A contractor reports deterioration after opening a wall. Before deciding whether to expand the job, connect that finding to the original scope, the proposed remedy and the revised total. A photograph of damage and an instruction to carry out extra work serve different purposes.
Before You Begin
Ask the contractor to identify the affected location, what is visible and what remains uncertain. You can request photographs or a written explanation without entering a demolition area or disturbing suspect material yourself. If further investigation is proposed, have the contractor distinguish that investigation from the repair it might lead to.
Compare The Finding With The Existing Agreement
Start with the accepted proposal and its latest revision. Find any allowance, unit price, exclusion or concealed-condition provision that the contractor says applies. Ask which part of the proposed work is already included and which part changes the agreement. An allowance needs reconciliation; a new charge should not silently duplicate an amount already included.
The FTC's contractor guidance recommends written scope and cost promises and notes that contract requirements vary by state. In California, CSLB's contract guidance addresses written changes to work, materials, completion dates and price. Its contracting guide, pages 11–13, describes change-order scope, additions or deductions and payment effects. Those California details are not a nationwide contract rule.
Keep One Row For Each Proposed Change
Use these seven headings in a private note or spreadsheet. The two rows illustrate different decisions within one fictional project; they are not a diagnosis, price quote or completed authorization.
Swipe or scroll sideways to compare every column. Keyboard users can focus the table area and use the arrow keys.
| Original Scope Reference | New Condition Observed | Evidence | Proposed Work | Cost Basis | Schedule Impact | Owner Approval |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accepted wall-repair scope; identify revision | Contractor reports deterioration at opened area | Dated photo and location; extent not yet established | Separate assessment of extent | Written assessment charge and limit requested | Identify whether other work can continue | Assessment proposal awaiting decision |
| Same scope plus assessment report | Findings now identify a repair area | Report, quantities and marked location | Defined repair and reinstatement | Added items, allowance credit and revised total | Revised completion date and dependencies | Record the exact revision accepted, if any |
Keep the cost explanation alongside the table. Ask whether labor, materials, disposal, protection and reinstatement are included. If pricing depends on a measured quantity, request the unit, the rate and how the final quantity will be documented. Do not turn an estimate of the extent into an unlimited approval.
Separate The Immediate Decision From The Remaining Work
An unfinished opening may need protection while the repair proposal is reviewed. Ask the contractor to explain any immediate safety or protection issue, the proposed limited response and who can authorize it. Do not delay emergency services or an urgent safety instruction to finish paperwork.
For work that can be reviewed safely, a useful message is: “Please show the original scope reference, the condition and evidence, the proposed additional work, the amount added or deducted, and the revised schedule. Please identify what remains uncertain and send the version you want approved.”
Keep that version, the response and the later invoice together. A contractor's photo submission alone does not record your decision. Equally, this worksheet does not decide whether a disputed charge is enforceable. Ask the relevant state consumer authority or a qualified adviser about an actual contract dispute.
Before You Approve
Can you identify both the changed work and the new total? Does the schedule show what is affected? Is the person approving the change authorized under the actual arrangement? If a field is unresolved, record the question explicitly instead of leaving a blank that could be mistaken for agreement.
Use the remodeling guide for the broader project scope and the quote review to identify other missing terms. Neither tool certifies a contractor, contract or price.
Sources And Local Resources
Sources checked November 9, 2026. Confirm current requirements with the authority responsible for your property.