Uncle Howard's Barns - Howard Horton Bad business which promised delivery in 2 weeks, 2 months. I was sure I was going to lose my money Rochester Washington

The following is the actual project timeline, taken directly from the owners emails to Uncle Howard's.

3/12/08 - Owner Inquiry
3/12 through 3/28/08 - Exchange preliminary designs and quotes
3/29 - Owner requests move RV Doors and add 4' to RV Bay
4/3 - Owner signs agreement and makes 20% initial payment
4/19 - Owner sends signed wind, snow, and seismic information and Uncle Howard's staff begin CAD drafting
5/12 - Our design department sends CAD plans to owner for review
5/15 - Owner requests redesign
5/24 - Resubmit plans to owner - windows changes made
5/26 - owner requests redesign and more changes
6/3 - Uncle Howard's forwards revised plans to structural engineer
6/20 - UHB receives redlines from engineer for final drafting
6/23 - engineer overnights stamped plans to customer
7/15 - Customer still has not applied for permit
7/16 - Owner requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit (owner's contractor not available)
7/16 - Owner submits plan to building department
8/28 - Owner signs construction agreement with labor contractor Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit, not including concrete work. 20% paid at signup. Work to start by 9/4.
9/2 - Owner requests delay. Husband has serious hand injury while clearing land
9/30 - Howard operates rental dozer to complete site prep (at no charge)
10/3 - Owners foundation contractor not available. Requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to install foundation. Agreement is made to do the work at cost with owner purchasing materials
10/9 - Great Western Barn Co. begins foundation work
10/12 - Foundation ready for inspection. Owner changes use of building from barn to living space and asks Great Western to wait to pour the foundation. Before pouring, owner hires plumbing company. (10 day wait for plumber)
10/22 - Plumbing inspection fails. Owners plumber failed to get plumbing permit. 9 day wait
10/29 - Plumbing permit approved
11/9 - Plumbing completed and inspected
11/10 - Great Western readjusts forms
11/12 - Building department approves foundation
11/14 - Foundation poured. While concrete cures, crew goes hunting
11/14 - Owner requests that the kit package be delivered 11/25. Delivery is delayed by flooding until 12/1.
12/2 - Finally, Great Western is allowed to begin assembly of Uncle Howard's Kit
12/18 - Owner still hasn't ordered energy efficient windows for her change from barn to living space. TO avoid delay, Howard offers 6 new energy efficient windows at 40% of cost (from Uncle Howard's inventory). Building shell is nearing completion. Windows have already been framed to original specifications. New window sizes require reframing. Great Western Barns does not charge owner for this work.
12/19 - Owner decides porch patios should be concrete. Great Western pours them for free to avoid further delays.
12/21 - Patio pour completed under adverse conditions. Extremely cold.
Extreme weather during Christmas break
1/2 - Work on hold due to record snowfall
1/12 - Owner notifies Great Western that snow is melted, water receding, road weight restrictions removed
1/13 - Work proceeds
1/22 - Rooftop shingle delivery
2/5 - Project completed

Howard's comment:
This owner should be overjoyed. Uncle Howard's and Great Western Barn Company rescued them when their builder and concrete contractor weren't available, gave them reduced prices, waited patiently through their delays, and in spite of the worst weather in 100 years, gave them a great product. I am proud of this project.
"Auggie's" negative rant is totally false, irresponsible, and criminal. It is easily disproven, and has left them open to lawsuit.
His statements about payments are obviously wrong since both Great Western and Uncle Howard's are paid in increments as we perform. Great Western's employees are highly skilled (I personally trained them more than 20 years ago). They are highly and promptly paid. Their skill level ensures that Uncle Howard's packages assembled by Great Western Barn Company are exceptional. Any person who wants more assurance may contact Howard for documents and references at unclehowards.com. This customer has a wonderfully designed, wonderfully assembled barn. We are not always perfect, but on this project, we were close.

Ironically, the owners still haven't paid their final Great Western labor payment.

The following is the actual project timeline, taken directly from the owners emails to Uncle Howard's.

3/12/08 - Owner Inquiry
3/12 through 3/28/08 - Exchange preliminary designs and quotes
3/29 - Owner requests move RV Doors and add 4' to RV Bay
4/3 - Owner signs agreement and makes 20% initial payment
4/19 - Owner sends signed wind, snow, and seismic information and Uncle Howard's staff begin CAD drafting
5/12 - Our design department sends CAD plans to owner for review
5/15 - Owner requests redesign
5/24 - Resubmit plans to owner - windows changes made
5/26 - owner requests redesign and more changes
6/3 - Uncle Howard's forwards revised plans to structural engineer
6/20 - UHB receives redlines from engineer for final drafting
6/23 - engineer overnights stamped plans to customer
7/15 - Customer still has not applied for permit
7/16 - Owner requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit (owner's contractor not available)
7/16 - Owner submits plan to building department
8/28 - Owner signs construction agreement with labor contractor Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit, not including concrete work. 20% paid at signup. Work to start by 9/4.
9/2 - Owner requests delay. Husband has serious hand injury while clearing land
9/30 - Howard operates rental dozer to complete site prep (at no charge)
10/3 - Owners foundation contractor not available. Requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to install foundation. Agreement is made to do the work at cost with owner purchasing materials
10/9 - Great Western Barn Co. begins foundation work
10/12 - Foundation ready for inspection. Owner changes use of building from barn to living space and asks Great Western to wait to pour the foundation. Before pouring, owner hires plumbing company. (10 day wait for plumber)
10/22 - Plumbing inspection fails. Owners plumber failed to get plumbing permit. 9 day wait
10/29 - Plumbing permit approved
11/9 - Plumbing completed and inspected
11/10 - Great Western readjusts forms
11/12 - Building department approves foundation
11/14 - Foundation poured. While concrete cures, crew goes hunting
11/14 - Owner requests that the kit package be delivered 11/25. Delivery is delayed by flooding until 12/1.
12/2 - Finally, Great Western is allowed to begin assembly of Uncle Howard's Kit
12/18 - Owner still hasn't ordered energy efficient windows for her change from barn to living space. TO avoid delay, Howard offers 6 new energy efficient windows at 40% of cost (from Uncle Howard's inventory). Building shell is nearing completion. Windows have already been framed to original specifications. New window sizes require reframing. Great Western Barns does not charge owner for this work.
12/19 - Owner decides porch patios should be concrete. Great Western pours them for free to avoid further delays.
12/21 - Patio pour completed under adverse conditions. Extremely cold.
Extreme weather during Christmas break
1/2 - Work on hold due to record snowfall
1/12 - Owner notifies Great Western that snow is melted, water receding, road weight restrictions removed
1/13 - Work proceeds
1/22 - Rooftop shingle delivery
2/5 - Project completed

Howard's comment:
This owner should be overjoyed. Uncle Howard's and Great Western Barn Company rescued them when their builder and concrete contractor weren't available, gave them reduced prices, waited patiently through their delays, and in spite of the worst weather in 100 years, gave them a great product. I am proud of this project.
"Auggie's" negative rant is totally false, irresponsible, and criminal. It is easily disproven, and has left them open to lawsuit.
His statements about payments are obviously wrong since both Great Western and Uncle Howard's are paid in increments as we perform. Great Western's employees are highly skilled (I personally trained them more than 20 years ago). They are highly and promptly paid. Their skill level ensures that Uncle Howard's packages assembled by Great Western Barn Company are exceptional. Any person who wants more assurance may contact Howard for documents and references at unclehowards.com. This customer has a wonderfully designed, wonderfully assembled barn. We are not always perfect, but on this project, we were close.

Ironically, the owners still haven't paid their final Great Western labor payment.

The following is the actual project timeline, taken directly from the owners emails to Uncle Howard's.

3/12/08 - Owner Inquiry
3/12 through 3/28/08 - Exchange preliminary designs and quotes
3/29 - Owner requests move RV Doors and add 4' to RV Bay
4/3 - Owner signs agreement and makes 20% initial payment
4/19 - Owner sends signed wind, snow, and seismic information and Uncle Howard's staff begin CAD drafting
5/12 - Our design department sends CAD plans to owner for review
5/15 - Owner requests redesign
5/24 - Resubmit plans to owner - windows changes made
5/26 - owner requests redesign and more changes
6/3 - Uncle Howard's forwards revised plans to structural engineer
6/20 - UHB receives redlines from engineer for final drafting
6/23 - engineer overnights stamped plans to customer
7/15 - Customer still has not applied for permit
7/16 - Owner requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit (owner's contractor not available)
7/16 - Owner submits plan to building department
8/28 - Owner signs construction agreement with labor contractor Great Western Barn Company to assemble Uncle Howard's Kit, not including concrete work. 20% paid at signup. Work to start by 9/4.
9/2 - Owner requests delay. Husband has serious hand injury while clearing land
9/30 - Howard operates rental dozer to complete site prep (at no charge)
10/3 - Owners foundation contractor not available. Requests quote from Great Western Barn Company to install foundation. Agreement is made to do the work at cost with owner purchasing materials
10/9 - Great Western Barn Co. begins foundation work
10/12 - Foundation ready for inspection. Owner changes use of building from barn to living space and asks Great Western to wait to pour the foundation. Before pouring, owner hires plumbing company. (10 day wait for plumber)
10/22 - Plumbing inspection fails. Owners plumber failed to get plumbing permit. 9 day wait
10/29 - Plumbing permit approved
11/9 - Plumbing completed and inspected
11/10 - Great Western readjusts forms
11/12 - Building department approves foundation
11/14 - Foundation poured. While concrete cures, crew goes hunting
11/14 - Owner requests that the kit package be delivered 11/25. Delivery is delayed by flooding until 12/1.
12/2 - Finally, Great Western is allowed to begin assembly of Uncle Howard's Kit
12/18 - Owner still hasn't ordered energy efficient windows for her change from barn to living space. TO avoid delay, Howard offers 6 new energy efficient windows at 40% of cost (from Uncle Howard's inventory). Building shell is nearing completion. Windows have already been framed to original specifications. New window sizes require reframing. Great Western Barns does not charge owner for this work.
12/19 - Owner decides porch patios should be concrete. Great Western pours them for free to avoid further delays.
12/21 - Patio pour completed under adverse conditions. Extremely cold.
Extreme weather during Christmas break
1/2 - Work on hold due to record snowfall
1/12 - Owner notifies Great Western that snow is melted, water receding, road weight restrictions removed
1/13 - Work proceeds
1/22 - Rooftop shingle delivery
2/5 - Project completed

Howard's comment:
This owner should be overjoyed. Uncle Howard's and Great Western Barn Company rescued them when their builder and concrete contractor weren't available, gave them reduced prices, waited patiently through their delays, and in spite of the worst weather in 100 years, gave them a great product. I am proud of this project.
"Auggie's" negative rant is totally false, irresponsible, and criminal. It is easily disproven, and has left them open to lawsuit.
His statements about payments are obviously wrong since both Great Western and Uncle Howard's are paid in increments as we perform. Great Western's employees are highly skilled (I personally trained them more than 20 years ago). They are highly and promptly paid. Their skill level ensures that Uncle Howard's packages assembled by Great Western Barn Company are exceptional. Any person who wants more assurance may contact Howard for documents and references at unclehowards.com. This customer has a wonderfully designed, wonderfully assembled barn. We are not always perfect, but on this project, we were close.

Ironically, the owners still haven't paid their final Great Western labor payment.

I purchased a barn design and package through Uncle Howard's barns and decided to have them build it. I naturally asked about timing on building. I was told that they would start a couple weeks after we signed and gave them a deposit. Well that was really over a month. Not bad.

My first hint about timing was when he said they would be there Monday, so have the equipment ready. No one showed up and we had rented equipment to do the ground work.

Well, we finally got started. His crew would show up, then leave and not return for weeks.

I was told time and time again, they would be back. I was expecting them on the 3rd of the month, they didn't show until the 2nd of the next month. One whole month delay. I would call and constantly be told they would be there on Wednesday. Well, no one would show.

The most frustrating was when I had to pay for materials. Again, I was told the package would be delivered in two weeks. IT WAS TWO MONTHS. I was sure my money was gone

Again, they got started, then the crew left again and wasn't going to return until they were paid. Sounded like they hadn't been paid for a couple months. So, I can understand them leaving. But, we were left hostage with a partial building that was exposed to the weather in the middle of winter.

In three months time, they actually worked less than one month. I also ended up having to pay for materials that were supposed to be paid for in the package. But, the good thing was I knew the suppliers were paid then. Company is in major financial trouble and you are likely to lose money if you deal with the.

I was on Howard almost every day. We waited for items to be delivered for months. We finally went up and picked them up. I think that is what saved us.

Howard would turn postal on me and blame the delays on me. Maybe it was really that he was in desperate financial difficulty and not paying his suppliers or employees???

The design is nice, the finished product leaves a lot to be desired. Shortcuts all over the place. So, stay away!

I wish someone had posted on them before I signed on. I hope I can help others avoid the pain and stress we went though.

Auggie - Washington State
U.S.A.