# Why Renovation Cheap Quotes Often Lead to Higher Final Costs **URL:** \ **Category:** Trade Talk\ **Tags:** quotes, budget, q\_and\_a, homeowners, renovation, general-contractor\ **Created:** [January 17, 2026, 8:58am UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/why-renovation-cheap-quotes-often-lead-to-higher-final-costs/45626 "2026-01-17T08:58:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 3
**Author:** ![BuildersLTD](https://home.renovation.reviews/user_avatar/home.renovation.reviews/buildersltd/32/14872_2.png) [@BuildersLTD](https://home.renovation.reviews/u/BuildersLTD)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2026, 3:23pm UTC](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/why-renovation-cheap-quotes-often-lead-to-higher-final-costs/45626/3 "2026-04-18T15:23:13Z")
Nailed it, @Abdul_Rahman. The line I come back to: a quote isn’t a price, it’s a description of the work. If the description is vague, the price doesn’t mean anything. Quick GTA example to back this up. Legitimate interlock patio work this season is sitting $25–$60/sqft, but quotes are coming in at $10–$15. The gap isn’t profit margin — it’s 3 inches of base instead of 10, no geotextile, plastic edge restraints, pavers without a freeze-thaw rating. Homeowner pays for the “savings” in year 3 when the patio heaves. More on that here: [The 12-inch rule](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/the-12-inch-rule-why-most-toronto-interlock-patios-fail-by-spring-three/45841). The test I give people: ask the contractor to put four things in writing — base depth measured compacted, specific polymeric sand brand, disposal fee, and settlement guarantee in years. A real trade answers in two minutes. The cheap quote changes the subject. Transparency beats temptation — most homeowners just need the questions to ask. --- _[View the full topic](https://home.renovation.reviews/t/why-renovation-cheap-quotes-often-lead-to-higher-final-costs/45626)._