Steadfast Construction Inc

We received the original proposal on October 25, 2012. It is now October, 2013 and the work is finally complete. The project was planned to take 8 weeks with wiggle room built in. Expect your project NOT to start on time. Our project was delayed by 3 weeks. We were promised if we would be patient and wait, they would send a crew that would be dedicated to our project start to finish - which was not the case. Some days they showed - some they did not -even in good weather. At the end, the crew headed to a new job before the deck was completed which resulted in more delays. EVERY inspection failed the first time - sometimes it took 3 - 4 re-inspections until passing. The reasons wre simply lack of attention to detail (i.e., the plans changed and they failed to inform the county of the changes so the inspector could not pass a building that was different from the submitted plans.) Staff tells you what you want to hear. We had our own construction plans and had pullled permits prior to the start of the job but were told that they wanted to NOT use ours and pull their own permits and drawings. One day before the job was to start, we were asked to provide a copy of the permits/plas as they had not taking the time to start from scratch. Seems they have a crisis managment style and rarely think ahead to what they need prior to starting the work. We were told our "Project Manager" would come by daily to check on the work, etc. In reality, he only showed up if there was an issue. Problem is he really has no authority to make decisions anyway. All questions go through the owners who seem to be out of the office more than in. Since the decision makers went on countless vacations, this resulted in more delays. We were told that we were the only client they ever had that was "hands on". I personally feel like all clients would want to know what the project is going to look like prior to building and that part of the service should include calls to the client to keep them in the loop of the project status. However, this is not how they operate. When I asked for a sketch of the plan to visualize the project, we never received one. Luckily, my husband know how to prepare sketches/drawings which he supplied along the way, because this was the only way they understood what we wanted. Simply describing always turned into a miscommunication. We were also told that we were the only clients they ever worked with that had to consult their spouse prior to making a decision. I guess we have a different kind of marriage than everyone else as we consult each other when spending large sums of money. When one of the owners stopped by to collect a payment - which we gave him - He decided that they were entitled to a bigger check (even though the work was not complete), he refused to leave our property. Several hours passed until my husband finally threatened to call the police to get him to leave. After this incident, all communication went through me. The lack of communication in the office with the clients is little to none. Do not expect to have call backs if you have questions. We were never contacted for the status of permits, work and when we called them, the list of excuses went on and on: project manager didn't inform owners that we called so no call; owner couldn't understand the project manager notes so no call; owner's mom gave the county the wrong info (not kidding); county made mistakes with the permits, etc. NOTHING is ever their fault - the blame game is tiresome - they take no responsibility for their actions. We found that once they have the money, we did not hear a word until they wanted more money - then they have no problem communicating. In the end, we had to hire an attorney to have the final inspection approved as they would not respond to calls or emails regarding the status and resolution of this. Bottom line for Steadfast - they will tell you what you want to hear and not follow through with their word. We got to the point that we didn't believe a word they said and nor should you if you hire them. If you are ready to be frustrated for months, hire them...if not steer clear. On the upside - they somehow managed to hire really excellent work crews and because they are actual craftsmen, we are actually pleased with the final product. We were fortunate to have Mirko and Joel on the job. Both are knowledgeable and do quality work - the company's saving grace. The crews deserve 5 stars.

They did a very good job. The got the job done in about 6-8 weeks. We ran into some issues with the weather which delayed it. They have a 2 year warranty and we did have some issues after it was installed. They came out and stuck to their work to get everything rectified. They stick to their warranty. They are on the higher end of the pricing, but you get your money's worth. They patio is phenomenal. I would recommend them.

They built a good deck, and like the name of the company, they stand behind their work. The only downside was that their communications with us were not always timely, which. in our experience, has been a common problem with contractors.

We called three companies for estimates for our patio/walkway project. Steadfast responded very promptly to our phone call. Miguel came to our home, evaluated our space, was wonderful about answering all of our questions and gave helpful advice. The estimate came back quickly, was reasonable (turned out to be midway between the other two), and their availability to begin the work was two weeks. A large crew arrived on the scheduled day, headed by Joel (subcontractor for paver and stone work), and they put in a long day. All workmen were very pleasant, and Joel kept us apprised of everything that they were doing. He also regularly checked our sprinkler system to be certain no damage had occurred. The project was to take three days and they did it in two and a half. Our only glitch was that a different group came the final half day, forgot to test the sprinkler system, and had put a stake through a large water pipe. I called the next morning as soon as the sprinklers came on and the problem became apparent. Steadfast sent people out to repair it . They did a very good job and we have had no water problems since. Our property was left clean of debris, and the small amount of silicone sand that spilled and hardened on the driveway was cleaned within a day of my requesting it. Jack has called to be certain we are happy with our patio and to ask if there is anything they could have done better. We love our patio and walkway, feel that the company employees and subcontractors with whom we had contact are very responsive, and we would recommend Steadfast to a friend.

In addition to replacing our deck this summer we had also contracted with another provider to replace our siding. We were concerned about how to schedule to two projects and had finally determined that it made sense to replace the siding after the old deck had been removed but before the new deck was installed. Steadfast worked with us to perform the deck work to fit this schedule. Demolition of the old deck was completed in 1 day. Construction of the new deck began approx. 3 weeks later. (This was actually a little bit ahead of the original estimated start date.) Work commenced on 30 August and was completed on 10 September. The two guys who did the work were friendly, courteous, and professional. The deck is constructed of pressure-treated framing & substructure and Fiberon composite decking. The railing is of p/t lumber with Fiberon rail caps. It looks really nice and we are very pleased with the results. My only complaint, and it is admittedly minor, was the contractor's responsiveness to phone/email inquiries. On a few occasions it took a few attempts for an inquiry to be resolved. This is the only thing that prevents me from giving this contractor an A.

The project started late because WE (the customer) did not get the necessary approvals from our neighborhood association in time. Once they started, the work seemed to go very slowly at first, due to county inspections, but what was done was done well. The work is beautifully done and we love our porch. We have only one concern/complaint. It seems that communication/cooperation between the main contract workers and the subcontractors was not all that it could have been. There was an issue with our front porch light, and the electrical contractor solved the problem, but was unaware of the size of the light and the fact that it would likely require additional wiring when he arrived to put the light back up. The way the work was done also required that the electrician take off the side panels - do the wiring - and then replace the panels - rather than dealing with the electrical work first and then putting the panels on afterwards. There was also some discrepancy in the patio size, given the fact that WE changed the width of the porch after the patio had been laid - and therefore the porch steps sort of hang off the edge, and we have to pay the subcontractor to add about 6" onto the edge of the patio. Knowing how big the patio was, it would have made more sense to have the main contractor change the width of the steps and the approach to the front door a little. As it is, we'll have a patio we love, but we have to pay the subcontractor to come out and do the addition. As I said, this issue was caused by a change that we requested, but it seems as though the way the issue was addressed is backwards. Steadfast was very attentive to our requests and changes, and were more than willing to work with us so that we have the porch and patio that we want. We would call them again for another job, and are happy with the final outcome.

The install went great. However after we had the deck installed we were getting it stained in July after the install in April. It was an ordeal. The stain was not applied properly and was a disaster. We had to have them out to redo the stain and reapply and power wash everything. It was all finally wrapped up three weeks ago. They have incredibly poor customer service and poor quality work. This all could have been prevented if it had just been installed correctly the first time. While all of this was going on, my husband was dying. It was extremely frustrating and stressful for me. It was all but a bad experience.

This is a story of good news and bad news. First the good news. All three projects were completed to our complete satisfaction for what seems to us a fair price. The bad news was the struggle that happened from the beginning of the projects until the end. The projects were begun in mid-August and were not finished until mid-December. We were assured that it would take approximately six weeks to complete the demolition and construction of all projects. It actually took four months. This was our first major construction project so there was a lot for us to learn. We believe that Steadfast management could have done a better job of keeping us advised about what was happening on a regular basis, instead of us having to contact them when we had an question or problem. Because we were new to this process we ended up making some changes to the intial design of the sunroom (for example, we intially had a hip roof, but changed that to a gable roof, with glass at the peak. We also had the deck bumped out which was not in to initial plans and used a herring bone pattern on the deck flooring instead of a simple straight pattern.) In each case Steadfast accomodated our requests. The two men who did the construction were excellent at building and did a great job of putting everything together. They were seasoned veterans of construction and knew just what to do to build our sunroom and deck. However, their work habbits left much to be desired as they piled up construction debris in our back yard that looked like a trash heap. We expected to have some debris for a short period, but when it had not been removed after many weeks we had to ask Steadfast several times before the piles were finally removed. This happened at least twice during the four months of construction. While the two men were great builders, they were not great painters. We were told by Steadfast management that we would have professional painters paint the inside of the sunroom, but initially this was done, against our wishes, by the construction crew. The finished product was less than satisfactory. We complained to Steadfast management and they eventually sent a professional painter out to correct the sloppy paint job that had been done. We were happy with the job done by the professional. Overall the projects could have been completed smoothly if there had better communication with Steadfast management throughout the process. We have been enjoying our sunroom, deck and porch since the job was finally completed by Steadfast.

Steadfast sent out Miguel Nogales to give me an estimate. What I thought would be another quote from the pile turned out quite different. Miguel was different no pressure, knew his product and listened to the customer which was important since I was undecided of the design or materials. Miguel was extremely helpful in designing the deck and doing several different drawings to find the right fit. Next we needed to get the HOA approval and Steadfast worked with us all the way to provide them with the correct information the first time. Once approved the construction began within two weeks during this time Miguel managed the project was prompt, professional and handle any issues quickly and efficiently. The attention to detail was spot on due to the custom cuts and railing accents. The deck looks exactly like the drawings and the final bill was equal to invoice. I will definitely use them again and recommend for future business.

The project went well. It is really everything we expected and more. Mirko and Jose did all the work from start to finish. It went very well after they began. The project started somewhat late, but once it did, it moved smoothly. The work is beautiful and we are really enjoying the space The people working at Steadfast are professional and know their trade. I would recommend them for this kind of project.

Steadfast' s supervisor, Miguel Nogales was extremely helpful in designing the porch. I wanted it to not only provide covering for the entrance to my home during inclement weather, but also allow the front room to have as much light as possible. Selecting the materials was easy in that I wanted to forget about ever having to paint, seal or do any heavy maintenance once the porch was installed. I also wanted the materials to been "green" . After much back and forth with Mr. Nogales, the design and materials were selected. I had already gotten my HOA approval, so thought we had the go ahead. That was NOT the case by a long shot! It seems that Fairfax County where the home is located required not just the normal building permits, but required me to get a variance permit. While this might seem relatively easy - it was NOT! It was the opposite. I went to the Planning and Zoning Department to get the necessary instructions for getting the permit, but after getting the paperwork and providing what was asked for, it was discovered that they gave me the wrong paperwork. This was after I had done everything and had an attorney look it over to make sure it was correct. It took repeated trips to the Planning and Zoning office, even going to the Department Head of Planning and Zoning, to get the correct paperwork, which pushed back the start date of the project by months, not days or weeks. Then after repeated attempts to get everything necessary done, I was finally given notice that I had to appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals for a hearing. Scheduling for the hearing June 12, 2013 pushed the start date further back. Once I finally got the permit, Steadfast had to figure out a schedule to get the work done. Since the removal of the siding and replacing it with natural stone did not require the variance permit, this part of the job was done while I was attempting to work through the bureaucratic maze of Fairfax County. It was like starting the project backwards and the stress was something else. However, NONE of the problem was due to Steadfast Construction!! When ever I had any concerns or questions about the job, Mr. Nogales kept me promptly informed via phone or emails. Eventually, it was time to start on the porch and a gentleman by the name of Matt was given my project. He was very meticulous in his work, making sure everything met my standards and also kept the area he was working on neat and clean. I previously had taken out all the plants and bushes in the front, but Matt did not even tear apart the front yard grass like so many construction workers do when working on a large project. Matt was also extremely kind to my son, who is multiple handicapped and was a home during the construction project. My son religiously made sure Matt had plenty of iced drinks so that he would not get dehydrated working so hard during the hot summer weather. The two of them really seemed to hit it off. Matt even put up the American flag that Ian specifically bought for the new front porch.

Excellent job - Marco and helper did beautiful work. Very professional and accommodating. Competitive price.

The contractor's agent Jeff Hoyt came over last Tuesday (7/23) and took pictures and notes of the work to be done. Then he said it will take a week to get the quote. It's been over a week and I called him and he said he will check on it. But no dice. I don't mind not receiving a quote, but he could have told me that to begin with. A week to send in a quote is bad enough and then he keeps me waiting for more than a week without a response.

We needed our deteriorating front deck replaced to comply with homeowners' association and county requirements. Preferred that contractor could also replace the adjacent soft kitchen floor as we hoped that water damage had not affected the original joists on to which the new deck and floor would be constructed. Hoped to find a reliable and knowledgeable contractor who could cover both jobs, but conceded that estimates might be required individually from a deck specialist and a remodeling specialist. Received several estimates, higher, lower, same, covering both jobs or each job individually. Had contacted Steadfast having read excellent reviews on Angie's List and Checkbook, noted BBB rating and seen the beautiful deck they had built locally. Josh Rainier kindly came out and provided detailed and reasonable estimate for both PTP and composite replacement. Ultimately, in consideration of county deadlines and impending visitors, we hired another company who could accomplish both jobs at same time.

It was great. It was a good experience. They showed up on time and completed the job on time. I would recommend them.

I struggle with giving out an "A" but it is due in this case and my rear deck is perfect! My wife and I just love it. Josh did my intital sales call. After discussing everything he sent pictures of each option and we were able to visulaize exactly what it would look like. Kenny and Miguel managed the project very well and Marco built my deck strong and stylish. Marco had to make some finish decisions about deck cuts and railing accents--he is very good and the small custom cuts that make or break a deck were spot on (you will notice this). I just received my final inspection a few hours ago. They finished ahead of schedule, it looks exactly like the pictures and the final bill was equal to the invoice cost. They will also build my front porch and fence when I am ready to do so.

The companies representative Josh contacted me to provide an estimate for installing an elevated backyard deck. The estimate was a free service to procure the contract. Unbelievably, Steadfast Construction Inc was the only company that replied to my request for an estimate - I contacted four other 'A' rated Angie's list companies and no reply. I also verified any potential reply did not go to my spam email folder. Josh was on time, courteous, explained everything, made suggestions and offered guidance. While the price was slightly higher than what I had thought it would be, I had nothing else to compare it to in the end. We ended up putting off building the deck for another year and will start early spring. I fully intended asking Steadfast Construction Inc for a courtesy estimate and if the same thing happens, they will most likely have a job on their hands. Great service but we did not complete a contract.

They were prompt, professional, and when there was a question, I was called and asked what I wanted. No debris was left and they did not damage the yard during the job. We were VERY pleased with their work.

The professionalism of Steadfast Construction Inc. was substandard. It as very disappointing. Their clean-up was terrible. I paid another $3,500 to have them do more clean-up. The way the decks were built were like wood posts anchored by cement footers. I had nine footers sticking up that they insisted wasn't part of the contract. The contract says demolition and removal of the deck. The dirt they left behind was really hideous and ugly. They left the job done unattractively. My deck was pretty but the surroundings as opposed to the drawing was hideous. They took down old electrical wires in my old deck and left the exposed wire cables sitting on the ground.

From start to finish, Steadfast Construction did a very professional and first-class job in redesigning, rennovating and expanding our wood deck. Miguel Nogales, who estimated and coordinated our job, was very professional, knowledgeable and responsive. He provided the guidance to help us resdesign the deck and then provided the computer renderings to help us gain approval of our architectural board. Miguel believes in a fast turnaround. He visited our home in the morning and by mid afternoon we had his first drawings on design options. Miguel's crew led by Renee was also very professional and highly skilled. The job was started on the date scheduled and completed without a hitch. I would highly recommend Steadfast for any deck construction or remodeling work.

When I scheduled the appointment, the person scheduling the consultation was very pleasant on the phone, so I had high hopes for the actual visit from one of their designers. We scheduled the appointment for 5pm on a Wednesday and my husband planned to leave early from work to meet the contractor with me. On the day, 5 pm came and went and no one had showed. I called the company and was assured that someone was on the way, that he had just finished in a meeting and was caught in traffic. I told them "no problem, we will be here all night", which we were. Still, no one came that night at all. No phone call to reschedule. Someone did drop by on Friday, but I was not at home. No one has called since. We decided that if this was the level of professionalism and communication that we could expect from this company, that we could not work with them on our project. ****Update 4/13/13: Jeff from Steadfast has made a heroic effort to make things right after realizing what happened. It turns out there was a mix-up with the scheduling. He has been in touch with me and I am sure that this incident was an isolated occurrence. Jeff has been very professional and I would give them further consideration if we hadn't already contracted another company to do our work.

Everything went fine with Steadfast Construction Inc. We had a few glitched with following the plan but the remedied them very quickly.

They only provided an estimate and were not selected for the project.

I really liked them; they were really nice and they gave us a fair price. I got a better price from another company so decided not to use Steadfast. They came out and sat down with us; they were really good at not pressuring us. I would have felt comfortable going with them. They set up an appointment time right away with us and were on time for the appointment; they were good.

The sales experience was lovely and very professional. The company was patient as I waited for my HOA approvals. I am very pleased with the finished product. I was surprised that they only had a two-person crew on the job, which took over two weeks (with a few delays due to weather.) I thought a few of the communications from management were disrespectful and my concerns were not acknowledged. Fortunately the job foreman was great and he took care of my concerns. I will enjoy the deck.