Southwest Equine Shelters

Client hired William Gowing, dba Southwest Equine shelters to build a horse barn. Project cost $43,165.00.... Footers in wrong, roofing metal on backwards, stall height wrong, no overhang where requested, hurracaine straps all right hand no left, on backwards! Could go on and on. First mistake, barn was not placed in correct place per excavation contractor and property owner/ client. Metal roof is on wrong, small channel on top of large hold down channel, so top sheet is on under bottom sheet per William's instructions to helpers.Client tried several times to correct this mistake but builder would not listen,have witinesses. Client paid for all helpers and excavation. Client had to hire help to get roof on with William Gowing standing watching. Clients have paid to date thousands more to correct Gowings many mistakes. Had to tear down walls to put in studs where there were no studs. Exterior walls were horses could push or lean on walls. OSB was only screwed down on outer edges. Wife tried to fire him on 11-10-2010 in writing. Gowing begged for job, she felt sorry for him and gave him another chance making it clear he had to listen and show up on time. Clients ended up firing him on 11-21-2010 with Gowing threating to sue clients. Clients were tired and fed up with builder not doing work he was hired to do.Gowing was fired and the barn was not completed. He received to date approx $30000.00. Gowing was slow and not concerned about getting roof metal on before the snow. He would not listen to Client and continued to do poor quality work and show up late to job site. Gowing even argued about how much snow clients get at site property. Client paid for on site porta potty,and cleaning of porta potty every week. William Gowing did not use the porta potty, would uninate by his pickup with female client just a few feet away. Gowing latter admited he is physically unable to be on roof due to heart attack and vertigo. Owner had explained before hiring that her husband was not to be on roof or to help and that she was not to do any lifting. Husband along with two helpers had to install roof per Gowings instructions; wife tried to explain that metal was going on wrong. Gowing argued with her in front of husband and hired help. Client/ wife was right; roof is on wrong and flaps in the wind due to being installed backwards, upside down. Wife had to lift and move lumber to get it under roof before snow storm, Gowing watched, helped at last 14 peices of materials. Client had asked him several times to move wood under roof. Used clients tractors to lift all material up on roof and unload trailers. Client also paid for excavation contractor to set the trusses.Hired help had to repair framing in of tackroom walls Gowing had framed in with wall leaning into tackroom area, not built correctly, several inches in on one side. Gowing argued with Client helpers at every turn causing this to be a stressful and expensive mess, that has had to be repaired from builders mistakes. Owner paid for trusses and materials. Every contractor that has seen this mess has said this builder( William Gowing) does not know what he is doing. William Gowing is a nice guy but this is the worst constructed horse barn and has cost more than a Morton barn would have. The work as done, would not have held up to horse's or a big winds. Gowing would not listen to Owner or owners hired help he repeatedly stated he knew what he was doing. Gowing charged for material that was not on site and left taking some of owners extention cords and all screws and nails and roofing tar paper that owner had paid for. He returned the materials to hardware stores for money back after he was fired. Owners had requested several times that all materials be on site before construction, contractor would not do this,Client requested material be on site several times. Owners tried to work with contractor suppling additional help and even helping themselves. Clients did all site clean up and trash haul off. Clients have had to buy additional materials to repair builders mistakes. William Gowing got paid well, for a very poorly built barn. The clients have had to pay for this building to be repaired and due to weather were unable to complete or use barn for winter. When a person pays for new construction they should not have to fire the contractor and then repair his mistakes before the barn can be completed. DO not use this contractor! To date Clients have paid for total reconstruct of barn. Doors are off by 2 - 6 inches! Trusses all are off due to not reading level. All footers in wrong and having problems. Poor construction high cost!