We find ourselves in a horrific mess with Boulder Construction. Although I’d prefer not to write this review, it has become an essential step in dealing with this disaster.
Our $1.4 million home was supposed to be finished by October 27, 2024, but we're now facing extended delays, making it nearly two months (and counting) late. This means we’re throwing money away to the bank without a finished house to show for it.
Here are the facts:
- Boulder was contracted to apply a smooth finish stucco. (It started on August 7th)
- From the start, we had major concerns about the application process and the unsatisfactory appearance.
- The stucco crew kept doing the same ineffective job, expecting different outcomes (which never happened).
- Even though the stucco work began in July, the crew took multiple breaks, delaying the completion.
- Boulder claimed they pushed the stucco crew aside to finish the stairs (another problem area), but later admitted they couldn't get the crew to return. The outcome was that they started before the stairs went in so the excuse in the delay was a waste of time.
- We discovered Boulder had no experience with smooth finish stucco, shattering our confidence in them.
- Boulder insisted on priming the house to identify flaws, despite us pointing out visible imperfections without primer.
- We decided the entire stucco job needed redoing and opted for a sand finish, which the crew was more familiar with.
- We hired an independent firm to consult and audit the process, knowing that priming would introduce new complications.
- Boulder promised crews of 12 for a quick job, but only 2-3 workers ever showed up.
- Even with the sand finish, the stucco isn't sticking properly, creating hollow spots.
-They aren't identifying all of the hollow spots to be chipped out and re-done. If any hollow spots are overlooked, it will all crack and fall off within time.
- We offered Boulder extra money for more workers, but they refused.
- We suggested Boulder pay the stucco crew more to bring in additional manpower, but they claimed the stucco company wouldn't accept it.
- We're desperate for completion, but with only two workers on-site, it will be weeks before it's done.
This stucco nightmare isn't our only issue with Boulder. The process has damaged our new pavers, roof, spigots, electrical boxes, and more.
Our timeline has gone completely off-track due to Boulder's mismanagement.
Furthermore, we've faced a mountain of problems with Boulder. Our upgraded smooth drywall walls were ruined by painters using the wrong nap rollers. They ignored our request for a whole-home generator and then tried to upcharge us. A massive grading oversight forced us to elevate our house higher than planned, costing us thousands in drainage/site work and fall protection. Clay was washing into the lake, and despite multiple requests for a silt fence, it was only installed after my husband threatened to report it to the county. The list goes on, and I plan to publish the full details once this ordeal is over.
Boulder is deceptive in their communications, saying one thing in writing or in person but delivering a completely different reality.
At this point, I've come to the conclusion that Boulder isn't motivated to finish the house and we're the ones financially penalized for it.
Chris
-
December 15, 2024
We couldn’t be happier that we chose to build with Boulder and absolutely loved our experience. I honestly can’t say enough about how excellent it was working with Zac and his staff. From start to finish it took them 10 months and our Dream Home was ready to for move in. During our build Governor Desantis changed some rules that had trade workers fleeing the state. Companies were scrambling due to trade shortages and it was a nightmare for many builders across the State but not for Boulder. My wife and I feared we would see a delay and yet Boulder was prepared and it our build never missed a beat. I work in the industry and I will tell you know it is very rare to find some like Zac who actually cares, listens and goes the extra mile. Many builders I have dealt with in the past are horrible at communication but not Boulder. I would recommend Zac and his crew to anybody that wanted a true Custom Home because he delivers exactly that. With all of this said I am busy and typically do not write reviews. I drove by Boulders office the other day and it reminded me I needed to tell everyone what a great Company they are.
James Sargeant III
-
December 07, 2024
We signed our contract with Boulder on June 6th, 2023, expecting a smooth and timely construction process. However, breaking ground took over four months, finally commencing on October 19th. The primary reason for this significant delay was Boulder's miscalculation of the hill's gradient on which our house was to be constructed. Initially, they estimated a five-foot drop from the front to the back of the property, but it turned out to be thirteen feet. This considerable discrepancy led to a substantial increase in costs related to constructing a taller stem wall, additional retaining walls, drainage and fall protect. The financial burden amounted to thousands of dollars and marked the beginning of what has turned out to be a nightmarish build.
We are now approaching two months beyond our contractual completion date with no clear end in sight. The most recent delay stems from an ongoing stucco issue that remains unresolved. The problems began in August with a failed attempt to achieve a smooth finish, necessitating re-stuccoing the entire house with a sand finish. Currently, the sand finish is being redone because it failed to adhere properly to the initial smooth layer. Consequently, workers are now removing hollow sections and patching the walls, resulting in a visibly uneven surface. Additionally, Zac, the project manager and husband of the general contractor, insisted on installing the pool pavers, driveway, and railing despite the incomplete stucco work. This decision has caused further complications, as numerous pavers need replacement, and the fall protection railing had to be removed and has yet to be reinstalled. Furthermore, several shingles are now damaged due to stucco cement and paint overspray from the priming of the smooth finish walls.
In summarizing our experience, it becomes evident that Boulder’s approach to construction is largely reactive rather than proactive. Zac, who is supposed to oversee the project, only checks in on the progress once a week and rarely monitors the work being performed in real time to provide necessary guidance. He has explicitly stated that he believes his input and supervision would distract the workers and prefers to make adjustments only after the work is completed.
When we initially signed with Boulder, they assured us that any additional features or changes we desired, even those not included in the original plans, could be accommodated. We requested a quote for installing a diamond cable pattern on a blank wall at the front of the house to support vine growth. After weeks of waiting, we were informed they could not find anyone to complete this task.
We chose Boulder based on their reputation and promises of a seamless, timely construction process. Having renovated many houses ourselves, we hired Boulder to mitigate stress and avoid potential headaches. Unfortunately, this experience has been far more stressful and costly than we ever anticipated.
Robert Barry
-
November 09, 2023
Built our house 22 years ago. In all those years, not a single structural problem. Solid even through a number of hurricanes.
In addition, over the years, they have been kind enough to share the names of companies they currently use for things such as plumbing or electrical. Saves time screening unknown vendor sources. I know that Boulder uses only well qualified sources.
I highly recommend Boulder!
Lauren Loveless
-
November 20, 2020
Going into a complete remodel and build out we were nervous about the scale of the project and honestly hadn’t heard many stories where people had a good experience with their builder. We interviewed and even did a few small projects with a few other companies to get a feel for best fit and to ensure we would get exactly what we were looking for!
We are beyond grateful we choose Boulder Construction after doing our due diligence with so many other companies. Not only was the process and working with their whole team such a good experience! We absolutely love the finished project!
Better than we could have ever dreamed or imagined.
They were attentive, always keeping us in the loop, helping us make sound decisions, solution oriented, and the quality and attention to detail has made our dream house a reality! So many times going above and beyond to ensure things were done on time or on budget.
We still have more phases to add on and no doubt Boulder will be the only ones we even consider!
We find ourselves in a horrific mess with Boulder Construction. Although I’d prefer not to write this review, it has become an essential step in dealing with this disaster. Our $1.4 million home was supposed to be finished by October 27, 2024, but we're now facing extended delays, making it nearly two months (and counting) late. This means we’re throwing money away to the bank without a finished house to show for it. Here are the facts: - Boulder was contracted to apply a smooth finish stucco. (It started on August 7th) - From the start, we had major concerns about the application process and the unsatisfactory appearance. - The stucco crew kept doing the same ineffective job, expecting different outcomes (which never happened). - Even though the stucco work began in July, the crew took multiple breaks, delaying the completion. - Boulder claimed they pushed the stucco crew aside to finish the stairs (another problem area), but later admitted they couldn't get the crew to return. The outcome was that they started before the stairs went in so the excuse in the delay was a waste of time. - We discovered Boulder had no experience with smooth finish stucco, shattering our confidence in them. - Boulder insisted on priming the house to identify flaws, despite us pointing out visible imperfections without primer. - We decided the entire stucco job needed redoing and opted for a sand finish, which the crew was more familiar with. - We hired an independent firm to consult and audit the process, knowing that priming would introduce new complications. - Boulder promised crews of 12 for a quick job, but only 2-3 workers ever showed up. - Even with the sand finish, the stucco isn't sticking properly, creating hollow spots. -They aren't identifying all of the hollow spots to be chipped out and re-done. If any hollow spots are overlooked, it will all crack and fall off within time. - We offered Boulder extra money for more workers, but they refused. - We suggested Boulder pay the stucco crew more to bring in additional manpower, but they claimed the stucco company wouldn't accept it. - We're desperate for completion, but with only two workers on-site, it will be weeks before it's done. This stucco nightmare isn't our only issue with Boulder. The process has damaged our new pavers, roof, spigots, electrical boxes, and more. Our timeline has gone completely off-track due to Boulder's mismanagement. Furthermore, we've faced a mountain of problems with Boulder. Our upgraded smooth drywall walls were ruined by painters using the wrong nap rollers. They ignored our request for a whole-home generator and then tried to upcharge us. A massive grading oversight forced us to elevate our house higher than planned, costing us thousands in drainage/site work and fall protection. Clay was washing into the lake, and despite multiple requests for a silt fence, it was only installed after my husband threatened to report it to the county. The list goes on, and I plan to publish the full details once this ordeal is over. Boulder is deceptive in their communications, saying one thing in writing or in person but delivering a completely different reality. At this point, I've come to the conclusion that Boulder isn't motivated to finish the house and we're the ones financially penalized for it.
We couldn’t be happier that we chose to build with Boulder and absolutely loved our experience. I honestly can’t say enough about how excellent it was working with Zac and his staff. From start to finish it took them 10 months and our Dream Home was ready to for move in. During our build Governor Desantis changed some rules that had trade workers fleeing the state. Companies were scrambling due to trade shortages and it was a nightmare for many builders across the State but not for Boulder. My wife and I feared we would see a delay and yet Boulder was prepared and it our build never missed a beat. I work in the industry and I will tell you know it is very rare to find some like Zac who actually cares, listens and goes the extra mile. Many builders I have dealt with in the past are horrible at communication but not Boulder. I would recommend Zac and his crew to anybody that wanted a true Custom Home because he delivers exactly that. With all of this said I am busy and typically do not write reviews. I drove by Boulders office the other day and it reminded me I needed to tell everyone what a great Company they are.
We signed our contract with Boulder on June 6th, 2023, expecting a smooth and timely construction process. However, breaking ground took over four months, finally commencing on October 19th. The primary reason for this significant delay was Boulder's miscalculation of the hill's gradient on which our house was to be constructed. Initially, they estimated a five-foot drop from the front to the back of the property, but it turned out to be thirteen feet. This considerable discrepancy led to a substantial increase in costs related to constructing a taller stem wall, additional retaining walls, drainage and fall protect. The financial burden amounted to thousands of dollars and marked the beginning of what has turned out to be a nightmarish build. We are now approaching two months beyond our contractual completion date with no clear end in sight. The most recent delay stems from an ongoing stucco issue that remains unresolved. The problems began in August with a failed attempt to achieve a smooth finish, necessitating re-stuccoing the entire house with a sand finish. Currently, the sand finish is being redone because it failed to adhere properly to the initial smooth layer. Consequently, workers are now removing hollow sections and patching the walls, resulting in a visibly uneven surface. Additionally, Zac, the project manager and husband of the general contractor, insisted on installing the pool pavers, driveway, and railing despite the incomplete stucco work. This decision has caused further complications, as numerous pavers need replacement, and the fall protection railing had to be removed and has yet to be reinstalled. Furthermore, several shingles are now damaged due to stucco cement and paint overspray from the priming of the smooth finish walls. In summarizing our experience, it becomes evident that Boulder’s approach to construction is largely reactive rather than proactive. Zac, who is supposed to oversee the project, only checks in on the progress once a week and rarely monitors the work being performed in real time to provide necessary guidance. He has explicitly stated that he believes his input and supervision would distract the workers and prefers to make adjustments only after the work is completed. When we initially signed with Boulder, they assured us that any additional features or changes we desired, even those not included in the original plans, could be accommodated. We requested a quote for installing a diamond cable pattern on a blank wall at the front of the house to support vine growth. After weeks of waiting, we were informed they could not find anyone to complete this task. We chose Boulder based on their reputation and promises of a seamless, timely construction process. Having renovated many houses ourselves, we hired Boulder to mitigate stress and avoid potential headaches. Unfortunately, this experience has been far more stressful and costly than we ever anticipated.
Built our house 22 years ago. In all those years, not a single structural problem. Solid even through a number of hurricanes. In addition, over the years, they have been kind enough to share the names of companies they currently use for things such as plumbing or electrical. Saves time screening unknown vendor sources. I know that Boulder uses only well qualified sources. I highly recommend Boulder!
Going into a complete remodel and build out we were nervous about the scale of the project and honestly hadn’t heard many stories where people had a good experience with their builder. We interviewed and even did a few small projects with a few other companies to get a feel for best fit and to ensure we would get exactly what we were looking for! We are beyond grateful we choose Boulder Construction after doing our due diligence with so many other companies. Not only was the process and working with their whole team such a good experience! We absolutely love the finished project! Better than we could have ever dreamed or imagined. They were attentive, always keeping us in the loop, helping us make sound decisions, solution oriented, and the quality and attention to detail has made our dream house a reality! So many times going above and beyond to ensure things were done on time or on budget. We still have more phases to add on and no doubt Boulder will be the only ones we even consider!