We hired Howard Construction in 2021 to rebuild our home after a fire. The work was completed in February 2022 and has produced significant, ongoing problems.
Floor failure. The wood flooring throughout the house is failing. A certified NWFA flooring inspector has examined the installation and identified deficiencies in the moisture control system required for engineered wood over a concrete slab. The damage includes dark staining bleeding through the finish from below, finish failure leaving raw exposed wood, and mold and mildew on items stored in closets. The most severe damage is at the back of the house, where a structural engineer separately observed that the yard slopes toward the house rather than away from it -- a drainage issue that should have been identified before flooring installation.
Walls and floors not level or plumb. Interior walls were not built to 90 degrees. The guest bathroom wall is off plumb enough that the vanity had to be cut down to fit. The floor is unlevel enough in one area that a bookcase cannot be placed against the wall without tipping forward.
Structural and code issues. They left the lintel off the garage header, causing the header to sag visibly. We had to demand they put it back in. The roof was not built to code, which was independently verified by a city inspector we called out, but shingles had already been installed before that inspection. Pre-fabricated trusses were cut without documented engineer authorization. They wanted to leave waterlogged and burnt framing in place until we insisted on replacement.
Poor workmanship throughout. Insulation was not properly installed. Nails appeared to be hand-driven and frequently bent over rather than nail-gunned. Construction debris was left in the yard at completion.
Communication and project management problems. Project manager Mike Galaska became increasingly unresponsive over the course of the project. When we reported the flooring failure to him after problems emerged, he came to the property once, acknowledged the problem, said he would arrange for a structural engineer to inspect, and never followed up. It has been over a year since that visit with no further contact. They actively avoided having anyone present when work was being done, despite our request to be notified.
Billing concerns. They submitted requests to insurance for items we did not want and did not receive (a speaker system) and we had to catch and challenge the billing to get a partial refund. They submitted supplemental requests for things like construction debris cleanup that should have been their responsibility to begin with.
We would not recommend this company to anyone. If a contractor is suggested to you through an insurance referral, get independent contractors to bid before agreeing. read more