[Zeke]

Mikester, I just had this conversation today. Years ago I bid a room addition on a historic home. I lost by 2 grand. I went back as the framing was progressing to see how the job was going. The winning contractor was doing a great job. What I noticed: he used nothing but OSB on the floor, sides and roof. I spec'd plywood. He used scored plywood turned upside down on the starter boards (the eves or overhang) to emulate the original bead board elsewhere on the house. I bid real bead board. He bought the French doors shown on the plans at the Home Depot. I figured in French doors custom made that exactly matched the ones 20 feet away leading from the existing dining room.

The difference in cost for my material? 2 grand.

So, the rest was even steven. And the owners live with those obvious substitutes for historic accuarcy.

BWTM, they called me 4 years later to remodel the original bath. I told them since they would be buying into a cheaper sink and faucet along with everything else, to look down the line.

Not interested in people who can't understand why you buy good material when labor is such a large factor.