Economy Garages

Economy Garages did an outstanding job of building our garage. We're not associated with them in any way, other than having them build us a garage one time, and I would definitely have them do it again. Firstly, if you are pricing for a garage, or similar type building, in the northern Minnesota area they serve, then don't spend a lot of time looking for a more economical builder: there isn't one. Economy is the price leader, period. I tried to find a more inexpensive builder, and there aren't any, excluding some kind of unique 'sweat equity' arrangement on your own. There's plenty of other fine builders, but none that can compete with them on price. Also, if you are out in the wilderness like me (1 hour from Duluth on a narrow unimproved road), they charge no more for remoteness, as long as it is in the area they serve, which is practically all of northern Minnesota. They serve northern Wisconsin too, but we don't have experience with them there, but it's probably the same. We had to have our site prepared. The price they quoted was the slab, and then the garage built on top of it; separate crews from Economy. There are no hidden charges or cost overruns. The building permit (nominal), electrical (they did install my garage door opener very reasonably to ensure functionality), and any needed plumbing is up to the purchaser. I had water supply, drains and vents for a full bath, and septic connections incorporated into mine. The sales process was transparent and no pressure. The building crews, to a person, were always courteous and professional to myself and my wife, and our property. When we called them, they always answered, or called us right back. Questions? Not a bother to them at all, in terms of sales or construction; excellent customer service, and we called a lot. [Building contractors out there, don't get mad, but a lot of you lack interpersonal skills and everyday tasks like talking on the phone, texting, and emailing, sorry.] The quality of the materials and build was fine. We have a beautiful garage plus! If you want a total turnkey Cadillac building where you don't have to do anything, then look elsewhere and prepare to bleed. If you can handle the site prep and electrical/plumbing on your own, and want a perfectly functional family sedan of a garage at an unbeatable price, then call Economy.

Economy Garages did an outstanding job of building our garage. We're not associated with them in any way, other than having them build us a garage one time, and I would definitely have them do it again. Firstly, if you are pricing for a garage, or similar type building, in the northern Minnesota area they serve, then don't spend a lot of time looking for a more economical builder: there isn't one. Economy is the price leader, period. I tried to find a more inexpensive builder, and there aren't any, excluding some kind of unique 'sweat equity' arrangement on your own. There's plenty of other fine builders, but none that can compete with them on price. Also, if you are out in the wilderness like me (1 hour from Duluth on a narrow unimproved road), they charge no more for remoteness, as long as it is in the area they serve, which is practically all of northern Minnesota. They serve northern Wisconsin too, but we don't have experience with them there, but it's probably the same. We had to have our site prepared. The price they quoted was the slab, and then the garage built on top of it; separate crews from Economy. There are no hidden charges or cost overruns. The building permit (nominal), electrical (they did install my garage door opener very reasonably to ensure functionality), and any needed plumbing is up to the purchaser. I had water supply, drains and vents for a full bath, and septic connections incorporated into mine. The sales process was transparent and no pressure. The building crews, to a person, were always courteous and professional to myself and my wife, and our property. When we called them, they always answered, or called us right back. Questions? Not a bother to them at all, in terms of sales or construction; excellent customer service, and we called a lot. [Building contractors out there, don't get mad, but a lot of you fall very short, and I'm being kind, at interpersonal skills and everyday tasks like talking on the phone, texting, and emailing, sorry.] The quality of the materials and build awas fine. We have a beautiful garage plus! If you want a total turnkey Cadillac building where you don't have to do anything, then look elsewhere and prepare to bleed. If you can handle the site prep and electrical/plumbing on your own, and want a perfectly functional family sedan of a garage at an unbeatable price, then call Economy.

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We contacted the company about a week afer the building was completed about problems we'd noticed (as we went along, we found many more problems.)  We complained about some delaminating siding and many very noticeable bumps in the roof along with a partition that was misplaced by one half foot from the contract specifications.  Economy garages contacted us an were very insistant about coming the following week to fix the partition.  We'd had electric wires and outlets installed that needed an electrician to disconnect.  We requested they work on the siding or roof and allow us time to schedule an electrician to undo wiring.  economy garages refused to work on the roof or siding on the date they'd insisted we allow them to work on the partition.  We realized that they were not interested in fixing the poor workmanship on the siding and roof because those things were not affected by the contract specifications while the partition placement did affect the contract fulfillment. The people economy garages hired did not seem to show understanding of basic building beyond putting up pre-constructed walls.  T-111 siding and roofing felt was left uncovered over a very wet weekend; manufacturer recommends covering these items from getting wet.  panels that were clearly delaminating were put on our building.  siding was not installed as manufacturer recommended and siding began pulling away from building, bulges and cracks began to happen in the siding that we presume is from moisture permeating the siding.  roofing shingles are so unaligned that many are unsealed.  there are many very noticeable bumps and waves on our roof that we presume are from incorrectly installed underlayment and poor nailing.  on a thirty six foot building side the workers pieced together seven scraps of flashing;  hurricane straps were installed incorrectly and were redone through bbb negotiations, however the workers were sullen about redoing the work.  top plate seams were cut in same place rather than over lapped for structural integrety; doors overlap and bump into each other because the space between them is less than the three feet specified in the contract;  although the partition was moved it was done so poorly ( partition angles approximately 2 inches over a nine foot span and floor was damaged from the move) that we will have problems putting in countertops and cabinets.  trim was poorly fitted in many places and unattached soffits have been sagging significantly for two years. staples were used rather than the color matched trim nails that economy garages used on their display model garage.  while we did negotiate through the BBB and this company promised to fix problems, they did not fix what they'd promised to fix.  The little over an hours work they did do was not done to manufacterers recommendation.  we refused binding arbitration with BBB. we did not want to give up our rights because this company had shown such poor work and poor response.  for us to fix the problems this company left us with, we estimate between $10,000 to $20,000 as it costs more to undo poor work than redo the work correctly.

Very professional. Good experience. Nice people. Always returned calls promptly and worked to answer any questions, make minor changes, etc.