After a major renovation project to our home, (1500 sq. foot addition with new kitchen, laundry, bedroom) we finished up with Hardiplank siding on the entire 3000 sq ft house and barn. The original estimate for the siding was $24,000. Along the way we made some changes that we talked about at the beginning of the project: an additional entryway, 6 replacement windows, and siding on an additional area of the barn. When we got the final bill we nearly fainted....$24,000 had turned into $55,000! As the contractor handed us the bill, he asked us to sign a stack of change orders (which we didn't do).

We reviewed the bills and reluctantly paid him $51,000. We refused to pay for $4000 in windows that contractor ordered and were the wrong size. Contractor measured the windows, removed the old windows, and then realized the new windows were so small that an additional window would have to be added to fill the space. We told him we wanted the correct size windows and he ordered new windows, failing to tell us that the original windows couldn't be returned and we'd have to pay for both sets of windows.

We have refused to pay for two sets of windows and are still in shock at the cost overruns. Our entire project went smoothely until this point, no awful surprises until now. Just wonder what others think about the window situation and what you would do in this situation. Thanks.