Guides
Fixed-price and remeasured contracts
A fixed price gives certainty for a defined scope. A remeasured contract pays for what is actually done. The scope decides which fits.
Under a fixed-price (lump-sum) agreement, the contractor prices a defined scope for a set amount. The client gains cost certainty, provided the scope does not change. The contractor carries the risk of quantities within that scope, which may be reflected in the price.
Comparison guides set real options side by side and say when each one suits, rather than naming a winner for every home.
Under a remeasured approach, rates are agreed and the final cost is based on measured quantities of work done. It suits projects where quantities are uncertain — such as older properties or hidden conditions — but the final cost is less certain at the start. Many renovations combine both: fixed for the known scope and remeasured or provisional for the unknowns.
What matters most on this page
Certainty versus flexibility
Fixed price offers certainty; remeasurement handles uncertainty.
Who carries quantity risk
The contractor under fixed price; the client under remeasurement.
Clear scope is essential
Fixed prices depend on a well-defined scope.
Practical considerations
Provisional sums
Allowances for undefined items, adjusted once the work is known.
Variations
Changes to scope priced separately under either approach.
Measurement
Remeasured work needs agreed measurement and records.
Before agreeing terms
Define the scope
Drawings and specifications for what is included.
Identify unknowns
Where quantities cannot be confirmed in advance.
Agree how changes are priced
Rates or quotations for variations.
Questions we are often asked
Is a fixed price always fixed?
It is fixed for the defined scope. Changes or unforeseen conditions can still lead to variations.
Are remeasured contracts riskier?
For the client, the final cost is less certain, but the price reflects actual work.
Can both be combined?
Yes. Fixed for known work and remeasured for uncertain items is common.
How are provisional sums settled?
Once the item is defined or measured, the actual cost replaces the allowance, and the difference is added or deducted.
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Tell us about the property
Tell us which options you are weighing and the room they are for. We will say which one the existing structure and services actually allow.
Phone
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Next step
Choose terms that suit your scope
Tell us about the project and what is uncertain. We will explain how we would price it.