Bamboo decking's definitely underrated, but keep in mind your budget needs to factor in more than just decking and shade sails. If you're renovating an older beach house (like mine from the 1920s), hidden costs pop up everywhere—rusted fixtures, outdated wiring, plumbing corrosion from salt air... I'd recommend setting aside at least 15-20% extra for unexpected repairs. Bamboo and shade sails are great, but don't underestimate the structural stuff lurking beneath the surface.
Totally agree on the hidden costs. When I tackled my beach cottage reno (built in the 40s), I thought I'd covered everything—decking, paint, fixtures—but nope. Pulled off some drywall and found termite damage everywhere. Had to replace studs, beams, the works... ended up costing me way more than planned. Definitely smart to pad your budget by at least 20%. Better safe than broke halfway through a project, right?
"Definitely smart to pad your budget by at least 20%. Better safe than broke halfway through a project, right?"
Haha, learned that one the hard way myself. I usually tell clients to add at least 15-25% extra for surprises—especially with older beach homes. You never know what's hiding behind those charming walls... termites, mold, or worse!
Yeah, I thought I was being careful budgeting an extra 10%, but then we opened up the bathroom wall and found ancient plumbing held together by duct tape... lesson learned. Curious if anyone's had luck negotiating down contractor quotes after unexpected issues pop up?
"Curious if anyone's had luck negotiating down contractor quotes after unexpected issues pop up?"
Honestly, once they've opened up walls and found duct-taped plumbing, your leverage for negotiation shrinks pretty fast. Contractors usually price these surprises as genuine unknowns, so they're less flexible. Instead of haggling over the surprise costs, I've had better luck getting them to throw in smaller extras—like upgraded fixtures or minor cosmetic fixes—as goodwill gestures. Might be worth trying that angle instead of pushing directly on the unexpected repairs...
