That was the case with a $16,500 shelter at the Wanaka Cemetery which recently disappeared from its foundations midway through construction.
But those behind the project say the ''lychgate'' - a traditional English roofed gateway used at burials for sheltering a coffin - will be back.
The lychgate was being installed by the Wanaka Residents' Association using Queenstown Lakes District Council funding and other community grants.
Association treasurer Roger Gardiner said it became evident during construction the standard of building was ''not satisfactory''.
''In terms of how neat the joins were, whether things were exactly perpendicular or just near enough. All those little things added up.
''Two options existed. Either we cover up ... or we go back to square one. And because it's a public site, it's a cemetery, people are going to be in and near or around it on a regular basis, we took the decision to say no, we're going to have to deconstruct it and basically start again.''
A new builder was appointed to the job and replacement timber bought from Christchurch.
Framing was being fabricated off-site at present.
''I would hope within a month we will begin to see the structure re-emerge.''
When contacted, the project's original builder Brian Murphy, of Dunedin, said the problem came down to a difference in styles.
''Roger wanted it to look like a new gazebo whereas ... it's a lychgate that was supposed to look over 100 years old, so that's the track I took.
''The way I'd built it was structurally sound and it had an engineer's certificate verifying that.''
Mr Murphy said it was ''gut-wrenching'' the matter reached the stage it did.
Mr Gardiner disagreed there was a difference in opinion on how the lychgate should look.
The project's overall cost would exceed what was budgeted, he said.
Mr Gardiner hoped some money could be recovered from Mr Murphy.
