Holt Tailor-Made Living, inc.

05/30/2014

I'm finishing up the work on a deck that collapsed that was attached to a cantilevered bay on the back of a home. This is an excellent article that shows why they fail and some fixes that can be done. Every home is different and has different problems to deal with, which makes it important to work with an experienced contractor when solving issues like these. None of the fixes offered here worked for the deck that I'm wrapping up, but I can guarantee the deck won't be collapsing in the future. I'll post pictures when I can and explain how I solved our customer's problem.

"Decks generally fail for one of two reasons. The deck falls off the house, or the guard rails fall off the deck."That's a quote...

05/13/2014

Flipping houses in Minnesota is illegal if you are not a licensed contractor or have a licensed contractor do the work and this news report is the main reason why. Protect yourself and only have reputable contractors do work on any home you own or will purchase.

Nashville is one of the hottest towns in the country for house flipping.But NewsChannel 5 Investigates discovered that some home buyers who purchase these houses are finding that their dream homes are, in fact, costly nightmares.

04/11/2014

It's good to be busy working for great people!

Spring is finally here in Minnesota. Before you have that party on your deck, have us look at it to make sure it can handle the load. With the snow weight, some decks have been stretched to their limits. Don't let your party be the last straw that breaks the camel's back.

We want everyone to have a safe Spring!

12/25/2013

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Please be safe, we look forward to serving you in 2014.

11/21/2013

I'm not sure what's more annoying, the snow or the fact that it gets dark soon. Trying to wrap up the siding on the latest project.

08/22/2013

Here's the original location for the poster about glue which David Holt posted. We want to give credit where credit is due and there is much more on the website that will clarify a lot of the poster too. http://www.designsponge.com/2011/07/diy-101-building-your-toolbox-adhesives.html

diyby Kate Pruitt53diy 101: building your toolbox — adhesivesI have been obsessed with craft supplies since my early childhood, and I am not afraid to talk about my lifelong love affair with glue. It’s rivaled only by my love of tape, but more on that later :) Glue is a magical substance, and trust…

07/12/2013

It's getting so hot out here we had to remove the roof to get some ventilation. =)

A little more clean-up and we'll be ready to install the floor joists for this second story addition.

06/03/2013

A deck roughly 8'x20' for the family to enjoy.

03/09/2013

With the housing bubble bursting, many new home builders decided to get into remodeling to make ends meet. The problem is that remodeling is a completely different beast. In new home building, the problems you encounter are usually of your own making, but in remodeling, you're dealing with "other builders" problems. And the older the home, the more complicated the problems can be. It is easier for a remodeling contractor to get into new home building with minimal issues than for a new home builder to get into remodeling. Make sure you get a contractor that knows what to expect in old homes.

Here is an article covering some of the issues with remodeling older homes.

Don't let poor planning and unrealistic expectations destroy a great old house

02/19/2013

I wish more people would understand this.

01/24/2013

It is cold outside!
Windows and doors are the most common areas of a home that allow heat to seep out, and air movement is inevitable in these spaces.
Proper insulation can minimize air flow around windows and doorways.
Insulation has three main jobs in a home: trap heat inside during the winter, keep heat out during the summer and protect the home from external threats.
Do you have enough insulation?

09/17/2012

Being unique in the crowd of contractors isn't easy to demonstrate when what makes you unique is what isn't seen in the final appearance of your projects. But, our uniqueness makes all the difference in the quality of the end result.