WELCOME MESSAGE

The purpose of Building in Pagosa is to inform, educate and protect both the future homeowner and all reputable design professionals, contractors and subcontractors in Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County, Colorado. Are you aware that licensing is not required of building contractors in the State of Colorado?

Until you have spent some time in Pagosa Springs and asked a lot of questions, you may not be aware of some of the less than honest construction practices performed by some of the local contractors. Do yourself a favor and ask a lot of questions.

There are contractors in Pagosa Springs who will bid less than other contractors but will not provide the same construction services. They will not provide high quality materials and nor will they provide all of the items listed in the Building Codes, on your contract documents, or in their signed contract. Items such as snow and ice protection on the roof, proper soil compaction and drainage around the perimeter of your house as well as proper drainage of the crawl space. So if your roof leaks, your patio settles, your windows and doors don’t open or close and your driveway is cracked, this is only due to incompetent contractors who don’t care about the quality of the home that they have provided. They only want your money. These less than honest ones are the contractors who promise you the moon, but will not give you any guarantees. They will only give you false references or no references and will stack one lie on top of another.

The good contractors will not only give you names, phone numbers and addresses of their last three or four home owners, but will give you a 5% retainage allowance which you will not have to pay until you have thoroughly inspected the home and have completely accepted it prior to your making the final payment. The less than honest contractors will expect up front money which should never be paid since most will immediately leave the area.

You do need to understand that there are good contractors in Pagosa Springs, but they are greatly outnumbered by the less than honest contractors. Don’t be afraid to talk to the people who live here. Talk to people in the stores where you shop, your place of lodging, your neighbors or at your church of choice. Most people here have many stories of housing problems that they would share with you if asked.