Caveat emptor! We had perhaps the most clichéd bad experience one could have with this contractor. After contracting for project development with Canyon Design Build (CDB) to perform a substantial remodel of our home - raise it 4.5 feet, replace the foundation, add new windows, build new front stairs and rear deck, apply new stucco, do some new downstairs room framing, etc. - CDB then recommended we complete the project with Canyon Construction, a sister firm of CDB. Note that both firms have the same principal, Chris Avant, and CDB personnel continued to be involved in our project once construction began with Canyon Construction. CDB personnel also procured the general project permit. While the construction contract itself was signed with Canyon Construction, there was an intermingling of staff from both firms on our project.
Approximately 1/3 the way through our construction in working with CDB and Canyon Construction, with the house now stripped of its protective stucco, with all of its mechanical systems gone, and with no stairs to the property and the house in an entirely unlivable state, Chris Avant - again, the principal for both Canyon Construction and CDB - made the decision to close Canyon Construction. That is, he closed one of his two contractor firms, a business that, prior to his management, had been active for over 40 years. More importantly to us, he stopped construction on our home, provided no redress in putting our house back together, and defaulted on payment to many project subcontractors.
With our house left in its vulnerable state, we had no choice but to proceed with finishing the construction on our own while pursuing legal action against Canyon Construction and Chris Avant. With Chris Avant clearly in breach of our contract, we contacted the Contractor State License Board (CSLB) and a lawyer. After we assembled a binder full of evidence - photos, invoices, statements from previous staff in Chris Avant's employ - the CSLB agreed that Mr. Avant was in breach of contract and that we'd also clearly overpaid for the service that was provided. The CSLB offered to pay for mandatory arbitration with Mr. Avant. In preparation for arbitration, we spent many hours preparing a coherent case log for the arbitrator and for Chris to review. Mr. Avant failed to attend the arbitration hearing, so we drove a copy of the case binder to his PO box in Moraga (please note the growing level of effort applied in trying to resolve our case). Mr. Avant provided no substantial defense of his behavior or this case, only following up with an email response to the arbitrator sent minutes before the filing deadline.
The arbitrator explained that she would take a week or so to render a judgment. Our evidence was very compelling and a judgment in our favor was likely. To our surprise, Mr. Avant then (nearly immediately) filed for bankruptcy, "staying" all or our further efforts to collect on our losses. All that documentation and legal work was for naught. We were in a limbo now, where the arbitrator was legally bound to discontinue deciding our case and where Mr. Avant's debts to us might be erased. When I attended the bankruptcy creditor hearing at the federal building in Downtown Oakland. Chris Avant was deposed about his property and businesses. When asked about the health of Canyon Design Build (his remaining open business), he replied to the court, "Struggling." Does that inspire confidence to you?
By all means, do your research. I've done my best to provide an honest accounting of our experience, and our story can be verified in online research - at least the business ownership and bankruptcy details. If you do choose to work with Canyon Design Build, I might recommend the following insurance against Chris Avant closing this business in the middle of your project as he closed Canyon Construction in the middle of our project:
1. Consider paying the premium to get a "performance bond" for your project, essentially insurance to finish the project should Chris Avant default on his responsibilities again.
2. Scrutinize your invoices very carefully to ensure that you've not paid any money toward work not completed.
3. Consider only doing the design work with CDB, while shopping the actual construction around to more financially-solvent firms.
4. Have a contingency plan
5. Good luck. This experience was very difficult for us. Financially stressful, difficult for our young daughter who spent months as a vagabond before being able to move home, and personally very stressful as we had to continue on in our jobs and lives while managing all the day-to-day details of our remodel without the help of a general contractor. We're still owed a considerable amount of money by Chris Avant, so please be wary in working with him or any of his businesses. read more