American Dream Builders

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Member Comments: Second round of projects: 2012 In March of 2012, American Dream Builders (ADB) began a new round of remodeling and repairs. This time they laid a beautiful red oak wood floor in three rooms and completely rebuilt two staircases to match. They secured and replaced the spindles of the weakened stairwell. Our powder room was remodeled from vanity, replacement trim, to mosaic tile floor. They helped us move our wood burning stove downstairs and extended the chimney façade outside. In the next wave, over the summer, ADB?s converted a screened porch into a vaulted ceiling three-season sunroom. In the fall, they replaced our cedar deck, built raised garden beds, and, finally, finished our cedar front porch in mid-December. It all came to about the same price tag for labor and materials, fifty thousand, for the combined projects. On the overall, we have found the folks at American Dream Builders provide decent service, competitive rates, and a well-built final product. Our home is safer, more energy efficient, updated, and comfortable due to the efforts of American Dream Builders. We found the ADB estimates very reliable. The team gets along with each other, is personable, and has complimentary skill sets. Scheduling can be erratic based on work load though they generally are prompt and work long hours sometimes under extreme heat or cold conditions. They are tidy and considerate on the job site. As expected, there have been a few challenges over the years. Most, but not all, have been reviewed, discussed, and eventually completed to our mutual satisfaction. Lessons over the years: We have lived in several states and used independent service providers regularly and with great success. However, over the multiple years these are some of the lessons we have learned working with ADB: Request a Waiver of Liability form to protect the consumer from a vendor?s financial demands. Clarity comes with consistent/persistent communication. Ask for your job bid and contracted services in writing. There are pros and cons to a four day workweek but the weather can be the biggest challenge if it storms all week and is bright on ADB?s three-day weekend! These fellows are responsible and talented builders rather than contractors by their own job description. They do not act as expert witnesses and refute any responsibilities as such. Interview any sub?contractors and understand how they guarantee their work and get it all in writing. Do not allow an unknown sub-contractor to complete his job during your family emergency travel. Be sure to request all warranties (windows, doors, appliances, etc.) due from each project. Establish a payment schedule to facilitate a win-win financial flow. Be sure that moisture levels are compatible before a wood floor is laid. Know your rights when a sub contractor causes damage to his portion of the project in your home. Remember when a deck finish fails, it is what is printed on the label that the company will guarantee regardless of what the store manager promises either you or you builder. Though you have a verbal agreement, a contractor or sub-contractor will decide that if you aren't charged, they are absolved of responsibility and will leave you with a damaged or unfinished job. June 21, 2014 UPDATE: Regretfully, our relationship with ADB has come to a sad ending. ABD was contracted In 2012 to find and eliminate a small leak that was in the ceiling of the screened in porch and then remodel the porch into a three season room. Building "from the inside out" ADB built our beautiful sun porch after which they tackled the leak. Unable to resolve the leak after a couple of attempts and a final unwilling review a year later to locate it, ADB has moved on. We have a spit gutter cap and split in our sheet rock joint. The small leak has become what is now a more frequent leak which last winter resulted in an ice dam with corresponding sheet rock staining, paint bubbling, and leak paths in our gutter, walls, and windows. No longer able to communicate with ADB as of May 2014, we are seeking help from a local home inspector and another contractor for the work to be completed.

Second round of projects: 2012 In March of 2012, American Dream Builders (ADB) began a new round of remodeling and repairs. This time they laid a beautiful red oak wood floor in three rooms and completely rebuilt two staircases to match. They secured and replaced the spindles of the weakened stairwell. Our powder room was remodeled from vanity, replacement trim, to mosaic tile floor. They helped us move our wood burning stove downstairs and extended the chimney façade outside. In the next wave, over the summer, ADB?s converted a screened porch into a vaulted ceiling three-season sunroom. In the fall, they replaced our cedar deck, built raised garden beds, and, finally, finished our cedar front porch in mid-December. It all came to about the same price tag for labor and materials, fifty thousand, for the combined projects. On the overall, we have found the folks at American Dream Builders provide decent service, competitive rates, and a well-built final product. Our home is safer, more energy efficient, updated, and comfortable due to the efforts of American Dream Builders. We found the ADB estimates very reliable. The team gets along with each other, is personable, and has complimentary skill sets. Scheduling can be erratic based on work load though they generally are prompt and work long hours sometimes under extreme heat or cold conditions. They are tidy and considerate on the job site. As expected, there have been a few challenges over the years. Most have been reviewed, discussed, and eventually completed to our mutual satisfaction. Lessons over the years: We have lived in several states and used independent service providers regularly and with great success. However, over the multiple years these are some of the lessons we have learned working with ADB: Request a Waiver of Liability form to protect the consumer from a vendor?s financial demands. Clarity comes with consistent/persistent communication. Ask for your job bid and contracted services in writing. There are pros and cons to a four day workweek but the weather can be the biggest challenge if it storms all week and is bright on ADB?s three-day weekend! These fellows are responsible and talented builders rather than contractors by their own job description. They do not act as expert witnesses and refute any responsibilities as such. Interview any sub?contractors and understand how they guarantee their work and get it all in writing. Do not allow an unknown sub-contractor to complete his job during your family emergency travel. Be sure to request all warranties (windows, doors, appliances, etc.) due from each project. Establish a payment schedule to facilitate a win-win financial flow. Be sure that moisture levels are compatible before a wood floor is laid. Know your rights when a sub contractor causes damage to his portion of the project in your home. Remember when a deck finish fails, it is what is printed on the label that the company will guarantee regardless of what the store manager promises either you or you builder. Though you have a verbal agreement, a contractor or sub-contractor will decide that if you aren't charged, they are absolved of responsibility and will leave you with a damaged or unfinished job. June 21, 2014 UPDATE: Regretfully, our relationship with ADB has come to a sad ending. ABD was contracted In 2012 to find and eliminate a small leak that was in the ceiling of the screened in porch and then remodel the porch into a three season room. Building "from the inside out" ADB built our beautiful sun porch after which they tackled the leak. Unable to resolve the leak after a couple of attempts and a final reluctant review a year later to locate it, ADB has moved on. We have a spit gutter cap and split in our sheet rock joint. The small leak has become what is now a more frequent leak which last winter resulted in an ice dam with corresponding sheet rock staining, paint bubbling, and leak paths in our gutter, walls, and windows. No longer able to communicate with ADB as of May 2014, we are seeking help from a home inspector and another contractor for the work to be completed.