Steffes Design Build

Steffes Construction remodeled our bathroom including a new surround and dry rot repair, then the usual drywall and finishing with new sink, etc. They did a great job and we were able to pretty much stay out of the way and it was done in a few weeks. It was great they asked a lot of questions in the beginning, at first we thought «too many questions,» then we understood why later — better planning is kinda like measure twice cut once.

SUMMARY: We hired Steffes Construction (Steffes Design and Build) to remodel an 80-​year old house for $ 106,000.
Work performed:
–Full electrical re-​wiring, new fixtures and outlets.
*Electrical work has proved adequate. Subcontractor ran weeks over time, and destroyed the attic floor to run cable. This was never repaired, despite verbal agreements from the contractor to do so.
–Full plumbing replacement.
*After full plumbing rework, the house is losing several gallons an hour even after replacing older water-​consuming appliances. Area behind dishwasher has significant water damage, indicating a plumbing leak.
–New furnace and cleaned ductwork.
*This work was satisfactory, although the vents were insulated in such a fashion that opening doors in the basement tore large chunks of insulation free.
–All new interior and exterior painting, including lead-​paint removal and plaster patching.
*One subcontractor, Jerry, was working with our sister to patch plaster around newly installed outlets. When she asked if it was safe to paint the still-​damp patches, he replied– to our sister, of all people– that ‘she should go ahead; the owners will never find out’. We now have bubbling from trapped gasses around those outlets.
*We had agreed to hire the external painter privately, since we knew a family friend who could do it inexpensively. After meeting with our contractor, our painter completely withdrew from the project, refusing to work even one day with him. In a panic, we allowed our contractor to locate a new painter, who charged over twice as much. The day of the painting, after work had already started, our contractor informed us that he didn’t have enough money to pay for the job, and that we would have to cut a check for several thousand dollars on the spot. It nearly broke us; I don’t know what would’ve happened if we hadn’t had the money saved for my son’s birth. The painter privately advised us afterwards to never work with that contractor again.
–Installation of all new appliances; dryer, refrigerator, dishwasher, gas fireplace
*We purchased a dishwasher, and our contractor offered to help us install it. When we were discussing where to place it, he offered to build us a cabinet to mount it in. Without getting our approval on the project, he plumbed and ran electricity to the spot where we’d only speculated putting it, and charged us several thousand dollars. The cabinet itself was simple, unfinished wood with a formica top, which we paid fifteen hundred dollars for– to top it off, the cabinet completely sealed in the dishwasher so that when it leaked and clogged (and of course it leaked and clogged), we were unable to remove it without destroying the cabinet. After threatening the contractor with a formal action, he returned months later and tried to blame us for everything that was wrong with it. We dissuaded him with photographic evidence, and he begrudgingly removed the dishwasher– by cutting the metal frame of the unit to make it fit through his cabinetry. After fixing it, he left it in the center of the kitchen, wiring and heating components exposed to our ten-​month old son. We had to harass him with phone calls and text messages for two weeks to get him to reinstall it, which he finally did; without replacing the sound-​dampening thermal insulation.
–Installation of all new windows.
*Minimal care was taken to remove lead-​based paint. We watched large volumes of paint getting washed into our yard. Large collections remained in the sills, which then blew into the house when the windows were open.
*After installation, some of the windows were not caulked; the first rain of the winter months ran rivers down the insides of our walls and into the house, soaking furniture. We are uncertain extent of the damage. This mistake was never corrected; we had to caulk our windows by ourselves.
*The receipts for the new windows were not furnished. Without them we cannot claim tax credits for the windows, missing out on thousands of dollars in rebates.
–Additional small items as required by inspection
Summary of Experience:
Terrible communication and slapshod work.