Service · Variation assessments

Plumbing variation
assessments.

A design change on site. An RFI that adds scope. An instruction that changes the hydraulic system. You need a fast, accurate cost — and you need it before the work proceeds. SNZ prices hydraulic variations correctly so you can claim what you are actually owed.

Fast Turnaround
Defensible Pricing methodology
Any Sector or scale
6 States covered
Request a variation assessment
What we need from you
Original drawings The hydraulic drawings the original scope was priced from
Revised drawings The updated drawings showing what has changed
Change description Brief description of what changed and why
Deadline When you need the variation priced by

"We don't need you to have had your original estimate done by SNZ. Send us what you have and we'll tell you what we can assess."

Why this matters

An underpriced variation
costs you money.

Variations are where construction projects make or lose money. A design change that adds two extra floors of hydraulic riser, changes the pipe material specification or relocates the main plant room can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional cost. If that variation is not correctly priced and documented, you wear the cost.

Most contractors price variations quickly — under time pressure, from memory, using rough estimates. SNZ prices variations the same way we price every estimate — from the actual drawings, measuring what actually changed, priced to current market rates, with a clear breakdown that is defensible if the variation is disputed.

You do not need to have had your original estimate done by SNZ to use our variation assessment service. Send us the original drawings and the revised drawings and we will price the difference. See also our design change comparison service for a full side-by-side analysis of what changed.

Measured from actual drawings
We measure what actually changed — not an estimate of what changed. Every additional pipe, fitting and system individually quantified from the revised drawings.
Defensible pricing
A clear, itemised breakdown of the variation cost — priced to current market rates and documented in a format that withstands scrutiny from the principal or superintendent.
Fast turnaround
Variations are time-sensitive — you need the number before the work proceeds or before the claim window closes. SNZ prioritises variation assessments for fast turnaround.
Independent of original estimator
You do not need to have had your original estimate done by SNZ. We assess the variation from the drawings — original estimator is irrelevant.
What we assess

Every type of
hydraulic variation.

From a single relocated fixture to a complete system redesign — SNZ prices the variation correctly.

Design changes
Hydraulic system redesigns, riser relocations, pipe material changes, fixture schedule changes and specification amendments.
Scope additions
Additional hydraulic scope instructed by the principal or superintendent — additional levels, additional fixtures, additional systems not in the original contract.
RFI responses
Request for Information responses that result in changed hydraulic scope — priced and documented for variation claim submission.
Provisional sum adjustments
Provisional sums that have been confirmed or revised — accurately priced against the confirmed scope and reconciled against the original allowance.
Omissions and deductions
Hydraulic scope that has been removed from the contract — correctly valued against the original pricing for deduction from the contract sum.
Disruption and delay claims
Hydraulic cost component of disruption and delay claims — quantified and priced as part of a broader contract claim.
Related services
Hydraulic estimating

Full hydraulic estimates from scratch — every pipe, fitting and system individually measured and priced from your drawings before tender submission.

Hydraulic estimating →
Design change comparisons

A full side-by-side comparison of two drawing sets — exactly what changed, exactly what it costs, clearly presented for claim or contract administration.

Design change comparisons →

Need a variation
priced fast?

Send us your original drawings, revised drawings and a brief description of what changed. We will come back to you with a turnaround time and fee within a few hours.

Request a variation assessment Hydraulic estimating