Change Orders & Claims
Welcome
Hello, and welcome. This is Super Structures General Contractors — a national general contractor headquartered in Powhatan, Virginia — here to help you and your clients build something that lasts. We're glad you're with us, and we look forward to connecting with you.
Today we're tackling Change Orders & Claims, and it's worth your full attention. Here's the heart of it: No signed change order, no money — price changes fully (incl. overhead/profit and time), give written notice within the contract deadline, and document everything; claims live or die on the paper trail. This is how the pros pull ahead — and now it's yours.
Extra work without a signed change order is the #1 way contractors lose money.
Do it right
- Get it in writing before you perform the extra work whenever possible — a signed change order adjusts price and time.
- Price changes fully: labor, material, equipment, overhead and profit, and any schedule impact.
- Watch for constructive changes — the owner directs something different through an RFI answer or field instruction without calling it a change. You may still be owed, but only if you gave notice.
Claims and notice
- Contracts impose strict notice requirements (e.g., "notify in writing within 7 days") — miss the deadline and you can waive the claim, even a valid one.
- Document with a daily log, photos, RFIs, and a paper trail. Claims are won or lost on documentation.
- Categories: directed changes, constructive changes, differing site conditions, delay/acceleration.
Takeaway: No signed change order, no money — price changes fully (incl. overhead/profit and time), give written notice within the contract deadline, and document everything; claims live or die on the paper trail.
Educational overview — not legal advice. Construction law varies by state and by contract; consult a licensed construction attorney for your situation.