Scope Comes Before Cost
A repair estimate is only as reliable as the scope behind it. Before any number is attached, Paul defines the corrective work: what has to be removed, what must be replaced, what can be repaired in place, and what has to be protected or reinstalled to make the correction. Each scope item is tied to a condition identified in the defect evaluation, so the scope does not grow beyond what the evidence supports.
Choosing the Repair Method
There is often more than one way to correct a condition. A repair method should address the cause, not just the symptom, and it should restore the work to the condition the contract required. It should not turn the correction into an upgrade. Paul explains why a method was chosen over alternatives, including when a less invasive repair is reasonable and when removal and replacement is necessary because finished materials were installed over deficient work.
Quantities, Sequencing and Hidden Costs
Correction costs are driven by more than materials. Paul's scope accounts for:
- Quantities taken from the drawings, field observations and photographs
- Removal, disposal and replacement of finishes installed over the deficient work
- Protection of adjacent finishes, furniture and occupied areas
- Sequencing of trades, including work that must be redone in order
- Access, phasing and after-hours work in occupied buildings
- Permits and inspections where the correction requires them
Assumptions are listed so that opposing parties can see what was and was not included.
Pricing the Correction
Paul prices the scope based on his experience managing and supervising construction work and on current market conditions where the project is located. The estimate states its date, location and assumptions. Where repairs have already been made, he can review the actual repair costs and evaluate whether the work performed was reasonable and limited to correcting the deficient conditions. His opinions on cost are limited to the work within his experience; specialty systems outside it are identified for pricing by others.
The scope and cost typically appear in the expert report alongside the workmanship opinions.
Reviewing an Opposing Estimate
Paul is often asked to review a repair estimate prepared by another party. He checks whether each item corresponds to a documented condition, whether the repair method is reasonable, whether quantities match the drawings and field conditions, and whether the estimate includes upgrades or items unrelated to the dispute. The review is presented item by item so that differences can be discussed specifically.