Once we started making window package selections in Co-Construct (CC), the project management software that Sky Creek uses,, we chose to go with the tan frames. CC did not offer a choice of tan windows with no grid everywhere. Rather, the closest option offered was tan windows with grid on the front windows only. So this was our selection, and in the comments, we noted that we did not want the grid on any windows.

After the windows were installed, we came to Pueblo to check on the status of the construction, and noticed that the two front windows had a grid. We questioned this, and were told that that was what we had selected. We mentioned that we did not have any other choice, and alluded to the comment that we had included in (CC) stating that we did not want the grid on any windows. We were told that comments are not always read. These two windows were re-ordered, and fortunately did not cause a delay as the frames could be installed and the window panes swapped out at a later date.

Next item was that the window in the garage had been spec'd and ordered as non-opening. Apparently, this is normal Sky Creek practice; we were not aware of this. We requested that this non-opening window be replaced with an opening window. A new window was ordered, and paid for by us. What was initially supposed to be a two or three week delay turned into more of a four or five week delay.

Fortunately, the garage window did not become a delay, as shortly after the initial installation of the windows, Sky Creek identified that the casement windows were warping, and began discussions with Milgard to correct/replace the casement windows. Finally, after over two months of discussion, and a discussion that I had with the installers, Sky Creek decided to order replacement windows, and Milgard finally agreed that it was a manufacturer/design issue. These replacement windows took approximately six weeks to deliver. Sky Creek replaced all of the casement windows with the better Tuscan versions, but did not replace any of the Style Line transom windows.

Once again, the two windows on the front of the house were delivered with an internal grid, and the window in the garage was not replaced because it had originally been spec'd as non-opening. For whatever the reason, Milgard went back to the original order, rather than the new order. Deja-vu all over again!!! Guess we should all be grateful that they didn't re-send send the Style Line windows. This is a prime example of Sky Creek not following up on the details - one of many.

In order to install the new windows, the sheetrock around the windows had to be cut back about three inches in order to accommodate foam sealant, which required replacing narrow pieces of sheetrock, patching, and re-texturing. A band-aid fix, which affected the finished window walls; several of them are not square.

Rather than wait another six to eight weeks to get the correct replacement window for the garage, we decided to forgo replacing it, which would allow completion of the exterior finish, down spouts, lighting, etc.

We would like to mention that the house sat in Tyvek wrap for about four months. The exterior of the house could probably have been finished by mid-September, with perfect weather to apply stucco. Instead, the stucco was not applied until the first week in January.

Approximately three and a half months were wasted due to this window issue that easily could have been avoided.

We would not recommend Milgard windows to anyone. They stick when being opened, no matter how they are adjusted (we ended up trimming the frames to make them work correctly), and we have had a casement and transom panes crack for no apparent reason, and one transom shattered. One of the casement window sashs warped so badly that it does not touch the weatherstripping on the outside of the frame, leaving a gap of bout 1/4" open to the elements (see Update below).

The Milgard Style Line windows - the ones RECOMMENDED by Sky Creek - have virtually no warranty, unless an extended warranty is purchased, which we were not made aware of.

Do not let Sky Creek talk you into using Milgard windows. Our previous house had early vinyl casement windows installed and in the twenty-six years that we lived there, we did not have even one problem.

Update: After waiting six months for Milgard to fix the casement window that had warped so badly it would not contact the weatherstripping, two techs finally showed up (their instructions were to adjust a door??). While here, they looked at several of the other windows that we have problems with, and determined that they had been installed incorrectly. What a surprise!!! Just another example of quality Sky Creek construction.

We were informed that the walls could be re-done, but would cost $9,000 and take an additional six weeks to complete. Another delay; another compromise. While not happy, we agreed to go forward. We hoped that painting would improve the texture visibility. Unfortunately, the paint not only did not improve the texture visibility, but also exacerbated the waviness in the texture that resulted from sanding it down.

When the painters showed up and were prepping and caulking, we asked Sky Creek if the cabinets could be covered so that they did not get spattered with paint. This did not happen until after the painters had spray painted the doors and whatever trim had been installed. There was a layer of paint dust on the cabinets and in the drawers. There was also paint spattered in a few places on the cabinets and paint splashed on one of the end cabinets. There were no efforts made to clean the cabinets by either the painters or Sky Creek. When Sol Granite showed up to install the countertops, we cleaned the tops and drawers before the install.

We had requested, and paid for, the paint to be rolled on the ceiling and walls rather than being sprayed on. We believe that a rolled finish is less porous, easier to clean, and easier to touch up. The painters were observed slopping on as much paint as they could, as fast as they could. There were many particles in the wall paint from the paint rollers picking up floor dirt, and many inconsistencies in the painted surface. The ceiling also had many inconsistencies.

After the doors and trim had been sprayed, I noticed that the color was not correct. We had provided paint brand, style, and color information to Sky Creek. Apparently Home Depot did not have the particular paint that we had spec'd for the ceiling/doors/trim, and the painting contractor substituted a different brand/different color.

Sky Creek agreed that the paint was not as good as expected, but did nothing. The painters were brought back to finish the interior painting and touch up the walls, which made it look even worse. We were at the point where we had scheduled a painter to give us a quote for repainting, or were considering doing it ourselves. After two months of inaction, Sky Creek finally made the decision to hire a different contractor to repaint most of the interior (thanks again to Joe Fortino and his crew, who did a great job!). This was completed two-and-one-half months after the initial painting.

Much of the exterior paint was done in marginal (cold) conditions; some showing signs of freezing.

Unfortunately, in addition to the overspray and paint spatters, many of the cabinet doors were dented by the subcontractors working in the house. It certainly cost Sky Creek several thousand dollars to have doors replaced. We could not understand how they continued to get damaged.

We had been notified what day Sol Granite would be at the house to measure. While we would have liked to have been there, they showed up very late in the day; we had no idea that they even came. We met at Sol Granite, and laid out the templates on the granite slabs, selecting what sections went where.

In every design that we had given Sky Creek, it showed an approximate 6" overhang on the west edge of the island. When Sol Granite installed the countertops, the designed overhang was not there. Talked to Sky Creek and was told that we could get with Sol Granite and have them re-cut that particular piece, adding the overhang. Sounded great. Met at Sol Granite. The two remaining slabs of this particular pattern were cracked, which limited where we could locate the island piece. Unfortunately, the only available area would require that a large discoloration could not be worked around, and would be dominant in the island. This was not acceptable, so we didn't have any choice but to accept what has been installed. Another compromise.

Once the floor was installed, we requested on several occasions to have the floor covered while all of the contractors were in and out of the house. Finally, a very minimal covering was applied. We asked for a better cover, which was finally installed.

There are dents and marks on the floor. Sky Creek attempted to clean the marks, but several, including one obvious one in the dining room area still remain.

The flooring subcontractor installed the flooring incorrectly, voiding the warranty. He vertically hammered almost every joint during the installation, cracking the end joints. As a result of this hammering, numerous planks throughout the house have ends that are turned up (see photos - nice job Sky Creek!!). There are also numerous spots where the joint between two planks is "soft".

In addition, the installation instructions state that "the plank must not be shorter than 6 inches." There are at least two dozen end pieces being significantly less than six inches.

We had the supplier and a different installer look at the installation. They both said that the flooring was installed incorrectly, which voided the warranty.

After making a low-ball offer to replace the flooring, Sky Creek did give us some money, but not enough to even cover the replacement cost of the flooring, let alone the cost of labor to do the job correctly.

Once we were in the house, I removed the pump and the system works perfectly - as expected. Pump is free to a good home.

Sky Creek said that this unit was necessary because the house is built so air-tight that there would be no fresh air exchange and the windows would fog up.

We have operated our house both with and without the ERV, and found absolutely no difference. We also purchased CO2 monitors and again found that there was virtually no difference in the readings with/without the ERV operating. Windows have not fogged as we were told.

These units can be set to run continuously, or at adjustable intervals, and require occasional filter replacement. We don't really see the benefit of this unit.

While Sky Creek was supposed to do back splashes in the kitchen and laundry room, we decided to do it ourselves. Just another sub-par Sky Creek effort.

In addition, we cleaned up concrete chunks, hundreds of screws and nails, wire, and other miscellaneous construction debris around the house. There had been a dumpster on site that was available for all to use, but it seems that most of the subcontractors ignored its existence.

The garage floor was power washed once, but not before the house was complete. On a very cold February day, Sky Creek showed up to power wash the garage floor to clean up the remaining paint, etc. It turned out to be too cold to power wash, so the floor was cleaned by hand. I do not know whether the garage was finally power washed, or just rinsed off with water, but 2/3 of the floor was soaked, as was the lower portion of the garage doors including the garage door sensors. Following the cleaning, a heater was placed in the middle of the garage floor. The next morning, there was condensation running out of the breaker panel, down the walls, down the large garage doors, down the small garage doors, down the plug/switch plates, etc. Paint was bubbled on the two exterior passage doors.

Same with the electrical conduit trench. This trench was left open for several weeks. Once again we asked Sky Creek about filling the trench and was repeatedly told "next week." We ended up filling the trench.

Sky Creek removed over 600 cubic yards of dirt from the basement. When asked what they did with the dirt because we needed some for landscaping, we were told that it was "a net import" job, meaning that they had to bring in dirt to slope the grade away from the house. The neighbors said that they saw several (>12) large dump truck loads of dirt being removed from the property. (600 cubic yards is enough dirt to cover a football field (100 yd x 53.3 yd) approximately four inches deep)

These folks really don't know what they are talking about, or were just flat-out lying to us. We believe the latter.

In the end, we told Sky Creek that we didn't want them doing any more work on the house and would finish the remaining items ourselves.

Much of the exterior work was completed in marginal conditions. The brown coat on the stucco was supposed to be applied when the weather was forty degrees or greater. The day it was applied, the temperature never got above thirty-six degrees; certainly it was colder in the shade. The paint on the west door of the garage shows signs of freezing. Concrete was poured on some of the hottest days of the year.

In the end, final completion was delayed by window sills, which in turn delayed the tile, replacement of a door that had been waiting to be replaced for months, which was again painted an incorrect color (no surprise there), and cleaning the garage floor. None of which should have been on the critical path to begin with.

It was obvious that our house was not a priority for Sky Creek.

Poor or delayed decisions by Sky Creek resulted in unnecessary delays that affected work scheduling and added at least three months to the schedule. We were told that the house would be completed within sixty days after sheetrock. We closed on the house almost five months after sheetrock.

At the end of the day, we were the only ones impacted by these delays, not Sky Creek, nor its subcontractors.