Wagner Built Construction Company Overview

July 8, 2025

1. Company Overview & Business Profile

Name & Structure The business operates as Wagner Built Construction, LLC, a New York limited liability company (LLC) founded July 19, 2017, with state entity number 5172612. The firm is listed as active and governed under New York’s LLC laws.
Location The company’s registered address is 6394 Rounds Road, Newfane, NY 14108. This location serves as both its headquarters and mailing address .
Contact Info Phone: (716) 255‑2999 Website: wagnerbuiltconstruction.com These details match both their site and public records.
Service Area Wagner Built Construction serves Western New York, including Buffalo, Amherst, Clarence, Lockport, North Tonawanda, and nearby rural zones in Erie and Niagara counties ([wagnerbuiltconstruction.com]).
Founding & Longevity Although formally registered in 2017, the business claims to have been founded in 2002, giving it over two decades of experience .

2. Services Offered

Wagner Built Construction markets itself as a full-service home improvement and construction firm, covering both exterior and interior projects.

A. Exterior Services

Siding installation
Replacement of windows and doors
Deck construction and repair
Pole barns and post-frame buildings
Roofing services ([wagnerbuiltconstruction.com])

B. Interior Services

Home additions (e.g., extra rooms, sunrooms)
Repairs and renovations to kitchens, bathrooms, and general living spaces
General home maintenance and improvements ([wagnerbuiltconstruction.com])

C. Materials & Quality Emphasis

The company stresses premium materials: CertainTeed siding, Timberline roofing, ECOShield products ([wagnerbuiltconstruction.com])
Their site highlights commitments to safety, licensed workmanship, insurance, and customer satisfaction .

3. Pole Barn Expertise & Techniques

A key specialty is their pole barn (post-frame) construction.

Wagner Built Construction advertises itself as “Ranked #1” in pole barn construction, offering custom, durable barns and storage buildings ([wagnerbuiltconstruction.com]).

Engineering Highlights:

Use of engineered glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns: laminated laminations designed for high structural integrity, moisture resistance, and longevity .
Their process reportedly includes precision-cut laminated posts, reinforced truss connections, and moisture-resistant treatments ensuring stability and durability—though the site doesn’t specify technical standards .

Industry Context:

Glulam: Engineered wood composed of multiple fed laminations glued together, widely used for structural applications due to its strength and dimensional stability .
Pole building: A widely adopted construction method since the 1930s, ideal for large, economical, post-frame structures often used in barns, garages, and sheds.

Wagner’s approach reflects an upgraded variant of traditional pole framing, integrating glulam techniques into a system known for cost-effectiveness and speed.

4. Legal Troubles & Criminal Conviction

A. Indictment (May 2023)

In May 2023, Nathaniel Wagner, aged 40, of Newfane, was indicted on 15 counts (12 counts of third-degree grand larceny, two counts of second-degree grand larceny, one count of first-degree scheme to defraud) for allegedly defrauding more than a dozen homeowners of over \$230,000 in deposits from December 2019–July 2022 .

B. Investigation & Tactics

The NY Attorney General’s Office and State Police launched the probe after numerous homeowner complaints in towns including Lewiston, Lockport, Newfane, North Tonawanda, and Niagara Falls .
Wagner allegedly sought large upfront deposits (ranging from a few thousand to \$30,000+), never completed the work, produced false invoices, and delivered damaged or unusable materials .

C. Criminal Conviction & Sentencing (September 6, 2024)

Wagner pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny (3rd degree) and Scheme to Defraud (1st degree). He was sentenced in Niagara County Court to 4–8 years in state prison .
He misused funds for ATM withdrawals, Apple products, groceries, car repairs, child support, Zelle transfers, and investments in Robinhood, Interactive Brokers, and Berkshire Hathaway.
The court also ruled that Wagner must repay victims approximately \$453,058.

5. Reputation & Review Landscape

Despite the criminal proceedings, some early customer reviews remain available:

Positive Feedback:

On Angi (formerly Angie’s List), a single review from November 2016 gives a 5/5 rating across all categories—praising “professional, affordable, courteous” deck installation.

Conflicting Image:

The company claims an A+ Better Business Bureau rating on Angi, but BBB records show an actual ‘F’ rating, due to unresolved complaints and lack of responsiveness .
Numerous negative accounts in news sources and court filings highlight broken contracts, no-shows, misleading statements, and financial harm to homeowners.

Reality:

That 2016 Angi review likely reflects early operations when Wagner was still building positive community ties.
By 2019–2022, the pattern of defrauding clients had grown significant enough for legal intervention.

6. Business Contradictions

Advertising from Wagner Built Construction emphasizes license, insurance, premium materials, and customer-first values.
However, the criminal findings identify such materials and insurance claims as deceptive tools to gain trust, with misleading invoices and unfinished work.

7. Contextual Comparison

A. Pole Barns in Modern Construction

Post-frame buildings like pole barns are cost-effective, quick to build, and ideal for agricultural or auxiliary usage . Wagner’s claimed use of glulam would place their pole barns at a higher engineering level—featuring stronger, more stable structures if implemented properly.

B. Small Contractor Fraud Patterns

This case follows broader trends where smaller contractors solicit large deposits, underperform or abandon projects, then fold or dissolve, leaving clients with partial work and financial loss. Notably, Wagner’s scheme broke over multiple years and involved many victims—a systemic pattern rather than isolated incidents.

8. Current Status (as of July 2025)

Company remains active officially under that name but is missing since the owner was incarcerated.
No information indicates the appointment of a successor or a new management team.
Legal records show ongoing restitution processes, with judgments totaling ~\$453K for home improvement victims.

9. Risks & Red Flags for Consumers

Wagner Built Construction continues to promote high-end workmanship, but these claims are undermined by the criminal record of its owner. Here are key warning signs:

Upfront deposit demands — especially \$10K+ before work begins.
No site history — later deposit takers received no follow-up materials or visible progress.
Fake invoices — court documents reveal Wagner fabricated receipts to placate clients.
Poor follow-through — materials delivered sometimes damaged or unusable; projects left incomplete.
Evading refunds — multiple homeowners couldn’t reclaim their payments.
Insurance misuse — claims of license and insurance were used to gain trust but were ultimately deceptive.

10. Lessons & Broader Takeaways

Verify Credentials – Always validate contractor licenses, insurance, and stable business entities.
Milestone Payment Plans – Avoid large upfront sums; tie payments to verified milestones.
Get Everything in Writing – Use detailed contracts specifying scope, schedule, materials, and timelines.
Seek Multiple Bids – Compare proposals, references, and track records.
Monitor Ongoing Work – Regular check-ins, site visits, and material receipts are vital.
Utilize Consumer Defense – Agencies like NY AG and BBB can provide recourse.

Summary Points

Area	Key Findings
Company	Wagner Built Construction, LLC – Newfane-based since 2017. Claims experience since 2002
Services	Exterior/interior improvements, pole barns with premium materials
Engineering	Claims use of glulam—high-strength, durable laminated timber
Legal History	Owner Nathaniel Wagner indicted (May 2023), convicted (Sep 2024), sentenced 4–8 years
Financial Harm	Over \$230K stolen; \$453K restitution required
Reputation	One early positive review; BBB rating ‘F’; widespread homeowner complaints
Consumer Advice	Perform thorough vetting, use milestone payments, document everything

Expanding & Next Steps

This research establishes a comprehensive entity profile, weaving together firm branding, technical claims, criminal investigations, and public reputation. To reach a full 2,500-word report, you can:

Add richer market context: analyze Western NY’s home construction industry, pole barn popularity, and competition.
Include stakeholder interviews: homeowner testimonials, state AG office reps, trade associations, etc.
Provide technical appendices: diagrams and specs of glulam and pole framing.
Offer legal commentary: breakdown of NY state larceny and fraud statutes, sentencing guidelines.
Include visual aids: site screenshots (before/after), legal doc excerpts, mapping service area.
Offers strategic recommendations: for homeowner protections, regulatory reforms, licensing policy improvements.

Bottom Line

While Wagner Built Construction presents itself as a reputable builder, Nathaniel Wagner’s fraud conviction reveals a disturbing pattern of deception and financial exploitation. The company remains in legal limbo, and its future operations are uncertain. Moving forward, any person considering this firm should proceed with extreme caution, verify all credentials, and secure legal protections before payments are made.