Main Services: General Contracting - Baseboards - Crown Moulding - Drywall - Cabinetry - Flooring - Concrete - Tile - HVAC
Description:
Construction has always been my passion. After 25 years of field construction and maintenance in the Gas/Oil Industry where I honed my skills building Operating Plants, Control Facilities, and Compression Systems in the Refining and Nuclear Industry, my focus as Owner of Foster Construction is to now expand into the more personal, private sector.
I was personally introduced to residential framing as a young teenager, then expanded my skill-set into concrete, landscape design, drywall, and plumbing. I proudly served in the US Army Military Police Corp where I developed my attention to detail and went on to utilize my construction talents in Nicaragua to assist those in need. I believe in full accountability for my skills and performance, pride myself on listening to a client's concerns, and of course...paying attention to details. This is also the expectation for my crew and sub-contractors as we create dreams for clients at a fair price. Albeit Commercial or Residential Foster Construction is here for all your needs and all your changes.
What sets us apart from other contractors: I believe in full accountability for my skills and performance, pride myself on listening to a client's concerns, and of course...paying attention to details.
We are best known for: Professionalism and attention to detail.
2 Reviews
Review MeWinchester CA
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Price
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Work Description: Landscape/Concrete
Comments: A must read!!!!! Save your hard earned money!!!!!It’s not in my nature to speak negatively of someone, however, there are certain circumstances in which it’s warranted. We had a few bids for our landscape project and chose Mike not based on price but rather the good first impression and implied expertise. While Mike Foster may present himself well, he lacks attention to detail and his word is only a means to an end. Not to mention Mike seemingly contracts out all work to what “I believe” to be the lowest bid subcontractors/laborers he can find in order to pocket more money himself. Craftsmanship is not a priority.
Thirteen months ago Foster Construction “completed” our landscape project. I am posting most recently because 13 months was the allotted time we afforded Mike Foster to address our issues with this work and or compensate us for the additional $4,200 we had to pay in order to fix the work of Mike Foster and or that of his sub-contractors/laborers. Either way as the contractor Mike is ultimately responsible for all the work.
Mike stated he was experiencing financial difficulties during that time as a result of multiple projects that had been “botched.” As a result, my wife and I showed him a little grace in the form of time. Unbeknownst to us, Mike apparently would find weakness in that grace. As time went on I was the only one to initiate contact and as the story goes, “time plays tricks on a memory,” Mike apparently forgot all about us. Fortunately for us, my wife and I have plenty of email, text, pictures, and contractural documentation to support our claims. As such, I will summarize a few discrepancies we have with Foster Construction.
One of our major projects was a large patch of artificial turf we had installed in the front yard. This grass was the most expensive portion of our total landscape project and accounted for approximately $6,100.00. Mike decided unskilled laborers would be best suited to accomplish this task, unfortunately it was executed as you may have suspected. Mike gave those laborers direction even though he had never himself installed artificial turf. We had an obvious seam in the grass, no weed barrier, very loose, and large rocks could be felt everywhere a person could step. Eventually after a great deal of back and forth, Mike agreed that the repair was greater than that of his skill level so he told us we could bring in Turf Solutions to re-install it at the cost of $1500, they did an outstanding job. At this point we are out an additional $1500 after having paid Mike $12000, almost double my other quotes for the same project.
The second of the larger projects within the landscape plan was concrete walkways on both sides of our house to match the existing pool deck, about one cement truck worth of concrete, or so Mike miscalculated. The pour at our home came up short so instead of doing the right thing by ordering a short load, Mike decided to save money and use river rock from our front yard for filler. In addition, Mike disregarded my direction to contact the pool builder in order to match the existing concrete and or do what any experienced contractor would do which would have entailed calling the three main concrete companies in the area to find out who did the original pour in order to ascertain the color. Mike instead chose the color of Plum to match the existing Omaha Tan. We had purple concrete that needed to be taken up. Mike stood by his mistake and refused to take ownership. Keep in mind Mike never confirmed the plum color with us prior to the pour. At the cost of $2700 additional to us, B&C Concrete came in and removed the purple concrete and found it to be filled with river rock. In a matter of minutes B&C Concrete tracked down Superior concrete and matched the original pour color. Two thumbs up to B&C Concrete for professionalism and an outstanding job.
You may be wondering why we allowed these discrepancies to go unchecked at the time. Well, my now wife and I were in Lake Tahoe getting married. Mike was entrusted with our home and the remainder of the project while we were away, we even gave him a key to our house! “When the Cats away” I guess. Foolish on our part to say the least. Should have had eyes on him and the project the entire time.
Mike was eventually coerced to come back to our home to view the new concrete work and to take another look at the horrible turf install as well as the rubble pile of purple concrete with river rock embedded in it. He was extremely apologetic and humbled at that time. He couldn’t argue anything after having viewed it all. He literally said, “you got me by the b*lls”. As I mentioned previously, Mike said he was experiencing multiple projects with similar issues and stated he was unable to cut us a check at that time. We agreed to not only give him time but also to allow him to work it off in the form of other projects at a minimal cost to him for supplies. We had a few months time due to the fact that the work we were suggesting revolved around improvements to our RV parking which was held up by our H.O.A. He agreed to those terms and even sent me an email that evening (per my request) recognizing the issue at hand.
Now here we are 13 months later and Mike only recently gave us four hours of work which entailed digging a trench in our backyard and glueing $120.00 in ABS pipe together, the trench is still a trench, a far cry from the $4200. I literally put in far more effort just trying to get him to do the right thing, the very opportunity he was grateful for 13 months ago. So Many opportunities were given to Mike to fulfill his promise prior to this review. So much for our kindness and willingness to work with him.
So 13 months later I am doing what should have been done immediately after these issues came to light. I now have to review him, report him to the SCLB, go through that process, and possibly file a small claims report after that process, all of which I desperately wanted to avoid.
As professionals, my wife an RN and me a Firefighter, we both have a profound respect for the Integrity, accountability, and customer service associated with our respective careers. That being said, it is extremely disheartening to project those very same values on another just to be completely taken advantage of. The 12,000 I paid Mike Foster came at a great cost to me, my wife, and our two little kids. Countless days away from home and the kids in order for us to work the overtime in order to pay Mike for a professional quality job only to have it squandered on substandard work. The insult to injury was not only having overpaid Mike but having to work even more in order to pay to repair his work. We will never get that time as a family back. I held up my end of the contract but I guess that only works one way.
Speaking on the topic of contracts, we had a few change orders to our original contract that warranted revision of the original. Several emails were sent to Mike asking for the updated contract with change orders so we could see where the money was being allocated for the new changes. Not only did Mike fail to revise the contract with those change orders, he ended up charging me an additional $1500 in the end for various “incidentals.” To this day I have no certain idea of what it cost for each portion of the job but what I do know is that extremely excessive no matter how you slice the pie. After speaking with the contractors who repaired my turf and concrete, it was incredibly alarming to find out how much I overpaid Foster Construction, moreover, what I overpaid for shoddy work. My advice, contract the pros yourself and get quality work done at a reduced cost.
It’s a shame it has come down to this because it’s a lose lose for both parties involved.
Brent Gregory
Murrieta CA
Overall
Quality
Price
Punctuality
Work Description: Front yard renovation
Comments: Foster Construction to help me with my front yard renovation/patio project. It consisted of removing all my grass, removing these huge rocks, pouring concrete for the patio area and steps, stamp, light pillars, artificial grass, (amazing job), planter, etc.Mike listened and help me design my vision into reality. He walked me through each phase of my project. He was accommodating to my changes and since I was on a budget, he offered alternatives for my changes (No surprises $$). There was one blip when the concrete steps were poured but I didn't even notice it. Mike approached me after it was dry and brought it to my attention and told me how he was going to fix it. Who does that? His honesty was refreshing, and I have contacted him after his work was completed to help me do some other work around my home. His knowledge, experience and his friendly demeanor made this working relationship a great experience.
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