Few things create more frustration during a backyard project than an unexpected change order.
Most homeowners understand that changes can happen.
What concerns them is something different:
“Should this have been included from the beginning?”
“Why is this coming up now?”
“Is this normal… or did something get missed?”
And those are fair questions.
Because in many outdoor living projects—decks, patio covers, outdoor kitchens—the difference between a smooth experience and a stressful one often comes down to how these situations are handled.
Why Change Orders Feel So Frustrating
It’s not the change itself that creates tension.
It’s how it shows up.
When a cost appears unexpectedly, it can feel like:
- something was overlooked
- something wasn’t explained clearly
- or something is being added too late
Even when the reason is valid, the timing and delivery can make it feel unfair.
And once that doubt sets in, it can affect how the entire project feels moving forward.
Not All Change Orders Are the Same
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all change orders are bad.
They’re not.
Some are completely appropriate—and even necessary.
For example, if a homeowner decides to upgrade materials, expand the project, or add new features midway through, that’s a true change in scope.
The same applies when something genuinely unknown is uncovered during construction. In outdoor living projects, that might be unexpected soil conditions, drainage issues, or existing structural elements that weren’t visible upfront.
Occasionally, adjustments are also required by inspectors or building departments to keep the project compliant.
In these situations, a change order isn’t a problem—it’s simply documenting a decision or an unforeseen condition.
Where Most Frustration Comes From
The real frustration tends to come from a different category of change.
These are the situations that feel like they should have been addressed earlier.
We see this most often when scope isn’t clearly defined from the beginning. Something may have been assumed or loosely discussed, but not fully documented.
Allowances can also create tension when they’re not realistic or clearly explained. What looks like a small upgrade later can actually be the result of an allowance that was never aligned with expectations.
And sometimes, there are elements of a project that are inevitable—even if the details aren’t finalized yet. When those show up later as added costs, it creates confusion.
These are the moments where trust can start to break down.
How We Approach This Differently
Our goal isn’t to eliminate change orders entirely.
That’s not realistic.
The goal is to make sure that when changes do happen, they feel clear, justified, and expected—not surprising.
That starts before construction even begins.
We spend time defining what’s included, what’s not, and where flexibility exists. We also identify the areas of the project that are most likely to evolve—something that’s especially important in outdoor living construction, where site conditions and integration with the home can vary.
As the project moves forward, communication stays consistent. If something needs to change, the conversation happens before the work moves ahead. That includes explaining why it’s needed, walking through options, and outlining what it means for both cost and timing.
The goal is simple:
👉 No surprises. No rushed decisions.
The Bottom Line
Change orders shouldn’t feel adversarial.
When planning is thorough and communication is clear, they become part of a thoughtful process—not a source of stress.
Most homeowners don’t expect everything to go exactly as planned.
But they do expect transparency.
And when that’s in place, even changes feel manageable.
Before You Start Your Project
If you’re considering a deck, patio cover, or outdoor kitchen, one of the most important questions you can ask isn’t whether change orders will happen.
It’s how they’ll be handled when they do.
Because that answer will tell you a lot about what your experience will feel like once construction begins.
Download the Outdoor Living Planning Checklist
If you want to avoid the most common situations that lead to unexpected costs, we’ve put together a simple planning checklist.
It walks through the key areas where projects tend to go off track—and what to clarify before construction starts.