Homeowner beware of this contractor

Seeker · 01-10-2009, 11:12 PM

It's too bad you only get to know the best ones after you've had a run in with the worst. I have had experiences with all types both in home and 35 years of commercial construction.

Not a hard and fast rule but if it seems that the guy is readily available use extreme caution. If he is booked way out he is probably good. The main thing is go look at work he has done similar to what you want done. If there isn't any run away. Secondly, stay current with him on payments as he progresses. This will involve some of your and his time to set up a schedule but if he is honest and reliable he won't have any problem.

jacka82942 · 01-11-2009, 06:32 AM

Jason Drouin custom homes built my new house in Meredith last year.Did an absolutely fabulous job.Located in Gilford.All local superb craftsman working for him on every phase.Big plus - once he works for you,your his friend for life and he'll take care of anything you need forever.His wife even helped my wife decorate the house for xmas

Sunbeam lodge · 01-11-2009, 07:50 AM

Thanks for the Information. I would like to do some more remodeling but have been kind of cautious after my last experience. I will keep these contractors in mind.

Fishy Cover · 01-11-2009, 08:34 PM

Back to All Quality Construction-- There are two sides to this story. I worked for a subcontractor on this project for a short while and from my perspective the facts are somewhat different than what Belmont Resident reported and I hate to see this guy slandered.

There was an architect and a structural engineer on this project as well as the owner who was intimately involved in the day-to-day work and decision making. Problems arose because the drawings were not properly dimensioned, the foundation walls (owner's responsibility) were built incorrectly, the owner made changes that the architect agreed disagreed with (after they were built) and when the exterior claps and sheathing of the original house were removed and the actual construction of the old house was seen it was obvious that the addition could not be built as designed by the architect. There ensued a major axx-covering and finger-pointing contest.

We finished our part of the job and left before all of this was resolved, if it ever was. Unfortunately the builder seems to have been blamed for everything that went wrong, and although I'm sure he is responsible for some of the issues, my opinion is that he was not the bad guy.

By the way, I checked with the town building inspector and the framing inspection was passed so despite all of the negativity the work that was done was done properly.

I have worked with this builder on other projects with excellent results and very satisfied customers. As a small businessman I hate to see someone criticized without both sides being presented.

Belmont Resident · 01-12-2009, 04:53 PM

The facts are as they were posted. There was no problem with the drawings and the foundation is being built on without any problems what so ever.
Back to the drawings! Why is it the current contractor whom is very skilled at post & beam houses and specializes in old house restorations is having no problems building the addition to the very same specifications that you people could not.
He was able to install the ridge truss correctly by laying it on an existing beam within the walls of the old house with the help of a boom truck. Something your outfit could not do but instead attempted a hack job.
Oh and what about the roof. You had to build a roof over a roof and leave a gap between them because you couldn't follow the plans building that also.

Sorry if I was to guess I'd say you were either the contractor or related to them. The bottom line is this is not the first time your outfit has done this as posted by someone else earlier.

neckdweller · 01-13-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seeker

Not a hard and fast rule but if it seems that the guy is readily available use extreme caution. If he is booked way out he is probably good. The main thing is go look at work he has done similar to what you want done. If there isn't any run away.

Like you said, it's not a hard and fast rule but I can think of one builder who seems to have quite a bit of work (at least you see the signs as you're cruising the lake) but I've heard some not so great things about. I'm sure for the 3-4 people that I've talked to that had negatives there are probably a bunch that had positives, but if I was spending the amount of $ these people have spent, the negatives should be zero.

01-11-2009, 06:32 AM	#2
jacka82942 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 67 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	great builder Jason Drouin custom homes built my new house in Meredith last year.Did an absolutely fabulous job.Located in Gilford.All local superb craftsman working for him on every phase.Big plus - once he works for you,your his friend for life and he'll take care of anything you need forever.His wife even helped my wife decorate the house for xmas

01-11-2009, 07:50 AM	#3
Sunbeam lodge Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith/Naples Florida Posts: 367 Thanks: 135 Thanked 50 Times in 26 Posts	Contractors Thanks for the Information. I would like to do some more remodeling but have been kind of cautious after my last experience. I will keep these contractors in mind.

01-11-2009, 08:34 PM	#4
Fishy Cover Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 134 Thanks: 10 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	All Quality Back to All Quality Construction-- There are two sides to this story. I worked for a subcontractor on this project for a short while and from my perspective the facts are somewhat different than what Belmont Resident reported and I hate to see this guy slandered. There was an architect and a structural engineer on this project as well as the owner who was intimately involved in the day-to-day work and decision making. Problems arose because the drawings were not properly dimensioned, the foundation walls (owner's responsibility) were built incorrectly, the owner made changes that the architect agreed disagreed with (after they were built) and when the exterior claps and sheathing of the original house were removed and the actual construction of the old house was seen it was obvious that the addition could not be built as designed by the architect. There ensued a major axx-covering and finger-pointing contest. We finished our part of the job and left before all of this was resolved, if it ever was. Unfortunately the builder seems to have been blamed for everything that went wrong, and although I'm sure he is responsible for some of the issues, my opinion is that he was not the bad guy. By the way, I checked with the town building inspector and the framing inspection was passed so despite all of the negativity the work that was done was done properly. I have worked with this builder on other projects with excellent results and very satisfied customers. As a small businessman I hate to see someone criticized without both sides being presented.

01-12-2009, 04:53 PM	#5
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	I believe you are very wrong The facts are as they were posted. There was no problem with the drawings and the foundation is being built on without any problems what so ever. Back to the drawings! Why is it the current contractor whom is very skilled at post & beam houses and specializes in old house restorations is having no problems building the addition to the very same specifications that you people could not. He was able to install the ridge truss correctly by laying it on an existing beam within the walls of the old house with the help of a boom truck. Something your outfit could not do but instead attempted a hack job. Oh and what about the roof. You had to build a roof over a roof and leave a gap between them because you couldn't follow the plans building that also. Sorry if I was to guess I'd say you were either the contractor or related to them. The bottom line is this is not the first time your outfit has done this as posted by someone else earlier. __________________ "better to have a short life that is full of what you like doing, then a long life spent in a miserable way.."

01-10-2009, 11:12 PM	#1
Seeker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Effingham Posts: 408 Thanks: 37 Thanked 19 Times in 15 Posts	It's too bad you only get to know the best ones after you've had a run in with the worst. I have had experiences with all types both in home and 35 years of commercial construction. Not a hard and fast rule but if it seems that the guy is readily available use extreme caution. If he is booked way out he is probably good. The main thing is go look at work he has done similar to what you want done. If there isn't any run away. Secondly, stay current with him on payments as he progresses. This will involve some of your and his time to set up a schedule but if he is honest and reliable he won't have any problem.