Because of the rising costs of building materials, especially shingles and asphalt, some garage builders take unfair advantage of uninformed homeowners. These ‘bad apples’ in the building industry cut costs, produce shoddy workmanship and ignore building code requirements. So caveat emptor–buyer beware: Getting a cheaper bid doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll receive fair value or a better project outcome.
Rick Otto, of Coach House Garages in Arthur, IL, though, is one of the good guys. He is no stranger to the building industry–he’s been in the garage construction business since 1989, and he grew up around home builders. His father was a reputable home builder in the area for 40 years.
Rick says it makes his blood boil whenever he hears about a homeowner being taken advantage by a “fly-by-night” contractor who promises the moon. He’s seen them go through the motions to please the building inspector, and then pull tricks when the homeowner isn’t paying attention after the inspector leaves.
Often homeowners find out too late in the construction game that they’ve been swindled. Even though there are several trade associations for building contractors, by the time the homeowner checks accreditations or investigates the company with their local Better Business Bureau office, it’s usually too late.
It irritates Rick when shady contractors dodge the building codes. “We are firm believers in sound business practices that provide a quality product for the consumer and protects them from unscrupulous individuals,” he says. “We have seen contractors dig a trench for the footing and then fill it in after the inspector leaves, saving money on the concrete used. It’s very difficult for the consumer to detect these short-cut slights of hand, and long term, the results are very bad for the consumer.”
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Not only that, sometimes even “white hat” garage builders have trouble explaining the “why” behind the building codes. “We comply with every code requirement in every city we build in, and they are all different. We’ve built over 21,000 buildings during the past 35 years and have not had the problems that most of the new codes are supposed to cure. I agree that if it is done wrong, then it will not work. I just know the way we have been building works because I can see the results based on 35 years of field testing and warranty of our work. If it fails, we fix it.”
For Rick, having standards is a black and white issue that keeps his customers happy. “I love helping people complete their dream project, the one they’ve waited so long build” says Otto. Here are Rick’s suggestions for choosing the best garage builder.
Rick’s 6 Tips for Choosing the Right Garage Builder:
- Check out the company’s finished projects
- Don’t hope to get something for nothing
- Talk with friends and trade associations for references and recommendations
- A 2×4 is not a 2×4. Not all materials are alike, so inspect the materials
- Expect quality workmanship in the finished product
- Make sure you get at least a 1-year warranty from a reputable builder. It’s required by state law.
