What it looks like
- Dimensions, layout, or locations differ from the drawings
- A specified brand, grade, or model was replaced with a cheaper one
- Structural details were changed or left out
- Fewer coats, thinner slabs, or lighter framing than specified
- Changes made without a signed change order
What Nevada law says
NRS 624.3011 makes willful or prejudicial departure from, or disregard of, the plans or specifications a ground for discipline when it happens without the consent of the owner. Departing from the plans is also usually a breach of the contract itself.
Residential improvement contracts in Nevada must describe the work and require changes to be made by written change order (NRS 624.970). If there is no signed change order, the contractor will have difficulty showing that you agreed to the substitution.
The facts that matter
These are the questions that decide whether there is a practical path to recovery.
- What the plans, specifications, or contract actually call for
- What was installed or built instead
- Whether you approved the change, and whether that approval was in writing
- Whether the substitution affects performance, safety, appearance, or value
- The cost to bring the work into conformance
Proof to gather
- The approved plans and specifications, including permit drawings
- Product labels, packaging, delivery tickets, and invoices
- Photographs of the as-built condition with measurements
- Change orders, or their absence
- An independent inspection report
See our guide to documenting a contractor dispute.
Options that usually fit
Case review and demand letter
A fixed-fee review of your file and a formal demand, when the breach and the amount are clear.
Contractors Board complaint
For clear licensing violations: abandonment, code problems, departures from plans, substandard work.
Bond and Recovery Fund claims
Two sources of recovery that do not depend on the contractor's ability to pay.
Civil litigation
For larger disputes with strong facts, when earlier steps have not resolved the matter.
Common questions
The contractor says the substitute material is just as good. Does that matter?
It may affect how much the claim is worth, but it does not make the substitution acceptable. You contracted for a specific product. Without your consent, departing from the specifications can be both a breach of contract and a licensing violation.
This page is general information about Nevada law, not legal advice. Every dispute turns on its own facts and documents.