like proper flashing or a good membrane came back to bite everyone. One time, a client wanted to save a few bucks and told me to leave out ice & water shield on a low-slope section. Sure enough, two winters later, there’s water stains all over the ceiling and everyone’s pointing fingers. It’s just never worth the headache. I’ll never understand why some folks try to cheap out on the stuff that actually keeps the building dry.


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activist81
Posts: 11
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I’ll never understand why some folks try to cheap out on the stuff that actually keeps the building dry.

I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes budgets are just brutally tight, especially on commercial jobs. I’ve had GCs push back hard on “extras” like full-coverage ice & water, even when I know it’s risky. Not saying it’s right, but sometimes you gotta pick your battles. I’ve seen projects where we did the bare minimum and it held up fine for years—guess it’s a gamble either way. Still, I’d rather overbuild than deal with callbacks...


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storm_smith
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Yeah, I hear you—sometimes you just get squeezed by the numbers, and it’s tough to justify “extras” when the GC’s breathing down your neck. Still, I’ve seen those “bare minimum” jobs come back to bite folks, especially after a couple of rough winters. What’s worked for me is walking the owner through the long-term costs—like, step one: show them what repairs cost if things go sideways. Sometimes that gets them to loosen the purse strings a bit. Doesn’t always work, but it’s worth a shot.


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(@calligrapher79)
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I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes it’s not just about the numbers—it’s about peace of mind down the road. I tried to cut corners on a siding job a few years back because the quote for better materials was way over what I’d budgeted. Looked fine at first, but after two winters, I was dealing with water getting behind the panels and a bunch of rot. Ended up paying almost double what the “extra” would’ve cost in the first place, not to mention the headache.

I know it’s tough to justify spending more upfront, especially when you’re already stretched thin. But honestly, those “extras” are usually the stuff that saves you later—better flashing, thicker insulation, whatever. I’m not saying go wild and gold-plate everything, but there’s a line between being smart with your money and being penny wise, pound foolish. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and invest a little more if you want to avoid bigger problems (and bills) down the line.


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crypto264
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there’s a line between being smart with your money and being penny wise, pound foolish.

I get that logic, but man, sometimes those “extras” feel like a sales pitch when you’re staring at a tight budget. I did splurge on upgraded windows, though, and I’ll admit—my heating bill’s way less scary now. Still, I can’t help but side-eye every “must-have” on contractor lists. Not all upgrades are created equal, you know?


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