I would have a discussion with him but about donating the leftovers after you have your steps. You did not mention if you will have to pay extra for the siding. If you do it was not a mistake on his crews part. Someone had to order the framing that the crew used and that was him. Most companies calculate for unexpected things in the bids but normally purchase the amount and size of materials needed. I would accept the extras because they were caused by him not paying attention to what his crew was doing but if you have to pay extra for the siding it was an intentional error.

Maifleur03, no I don't have to pay extra for the siding. He even offered to fix it for me, meaning tear it off and rebuild what was originally agreed to.

In that case I would wait and see what he does. Let him add the siding but do not be too surprised if he tacks additional onto the final bill. I normally would just add something to the payment but from what you are posting my oops feeling is tingling. With the tingling feeling I would wait several months and if there are no problems then send him something.

Is there no written contract being amended and agreed to by both?

It's most likely cheaper for him to go forward as suggested rather than for him to tear down and rebuild. His mistake. He eats the cost.

No I would not insist on paying. He is being professional about a mistake he is willing to eat without trying to wiggle out. Then the best bonus you could give him is leaving a good review when the job is done and you are satisfied with the project.

We don't have to hire out much since DH is so handy but when we do I always offer water and soda to the crew. If it's a day long job they get donuts, pastries or muffins left out for them. Appreciated crew = special care taken with the job.

Matthias, there is a written agreement, we didn't change it. Wildchild, they always bring a cooler and take two long breaks during the long day so wasn't sure if I should offer them anything. I also don't buy bottled water or anything individually bottled or canned so it would be hard for me to offer them anything like that.

What would I do? If the work is finished appropriately and he doesn't try to surrepticiously bill you for more later, I would tell anyone and everyone who would listen how great he/his company is, how ethical they are, how good the service is, etc.

I would go online and leave as many positive reviews as possible on whatever sites I could and I would actively recommend him/his company to anyone I know needing services like his.

This is honestly the best and kindest way for you to re-pay him.

Offering to pay for the difference is kind, but unnecessary as any decent businessman would account for overages as well as making sure the job is done right.

You paying him the extra couple hundred/or thousand pales in comparison to all the extra business he would get from you telling others that he is actually a decent businessman, someone who isn't trying to screw you over and does what is needed to make it right.

Reminds me of what I've tried to teach my kids....it is in your FAILURES that your true character becomes known.

For me personally, if I have to choose between two businesses of comparable skill/expertise....I'm MUCH more likely to choose the one that did have complications/hiccups AND resolved them in an appropriate way than the one who claims to have never had a problem.

None of us can be perfect all the time. But if you are willing to admit your mistakes and correct them, I'm much more likely to want to hire you.

Mistakes happen as do little add on’s here and there. With a seasoned contractor, it’s all a part of doing business. Most contractors have some give or wiggle room in their bids for little changes here and there, whereas others might nickle and dime you. It all comes out in the wash, so I would follow his lead and let it go.

As part of a larger project, building a single step out of leftover material? Maybe an hour or less of labor? Labor & tools already on jobsite.

It sounds like the porch roof changed from a shed roof to a gable? And you need siding for the gable end? How big is the porch?

The area of the original roof that will be covered by a gable (if this is the case) won't be shingled so, depending on the size of the porch--may not need much in the way of extra shingles. Offset, too, by not needing the rubber roofing specified in the original bid. Would need some additional framing & probably decking (tying in the new gable to existing gable creates angles that eat up sheet goods.)

So, contractor is out a bit more on materials for the roof and siding and you have the aggravation factor--getting the roof sorted out & having to decide on siding color. Any successful contractor has wiggle room figured in his bid to start with. Only he knows how much gravy he ladled into the bid beyond the CYA factor.

As far as the Trex scraps? I would love to get my hands on some! Lots of things you can use them for starting with planter boxes...

I'm agreeing with everyone above. The cost of the job is the contractor's part to deal so trust him to mind that part of his business. As the job ends, tell him you'd like to recommend him highly and are there any websites that he gets work from. I'm thinking google reviews, neighborhood facebook groups, ???

Sounds like a great contractor. A good person. I'd go on Nextdoor and tell everyone what a GREAT job he did: post photos of the new deck.

I once hired a crew of 3 to do a cement pour, that lasted 4 days. We also "borrowed" their forms and made our own rebar mats. They came over several times prior to the pour to see how we were progressing. The last day of the pour, I brought the grill out front, grilled burgers, had a cooler of soda and beer....take with you or eat here.....I paid ....maybe $75 for the whole picnic thing.

There's probably not that much time and labor involved in building one step, which may be why he offered to include it in the cost.

Was a permit or HOA permission involved in building the porch roof, and might there be any issues because of the change?

Cilantro, the porch is 19' x 12' 1" with a little extension that is a little over 8' x 5', both are a little bigger than the original sun room and extension. It is actually two steps in two different places. There was a step down from the sun room to the garage door porch which they removed when they did the tear down. There is a good drop off in front of the little porch into the front of the yard so I usually walk over to the side where the cement patio is instead of straight out.

ooooh, nice sized porch. You are going to love having a whole new 'room'.

Do you mind posting process pictures? I love seeing under construction photos, almost more than seeing the finished product.

Like others have said, I like to provide some creature comforts for the crew during a job. Water, soda, Gatorade, etc. Maybe cookies, fruit...a little thank you & acknowledgement for the people who doing the actual work.

Cilantro, here are some pictures:

This is before they finished tearing off the deck that was under the sunroom.

They're inside the kitchen now putting holes in my wall to secure the beams.

You are going to have a great porch, Kathgrdn. The new decking looks great. You're going to really enjoy having it. So much fun!

Thank you for posting the pictures, too. I had to edit the pix that I had in my mind because they were all wrong!

such a pretty porch. You will enjoy it. I have the same decking and love it.