The walls weren’t square. The floor wasn’t level. And now your drywall contractor is charging you extra to fix the mess. Sound familiar?

If you’ve ever tried to save money by hiring the lowest-bid framing contractor, you’ve probably learned this painful lesson: cheap framing is actually the most expensive option on the table.

After two decades of framing homes and commercial buildings in Manitoba, we’ve seen this story play out multiple times. A builder goes for the lowest bid, celebrates the initial “savings,” and then watches in horror as those savings evaporate – and costs multiply.

The True Cost of Cutting Corners

When framers cut corners to offer rock-bottom prices, they’re not doing magic. They’re making sacrifices that will cost you dearly down the line.

Let’s break down what actually happens:

First, there’s the rework. When walls aren’t plumb and floors aren’t level, every trade that follows faces complications. Your drywallers spend extra hours shimming and adjusting. Cabinets don’t sit flush against warped walls. Flooring installers battle uneven surfaces. Each of these trades either does subpar work or – more likely – charges you extra for the additional time.

A recent commercial project in Winnipeg faced six weeks of delays because the initial framing wasn’t square. By the time the issues were discovered, mechanical and electrical work had already begun. The cost to fix everything? Nearly triple the “savings” from hiring the cheap framer.

Then there’s the inspection failures. Budget framers often miss critical details that cause projects to fail inspection. Each failed inspection means rescheduling, rework, and delays – typically adding 7-10 days to your timeline per failure.

Your Reputation Takes the Hit

Beyond the immediate financial impact, there’s something more valuable at stake: your reputation.

When a building has visible flaws that trace back to poor framing, clients notice. They see the wavy walls, feel the uneven floors, and hear the squeaks in the stairs. They don’t blame your framer – they blame you.

One contractor told us: “I saved $15,000 on framing but lost a client who would have given me three more projects.”

Is that math working in your favor?

The Hidden Timeline Disaster

Time is money in construction. Every day a project runs over schedule eats into your profits.

Budget framers typically have three critical problems that demolish timelines:

They’re chronically understaffed, meaning they spread themselves too thin across multiple jobs. They lack the proper tools to ensure precision work. And they often disappear mid-project when more profitable work comes along.

We recently took over a residential development where the original framer abandoned the project halfway through. The builder had already lost 23 days – and paid 60% of the framing budget – with only 40% of the work completed.

That’s not savings. That’s a financial disaster.

The Quality Investment Calculation

So what does investing in quality framing actually get you?

Square, level structures that make every subsequent trade more efficient. Faster completion times with fewer unexpected delays. Painless inspections. Happier clients. And repeat business.

When we analyze the numbers across dozens of projects, quality framing typically adds 5-8% to the framing budget but reduces overall project costs by 12-18%. The math isn’t complicated.

Quality pays for itself several times over.

Spotting the Warning Signs

Not all budget framers advertise themselves as such. Here’s how to spot the warning signs before you sign a contract:

They can’t clearly explain their quality control process. They don’t use modern tools like laser measures to ensure precision. They have no on-site lead managing quality. They offer vague timelines without specific milestones. And they’re reluctant to provide references from recent projects.

The most telling red flag? A bid that’s significantly lower than others without a clear explanation why. In framing, when something seems too good to be true, it absolutely is.

Making the Wise Choice

Choosing a framing contractor isn’t about finding the lowest price – it’s about finding the best value.

Ask potential framers about their approach to quality control. Request to see previous work. Talk to their past clients about whether projects stayed on schedule and passed inspection the first time.

Quality framers won’t just offer a price – they’ll explain their process, their standards, and exactly how they’ll ensure your project succeeds.

The cheapest bid might look attractive on paper. But in framing, as in most things in life, you get what you pay for.

And in this business, paying twice for the same job is a mistake you can’t afford to make.

The Bottom Line

After two decades framing residential and commercial buildings across Manitoba, we’ve seen the aftermath of budget framing decisions hundreds of times.

The pattern is always the same: initial excitement about “savings,” followed by mounting horror as those savings transform into significant cost overruns.

Your project deserves better. Your clients deserve better. And ultimately, your bottom line requires better.

Quality framing isn’t an expense – it’s an investment that pays dividends throughout your entire project, your clients and beyond.