Contractors of Coos County Oregon

Building contractors are not all the same - read below for a list of some to avoid.
True construction stories from Coos County Oregon.

Construction projects can succeed or fail depending on who you hire as the contractor. Unfortunately, not all contractors make the grade, some really are incompetent doofuses who should never be allowed near a building site. It's frustrating that the high level of distrust, of construction companies, happens when the bad behavior of a few hurts the reputation of all of us. The following examples are situations where we have seen problems occur.

The Design/Build Disaster     This was one of the worst building failures we have ever seen in newer construction: a 7 year old house with completely rotten walls caused by moisture intrusion. Why did this job go so horribly wrong ?  The owners hired an Architect who thought he was a builder. The old style of Design/Build had an Architect and builder teaming up in one company. Apparently, this guy's ego convinced him he could go-it-alone. For more see: Bandon Beach House a Construction Disaster

The Dangerously Inept        Workers arriving  for a house remodeling job, south of Florence, built a warming fire in the carport. The fire spread to the structure, so another worker used an excavator to knock down the carport. That didn't help and the blaze then spread to a fir tree. A worker grabbed a power saw to cut down the 120 foot tree, which then fell on the house, setting it on fire. The structure, which was empty at the time, could not be saved. Was anyone supervising this job ?

The Ethically Challenged     A few fly-by-night construction companies have given all contractors a bad name by: taking deposits and never doing the work, doing shoddy work for high prices and convincing homeowners that unnecessary repairs need to be made. These stories are being reported more, so there is a higher awareness of how these con artists operate. They are highly manipulative narcissists who can easily persuade homeowners to trust them. They are out there and they are dangerous, be cautious. Check with the Construction Contractors Board (CCB) to see if a contractor is licensed, bonded and insured: www.oregon.gov/ccb

You Get What You Pay For     We worked on a house where the windows had been installed by a company from outside the area. The work crew was limited on time and rushed through the installation; they were only there to install windows and nothing more. How were the windows put in ? They put new vinyl windows into a rotten wall and without fixing the framing or dry rot, then added a bead of caulking to keep the windows in place. When, later, we opened the walls to do repairs, the windows fell out.

The Wrong Skill Set      You wouldn't hire a plumber to do your electrical work, so why would you hire another tradesman to be your general contractor ? The guy who built a charming pergola for your garden is probably not going to have the technical ability or experience to build a house. Several Bandon Beach Loop homeowners, learned this lesson the hard way, when they bought houses built by this "carpenter".  Years later, we're still going back to fix his mistakes.

A Surprise In The Attic     A company we know was asked to install insulation in a new house being built by a local contractor. The roof was constructed so poorly that water intrusion had caused black mold to grow all over the underside of the roof sheathing. Still, the builder insisted that the insulation could go in as scheduled. The installer refused to do the job, but the house was finished anyway and this builder is still working in this area.

Another Water Feature     A "Do-it-Yourself" homeowner/contractor, armed with a little knowledge of plumbing and a can-do spirit, installed a water drainage system on his new house which was supposed to defy the law of gravity. The gutters and downspouts were connected to rain drains around the perimeter of the building ( ok, so far) but then he connected the whole system to the foundation drains. All of the rain, falling on the roof, was now sent under the house and collected in the crawlspace. How was this problem solved ? They sold the house in summer (when everything had dried out) and moved away, leaving the problem to the new homeowner.

Personality Over Ability      Have you heard of homeowners who hired a contractor because he was a "nice guy" ? How did that work out for them?  Certain personalities can work better together, but ability should come before personality. You want a contractor to give you professional service and a quality building - you're not planning to adopt him.

Low Bid - Too Good To Be True     Homeowners are advised to get at least three bids on their building project. But should you take low bid?  A low bid can mean the contractor forgot to include some category, does not have the experience for this type of work or they are not bidding the same job specifications. When conflicts occur later, and additional costs need to be paid, who is responsible ?

How To Advertise    This local contractor thought it was a good idea to print shirts, with the company name, for his employees to wear on the job site. This may not have worked out as intended. At 10 am, the workers (wearing their company shirts) were seen at a convenience store buying a short case of beer, to fortify themselves for the day ahead. Hey, if there's plenty of beer - it's not work, it's a party.

The Laundry Has A Throne    It's not unusual to have laundry and bath fixtures in the same room; in small houses and apartments, this can be a good use of space. But this homeowner was surprised to find her toilet had been installed right in the middle of the laundry room, not near a wall or corner, but centered in the room where you had to walk around it. When she questioned the builder about why this had occurred, his answer was - "Because that's where the plumbing is".