August 18, 2008 by Jay Dietz Construction.

I can’t believe that my last posting was in February.  I’m already buying school supplies and sending our children off to school next week.  Where did spring and summer go?  Spring was mild, and Jay got an early start on the roofing projects that were on hold from last fall.  June left us wondering if we should build an arc.  Yes, we had rain every weekend, and things were very soggy.  July was HOT every weekend, and made for great camping weather.  I’m happy to say that Jay has been scheduling himself to allow for us to have some much over-due family time.  We were able to do some camping, go to a concert festival and visist Colorado for several days.  Our family had a terrific time visiting Jay’s sister and her familly in Fort Collins.  (See the new photos in the people/activities photo gallery.) While we were in CO, Jay’s crew completed a roofing project by themselves.  (Leaving the crew is always nerve-racking for Jay.) 

Besides the roofing jobs, Jay has built a storage shed, put up a cedar fence, and divided a utility room to separate the furnace area and finish the laundry room.  The in-progress and completed photos have just been added to the photo gallery.  He’s currently putting up another fence and making a paver patio for Mrs. Beauclair, and is back at the Zuther home finishing a bathroom and bedroom in their basement.   We still have roofing jobs lined up and more coming in.  Many people waited for things to settle down before they hired the contractors to repair the hail damage that happened 10 months ago.  Now that most of the out-of-town contractors have moved on to more recent hail storm repairs, that leaves Jay and the other locals to finish things up.   I’ve learned that there are many challenges to working with insurance companies, and in some cases the home-owner’s mortgage companies, when dealing with hail damage claims.  Each company has different procedures and time-frames for turning around payment requests.  I’ve been making good use of my fax machine to expedite the invoicing. 

I’m thinking I’ll have more time to work on our web site when the kids are in school.  It’s is very exciting to say that our little boy, will be starting pre-school this year, and our daughter is starting 2nd grade.  Our teen-ager is starting his senior year in high school, so there are lots of changes coming up at our house. 

So, check back more regularly, because my goal will be to up-date monthly.

Remember to be thankful for what you have, who you have, and the time you have.

Carlita

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February 10, 2008 by Jay Dietz Construction.

The holiday season whizzed past, and January has been left behind. Is it possilbe that it’s really February? That means spring is nearly here, right? Those are the words all carpenters long to hear. With most of the general contractors that we frame for holding on to their spec homes longer than they care to, we haven’t been busy framing this winter. We have been finishing basements, putting in new windows, and any other misc. work that we can handle. Everyone has heard about the housing slump. I’m sorry to say it is affecting us. With the recent interest rate drops, many people are realizing that it’s a great time to remodel or make those long over-due repairs. So, we have found ourselves to sliding into that niche. It’s poses unique challenges, but it is fun to work with the families involved. It requires great communication with our sub-contractors and suppliers. Timing is critical, in order to keep on schedule.

There is a new photo of a recent window replacement we completed. The Trautman family, from Dilworth, MN was excited to replace their drafty old windows with new Minnkota vinyl winows. Glenn wanted to help as much as possible, and thanks to the nice weather, they got most of the windows installed in 1 day. They should be able to take advantage of the IRS’s tax credit for improving the energy efficiency of their home too. The next picture I’ll add is their home with new siding installed.

The Isaac family has had their garage insulated and sheetrocked and we have been finishing their basement. We are about to install the interior doors and trim. Then comes the new carpet. They are adding 2 bedrooms, a full bath and a familyroom (totalling 900 square feet of living space) to their home. Photos of that project will be added shortly. Jeff wanted to help Jay as much as possible. He helped install the sheetrock, do some of the mudding and he did all of the painting.

So, keep us in mind when you are thinking about those home improvement projects, or if you would like to meet with us about new construction.

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November 19, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

Man, has the past month been a blur! We have been working on roofing jobs left and right and have several very pleased home-owners. They are sending referrals our way like crazy! You know who you are, and THANK YOU! We plan to get these jobs done through the winter, as well as the odds and ends that are lingering incomplete at our new home.

On the photo gallery you’ll notice couple of photos that I have added of the Schulte’s finished garage with lovely porch. I never imagined that it was going to turn out so well. What a great vision Dave and Joy had on that project. Like our logo says, “If you can imagine it, we can build it!”

I also added a more recent picture of our Wyndmere framing job. Jay was back out there recently, so he saw the house with siding and stone. How beautiful. Hopefully the Halvorson’s are seeing things progress daily, and we’ll be able to come visit them soon at their new home.

So, at this time of year, we are giving thanks for all we have.
We work for great families, we build them their dream home, (or garage!) they tell their friends and family to talk to us for their projects and it just keeps getting better!

Thank You for your business:

Hanson Bros. Construction, Cheri Johnson, Angie at Titan Homes, The Cariveau Family, The Eichele Family, The Olson Family, The Halvorson Family, The Wussow Family, The Schulte Family, The Riveland Family, The Isaac Family, Becky Lee, The Dralu Family, and The Zuther Family

With Much Appreciation,

Carlita

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October 6, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

We enjoyed another beautiful summer in the constuction industry. With the usual high winds, thunder storms and days on end of 90 some degree weather, we never get bored! Jay and his crew finished up the Titan Homes project and moved on to frame a nice big custom home for the Halverson family of Wyndmere, ND. Jay and his crew tolerated the extra driving well, because the Halversons were so great to work with. What nice people! That is the most recent house picture on our gallery. The roof wasn’t complete when I was out there with the camera. Jay will go back out 1 more time, so I’ll send the camera with him. I have heard that the Halversons have family in Alaska that would like to see the progress.
Jay and his guys, Jamie and Paul, are building a new garage for the Schulte family in South Fargo. We are so blessed to be given such nice referrals and great people to work for. The project is coming along nicely and that’s the garage picture on the gallery. (Since the photo the siding has been added.)
We have been getting referrals and have been busy putting bids together. Add to that the recent hail storm that hit the area, and we should stay busy for quite some time. Jay likes shingling, and the insurance companies are paying out for the hail damage. Fortunately, our houses were missed by the storm, as were the houses of all of our immediate family. How lucky is that?
So, I leave this blog tonight, again counting my blessings. We love the building industry, and are able to make a living at it. Our kids are growing up watching their dad create home after home for families that they get to meet.

Enjoy autumn and pray for a mild winter.

Carlita

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July 24, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

This summer has been very busy.  We’re finishing up on our house in Mapleton, and our framing crew has their first framing job of the summer completed for the Eichele family.  We’ve managed to squeeze in a weekend camping trip here and there.  On our way to Devils Lake last weekend we stopped by Colgate, ND.  Jay and his crew framed a terrific 2 story home for the Mewes family last summer, and we hadn’t been back to see the finished job.  They love their new home, and it’s gorgeous.  Thanks for giving us a tour.  

We are currently framing a home in West River addition of West Fargo for Titan Homes.  It’s another great 2-story plan by Angie.  I’ve got a progress photo of that job, and will follow up with another one at the end of the week, once the 2nd floor is on.  

We will be moving into our new house next week.  I know I mentioned in my last blog that we were shooting for the beginning of June.  Obviously that didn’t quite work out.  We’ve got carpet upstairs now, and the kitchen is done.  We can hardly wait.  That excitement never fades. 

So, my next blog will be from our new house.  New photos of the interior will be added as soon as we get the house cleaned up.

Enjoy your summer…it’s nearly time for school to start.

Carlita

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May 2, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

The snow has disappeared and we are experiencing the mad rush in the construction industry fondly referred to as “spring”.  People have been sketching up plans the past few months, the Home Show was at the Fargo Dome to display the latest fixtures and materials, and people are touring the Parade of Homes this week.  So, now they are ready to get started on their projects.  We handle the rush the same every year…YOU’RE NOT ON OUR SCHEDULE UNLESS YOU SIGN THE BID.  That usually gets people to step up, and sign their bids. 

We have been working at our house the past several weeks, and it’s really coming along.  As soon as I can figure out why the web site isn’t acknowleging my username, I’ll be adding some photos.  I really haven’t taken as many as I used to.  Most of our friends know where we’re building, and have stopped by.  Thanks.  The locks are on the doors now, so call before you come over to make sure we’re around to give you a tour.  I’ve been busy cleaning up after all of the sub-contractors, and the kids earn allowance for helping me.  (5 year olds can be paid with hair clips, 2 year olds require fruit roll-up snacks.)  They love going out to see their rooms day by day.  They hate going shopping for supplies.  (I hate taking them with to go shopping for supplies.)   Nothing turns 2 well-behaved kids into demons as quickly as sitting next to each other in a Lowe’s or Home Depot shopping cart. 

We’re hoping to get moved to our new house by the beginning of June.  Then things will settle down for me, and speed up for Jay’s summer framing schedule.  Another summer in ND.  We love it.

As always, take care, and be thankful for all that you have.

Carlita

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March 6, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

Our family was lucky enough to escape a week of 20 degrees below zero, and enjoy the weather of sunny Florida a few weeks ago.  We attended the Builder’s Show in Orlando, February 7-10th.  As usual, the number of displays was mind blowing.  The extent that some companies went to get people to view their booths was crazy.  The show is 4 days, but that really isn’t enough time to see everything that’s there.  For example, there were several homes fabricated/assembled in the parking lot the weeks before the show.  They were complete homes, with furnishings, most of them 1600 square feet or more.  The convention center is enormous, and walking it for one entire day is truly tiring.  We did manage some family fun too.  Universal Studios and Magic Kingdom were terrific.  We also spent some time at the beach in Melbourne, and the guys got to see the All-star Nascar race in Daytona on the 10th.  (Incase you didn’t know it, that’s Jay’s birthday.)  With the weather in the mid 70’s, and sun the entire time, we hated to leave.  Working vacations are definately the way to go.  The kids are already planning next year, since we didn’t get to see ALL the other Disney Parks or Sea World this time around.  

So, we are nearly through another ND winter, and looking ahead to spring.  We’re getting our house finished up in Mapleton now and we’re busy lining up all of our sub-contractors for our up-coming projects.  We have been helping with recruiting and fund raising for the F-M Home Builder’s Association.  Thanks to all of you that have bought raffle tickets for the Home Builder’s Care project.  The drawing will be March 29th, and hopefully one of you will be the winner of a new play house. 

Thanks for your support and word of mouth advertising.

We’ll be getting new t-shirts soon…if you would like one, just reply with an e-mail.  Supplies are limited, but we’ll give away as many as we can.

 Hope to hear from you soon,

Carlita  

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January 25, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

Another January in North Dakota, and again we wonder, should we take the winters off?  Many companies do it.  Well, we’ve got the projects lined up, and have never laid off employees yet.  (I’ll be the first to tell you, sometimes the employees just quit and find nice warm jobs.)  This is a good time for us to schedule those basement finishes, kitchen remodels, etc.  For some reason, Jay likes to be inside when it’s below zero.  Can’t say I blame him…I stopped helping at the job site last October when it got to about 45 degrees.  We still go visit Jay to bring him lunch, and run errands of course.  But, I think I’ll leave my tool belt hanging until about April.  Thankfully it’s been a pretty mild winter, with very little snow.  It makes it easier at the job sites anyway.  So, now that we’re about 1/2 way through winter, we’ll just hope and pray that we get a nice early spring.

Carlita

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January 8, 2007 by Jay Dietz Construction.

We hope you had a terrific Christmas and have begun 2007 with a BANG!  After all, our lives are what we make of them, and we hope that you have set your goals high for 2007. 

We have been blessed, both personally and professionally.  We have had the opportunity to work with some fantastic families, sub-contractors, suppliers and lenders.  With all of the news about the crash in the construction industry, we are happy to say that our reputation is pulling us through.  We have as much work as we can handle.  Thank you to all of the great contractors that hire Jay and his crew for framing, time and time again.  Of course, if things go well for the company, that makes it a lot easier at home.  We are a family business, after all.  We love what we do, and it’s definately a family affair. 

I am adding another album to the photo gallery with personal photos.  You’ll be able to see us and our kids in action.  Jesse, our nearly 16 year old son, has been working at many of the framing job sites this past year.  Katrina, our 5 year old daughter, helped me ring the bell for the Home Builder’s Association’s committment to the Salvation Army a few weeks ago.  She raised a ton of money!  Oliver, our 2 year old son, is Jay’s best lunch break buddy.   Both the little ones have grown up around job sites and love seeing the projects progress. 

Also, check out the new photos (#24 & 25) I added to the existing album.  Jay and his crew framed a terrific 2 story home for Jim and Amorette Hinderaker this fall.  We couldn’t have asked for a better job.  They were great to work for.  Hopefully they’ll be able to move in soon, and I’ll get some pictures of the finished project.

Until next time,

Take care of your families and yourselves,

Carlita 

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November 22, 2006 by Jay Dietz Construction.

We are so happy that the Bailey’s shared photos of their basement finishing project with us.  There are some “before”, “during” and “after” pictures of their great new basement.  We really enjoyed working with these guys.  They knew what they wanted, and made it easy for us to accomodate.  They came up with the layout, chose all of the flooring, paint colors, fixtures, and really customized this space.  My favorite feature of this project was the sauna.  Jay was the first to admit that he had never assembled a sauna before, but it turned out beautifully. 

So, if you are thinking about finishing that attic, bonus room, lower level, or full basement, the sky is the limit.  Even if you bought a “cookie cutter” home that leaves you feeling less than unique, an unfinished space like this gives you the chance to customize and let your tastes shine through. 

We can work with most budgets, and are flexible enough to let you do some of the work and/or purchasing materials.

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