Richard Skees Construction Letter of Recommendation
I can and do, without reservation, recommend Richard Skees Construction. I believe you could not find any one more honest or more considerate of the homeowner than Dick Skees.
When I first met Dick Skees, someone he had worked with said to me, “When Dick is done building your house, you are still friends”. I can whole-heartedly affirm that statement. Dick & I became good friends on the job and he remains a trusted friend today. My wife & I were new to the
Flathead
Valley
. Dick was a reliable source of information about life here and I was never disappointed about by of his recommendations. Dick was happy to have us visit his job site and show us the quality of Richard Skees Constructions work. Dick was anxious to work with us to build the house WE wanted not what was convenient for him. But, he was always willing to give us the benefit of his knowledge and experience, but only if we wanted him to do so. Dick and his crew take personal pride in a job well done, wanting the owner to be happy with their new HOME. Richard Skees Construction was always friendly and honest, always ready to answer any questions we had, never had a problem with me “looking over his shoulder”.
Since Dick builds one house a time you know where to find his crew: ON YOUR HOUSE! Except for the initial start up bundle of materials, (the receipt for which Dick gave us) Dick never wanted paid in advance of the progress he was making on our home. So, there was never a concern that he wouldn’t be there working on our house. There are many horror stories of people being cheated out of their money by contractors taking advance payment and then disappearing. The contract that the owner and Richard Skees Construction have prevents that risk.
Dick pays great attention to detail from structure through the finish aesthetics of the house.
A few examples follow:
- Paints the soil stack, stove chimney, etc. to match the roof, great touch!
- Stuffed insulation in closed wall joints to prevent “cold corners” in the house – this is something that can not be done when the insulation installers come in.
- Due to Richard Skees Constructions experience Dick recommended 12” on center joists under the floor tile area to strengthen the floor to prevent cracking. (He could have saved some dollars placing the joists at 16” or 24” on center.) The result is that we haven’t has cracking of our tile floors.
- Richard Skees Construction uses re-rod in all the concrete (not mesh). Mesh is a short cut, his concrete subcontractor told me a lot of contractors will use. He doesn’t like seeing that done (using mesh).
- Dick prefers to use plywood (instead of particle board or OSB) to sheath the walls and roof to increase the strength and stability.
- Structurally very solid construction, Dick doesn’t like short cuts.
- Our house doesn’t creak in the wind, like our “custom” home in
Iowa
did, nor do the floors creak.
- We don’t here the outside environmental sounds when the house is closed.
- Construction is Straight, Square, & True.
Dick has hand picked his crew and doesn’t settle for haphazard work. Throughout our job whenever working with any of his crewmembers, they were always friendly, courteous, professional and respectful. Dick has always insisted on being notified if something does need attention later, so he can see to getting the right people to fix it to his standards and in a timely manner.
In talking with other people I’ve met since Richard Skees Construction built our home, I’ve heard multiple horror stories. They range from only starting a foundation and disappearing, to walls and windows cracking with the shifting and settling of the house to no follow-up on problems. We’ve had none of that.
If you want a “home” built to last and not start falling apart as soon as the ink on the last check is dry, then Richard Skees Construction must be a serious consideration. I would not hesitate to have Dick build another house for us. And I will always be grateful to the person who recommended Richard Skees Construction to me.
Respectfully submitted,
David and Malinda Shafman
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