What a carpentry change order is for
Carpentry changes come in small pieces: a filler here, a shelf there, crown into the hallway since you are already set up. Each one is minutes to agree and hours to build. A signed change order for each keeps the invoice clean and gives the owner a moment to decide whether the hallway really needs it.
What to put on a carpentry change order
- What changed and who asked.
- Added pieces or footage.
- Credits for anything dropped.
- New total.
- Signature before the cut.
A worked example
The owner adds crown to the hallway, wants a microwave shelf, and decides to keep the old door in the pantry.
| Line | Qty | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install crown molding, hallway | 22 | ft | Your price |
| Microwave shelf with trim | 1 | each | Your price |
| Credit: pantry door not replaced | -1 | each | Your price |
Sign before you cut. A hallway of crown is easy to agree and hard to argue about after it is up.
Line items carpenters use
| Line item | Unit | How to write it |
|---|---|---|
| Install crown molding | ft | Profile, paint or stain grade, and inside and outside corners. |
| Install baseboard | ft | Height and whether shoe molding is included. |
| Door casing, both sides | each | Per door; casing profile and head detail. |
| Hang interior door, prehung | each | Swing, size and hardware. |
| Install kitchen cabinets | ft | Linear feet of run; uppers and bases counted once. |
| Cabinet hardware | each | Pulls and knobs, drilled from a template. |
| Built-in shelving | ft | Shelf depth, material and finish. |
| Wainscoting or panel molding | sq ft | Style and height on the wall. |
| Window casing and stool | each | Per window; apron and stool style. |
| Material, paint-grade trim | ft | From your supplier with markup. |
| Fill, caulk and prep for paint | hour | Say whether painting is yours or the painter's. |
| Haul away old trim and doors | load | Disposal of what comes out. |
Terms and deposit language for carpentry
- Deposit. A deposit at signing pays for the trim, doors or cabinet hardware ordered for this house. Deposit limits for home improvement work are set by each state, so check yours.
- Payment. Balance due when the punch list is walked and signed off, or in stages on larger jobs.
- Warranty. Stand behind joints that open from poor fastening and doors that will not latch because of the install. Seasonal movement in wood and gaps from house settling are not install defects.
- Old houses are rarely square; scribing and shimming are part of the price shown.
- Painting, stain and touch-up are listed when they are included, and are the owner's or painter's otherwise.
- Cabinets and doors supplied by the owner are checked for damage at delivery, not at install.
How to fill it in
- Put in the original estimate number and amount.
- Write what changed in the reason box, plainly.
- Add the new work; type a minus quantity for any credit.
- Fill in the days added.
- Print it for a signature on site, or send it from Koira to sign by phone.
Free tools for carpentry
The same change order for other trades: appliance repair, auto detailing, carpet cleaning, chimney, house cleaning, commercial cleaning, concrete, deck, drywall, duct cleaning, electrical, fence, flooring, garage door, general contractor, glass, gutter, handyman, holiday lighting, home inspection, hood cleaning, hvac, insulation, irrigation, junk removal, landscaping, lawn care, locksmith, masonry, moving, painting, pest control, plumbing, pool service, pressure washing, property maintenance, remodeling, restoration, roofing, security system, septic, siding, snow removal, solar, tile, tree service, water treatment, waterproofing, window cleaning, window and door.
More for carpenters: how carpenters run on Koira.