Anyone who's survived a kitchen renovation knows that hidden costs and over-priced items can push you over budget and delay your project. And sometimes it's the little things that you didn't plan for that can annoy you the most. I, for example, didn't plan to have to have the floor re-sanded and re-stained after the flooring contractor stained it the wrong color. Nor did I anticipate having to call in a plumber four months after the renovation was finished because the original plumber forgot to cap a pipe when he moved the radiator. Unfortunately, I didn't catch this little mistake until I tried to turn the heat on the following fall. So, what's your most irritating kitchen renovation expense, asks GardenWeb user needsometips08? Check out some GardenWeb users' biggest kitchen renovation pet peeves.

It Costs How Much?
"The [cost of] granite is just killing us. I think it will be the most outrageous thing I ever will have purchased, past, present, and future—for what it is. It's a countertop for Pete's sake, not a precious jewel." —needsometips08

Things You Love, But Can't Afford
"I get my heart set on things that I think are important and they're not. Or fall deeply in love with stuff I shouldn't afford. Or tell myself I like something I don't just to get it over with." —bmorepanic

Paying for Parking?
"Paying for parking for my contractors. Paying for parking tickets for one of my sub[-contractor]s." —palimpsest

Shipping
"The shipping cost on stuff really irks me. I don't necessarily mind paying a lot for the item, but paying a lot for the shipping kills me." —hobokenkitchen

Why Am I Paying for This?
"Having to play for my cabinets, which were not being replaced, to be uninstalled and reinstalled." —rococogurl

No One Is Going to See It
"The high cost of installing various invisible things like pip[es] and wiring that nobody ever sees." —circuspeanut

Eating Out
"While it's not the most expensive part of my reno[vation] it is the most irritating for our family of 5: Eating out & [ordering] take out meals for over a month (and counting)." —weidiii

Shopping
"What irk[s] me is the time and effort to find stuff online, go to a store to see if I really like it [and go] back on line to find something else or [look for] a better price." —dancingcook

The Hidden Cost of Decorating
"We just moved back into our kitchen, and we are now getting quotes for window treatments and the cushions and pillows for the banquette. I cannot believe how expensive this decorating is. We picked out shades and fabrics that we love, then got the proposal, and now we feel deflated. It is at least twice what we thought it would be." —natenvalsmom

Paying for Things You Don't Want
"Restocking fees." —country_smile

So what are your kitchen renovation pet peeves?

photo: m. miao