Consulting

The Consultant and Expert Witness You Can Count On

When questions or disputes arise in the complex world of construction, you need more than just an expert… you need a partner with a deep understanding of the industry, a proven track record, and world class credentials. At Craftsman Collective, we offer a unique blend of hands-on experience and academic rigor, providing unparalleled consulting and expert witness services. While we specialize in disputes, Craftsman Collective can offer expert guidance on every facet of building design, construction, or maintenance.

CONTACT US

Meet Founder Robert Howard, Ph.D.

Craftsman Collective founder Dr. Robert Howard is a construction expert unlike any you've worked with before. A lifelong skilled tradesman who, prior to founding Craftsman Collective, became a senior commercial manager for Fortune 100 general contractors delivering multibillion-dollar projects on four continents. From residential construction to commercial, industrial, petrochemical, and the Department of Defense in Iraq and Afghanistan, Dr. Howard has extraordinary experience in the construction industry with a specialization in quantifying and negotiating contract disputes. His expertise spans a wide range of construction issues, from material deficiencies to professional negligence and complex change order claims.

This practical experience is reinforced by an exceptional academic background. Dr. Howard holds a Master of Science and Ph.D. in Construction Economics from the Bartlett Faculty of the Built Environment at University College London, the world's top ranked program for the built environment and a top ten ranked university overall. Dr. Howard has also published in prestigious journals including the International Journal of Project Management and Journal of Construction Engineering Management and featured in conferences including the Construction Research Congress and European Management Review.

Dr. Howard’s unique combination of front-line trades, academia, and commercial analysis make him a highly credible and unbiased resource for both plaintiff and defense attorneys as well as any construction organization seeking to navigate a dispute or complex construction issue. That said, Craftsman Collective offers more than just the opinion of a single expert. We make available our full team of construction professionals, including designers, engineers, estimators, and crew chiefs, giving us the ability to:

Provide real-time pricing and schedule data — With direct involvement in construction planning and execution, we deliver current, accurate insights critical to your case.

Identify and assess key details — Analyzing case files from both senior management and skilled trades perspectives to uncover vital information others overlook.

Address every facet of construction — Leveraging diverse expertise to investigate all trades and processes for comprehensive, end-to-end support.

Below is a small selection of our dispute resolution experience:

Window Product Liability: Expert witness for product liability case where a window manufacturer failed to include thermal breaks in high value custom steel doors and windows, leading to extensive repair costs and damage to the home. After on-site inspections, Dr. Howard prepared detailed labor and materials estimates for window replacement and knock-on effects of major construction on the recently completed luxury residence totaling over $200,000.

Fireproofing Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: Due to delays resulting from a lack of timely work front releases, an extension of time claim was submitted by a subcontractor for $2,000,000. On behalf of the general contractor, Dr. Howard performed an initial review and calculated entitlement of $1,600,000. Following a series of meetings, it was agreed that the services would be further delayed until March of the following year, and Dr. Howard’s resulting updated settlement recommendation of $1,900,000 was accepted by all parties which avoided expensive litigation.

Boundary Dispute: Retained by owner of high value waterfront property that included a deep-water boat dock. The owners of the dock adjacent to the property built a second story that aerially encroached over the client’s dock, leading to a dispute. The situation was made more complicated by an impending sale of the encroaching property, whose owners refused to engage in good faith efforts to resolve. Dr. Howard prepared a series of correspondence that effectively halted sale of the property and forced physical removal of the aerially encroaching portion of the neighboring dock.

Mechanical Subcontractor Extension of Time Claim: On a large petrochemical project, a subcontractor submitted an extension of time claim for $99,800,0000 stating that it suffered an extension to its contract duration due to delays and disruptions caused by other subcontractors. Dr. Howard was tasked by the general contractor with reviewing the submission and providing an analysis, resulting in a 70-page report calculating an impact value of $70,000,000. While this total was accepted by the client, Dr. Howard subsequently led negotiations on behalf of the general contractor and secured a settlement of $61,000,000.

Cabinetry Payment Dispute: Fine carpentry workshop fabricated $70,000 worth of hardwood cabinets for a speculative developer who requested significant additional services under a time and material contract. The developer went over budget on the project and attempted to deny payment without legitimate cause. Dr. Howard issued several letters on behalf of the workshop and filed a lien against the property. Over the course of several months of negotiations, Dr. Howard secured full payment for the workshop and cleared the lien so the developer could sell the investment.

Since consulting is only part of Craftsman Collective’s overall construction business, we offer rates substantially lower than competitors while offering higher quality service. We also provide full transparency in pricing and time logged by team members. Our rates for typical consulting services are below:

Expert Witness Robert Howard, Ph.D.: $250

Consulting Professional Engineer: $150

Consulting Registered Architect: $150

Consulting Estimator: $100

Consulting Site Trades Crew Chief: $90

When you work with Craftsman Collective, you get the support of an entire team dedicated to your project. Dr. Howard's deep knowledge of the industry combined with our Collective expertise offers a level of support you've never experienced before. If you have a construction-related dispute or need any other type of consulting in the built environment, don't settle for a generic expert. Submit an inquiry below and discover the difference a true Craftsman can make!

Google Reviews

We offer building materials at cost — saving you money without cutting corners.

GET A QUOTE

(866) 528-9352

610 E. 45th St, Austin, Texas 78751

OPENING HOURS

Monday to Sunday: 24/7

Website built by ClientSwing