I don't want to fuel something that isn't there, but your general contractor sounds like he is WAAAAY out of line. Did anything change in the course of construction, or is it being built just as he original bid it? If nothing changed, It was HIS mistake, or lack of ability, that caused him to under estimate your job. He is responsible to get bids from the sub-contractors and hold them to it. If their costs were way over, that is your GC's problem, not yours. That is the whole purpose of a bid, and it is enforceable in court. Where I live, its 20%. He can only go 20% over his original bid, barring any change orders. HE is supposed be the professional. HE is supposed to know what it takes and what the costs will be, and by providing a bid, he is giving you a written word. This sort of thing just ruffles my feathers.
