How to Avoid Costly Mid-Project Changes with Northern Virginia Home Renovations

Feb 24

Written By Jacob Gomez

Picture this: Your kitchen renovation in Northern Virginia is moving along beautifully.

The cabinets are installed, the countertops are in, and your backsplash is almost finished.

But then, you see another tile at the store, and suddenly, the one you picked doesn’t feel right anymore.

So, you ask your home contractor, “How hard would it be to change the tile?”

Spoiler alert!

It’s not just “swapping out” the tile. It’s a costly, time-consuming process that could easily add thousands of dollars to your project.

Here’s why mid-project changes can be a budget killer, and how to avoid them.....

The True Cost of Changing Your Mind After Installation

When a renovation is in motion, every step is carefully scheduled and executed.

A mid-project change isn’t just about the cost of a new item.

It triggers a chain reaction of extra costs and delays.

Let’s break it down.

1. The Cost of Removing the Installed Item

Once something has been installed, whether it’s tile, cabinets, countertops, or flooring; removing it isn’t as simple as just pulling it off and starting over.

Take tile, for example:

• The removal process requires labor, which means you’re paying for extra work that wasn’t part of the original estimate.

• If the tile was installed with thin-set mortar, it’s not coming off easily, and it could damage the drywall behind it, adding even more repair costs.

• If you’re removing countertops, it could impact cabinets or plumbing connections, requiring additional work.

So, before even purchasing new materials, you’re already spending money just to undo work that was done the first time.

2. The Cost of the Materials You’re Not Getting Back

The original tile you chose? That money is gone...

Once materials have been installed, they’re usually not returnable, especially if they’ve been cut to fit your space.

Even if you find someone willing to take them back, you’re unlikely to recover your full cost.

Imagine buying, let's say to make it an even number, $1,000 worth of backsplash tiles with a $2,000 installation estimate, an initial outlay of $3,000.

If you then change your mind, you risk losing the entire $3,000 value of both the tiles and installation.

On top of that, you'll likely need to spend at least another $1,000 on new materials, plus cover the costs of removal and reinstallation.

What began as a $3,000 project can quickly spiral into a loss exceeding $6,000.

3. The Cost of Installing the New Item

Now that the original tile has been removed and new materials are in, you’re paying for labor all over again plus the additional work to remove it.

• If the drywall was damaged during removal, it needs to be repaired before new tile can go up.

• Your tile installer has to re-measure, re-cut, and re-install everything from scratch.

• If new tile has a different thickness or finish, it might require additional work to make it fit seamlessly.

This means more labor costs, more delays, and a bigger hit to your budget.

The Bigger Problem: Project Delays

Renovation schedules are carefully planned to keep everything moving as smoothly as possible.

When a mid-renovation change happens, it disrupts the entire flow of the job.

• Your home contractor has to pause work while you pick out new materials.

• If your new choice is backordered, your home renovation timeline gets pushed back.

• If subcontractors (like tile installers) were scheduled to finish and move on, they may not be available when you’re ready again, leading to longer delays and potentially higher costs to get them back.

What seemed like a simple swap suddenly turns into weeks of additional waiting.