At Kilter Contracting LLC, we believe that successful projects are built on a foundation of precision and clear communication. As a small, specialized team, we offer a level of attentiveness that larger firms often overlook. From the initial frame to the final finish, we work closely with you to ensure your vision is realized on time and within budget. We don’t just build structures; we build lasting professional relationships through integrity and high-quality craftsmanship.
"Our house had a water damage that ruined much of the drywall and floor on the first floor and the basement. For such a big repair job, I carefully looked up the reviews and recommendations from Angie's list and talked to 3 contractors that have the highest ratings. AOM was one of the three. David, the owner of AOM, quickly came to our house, assessed the damage, explained to me what need to be done, showed great empathy to our loss and current situation (having to stay in hotel waiting to go back to our house), and put a very competitive bid (about 2/3 the bid of another contractor). We picked them and signed the contract. AOM uses Trello, a cloud-based project tracking system that software companies often use, to effectively and promptly communicate task description and updates to all workers and house owners. AOM workers are professional, hard working, and friendly. For such a big project, expectedly there were some hiccups and AOM had to juggle ours with their other on-going projects. David kindly explained to me various aspects of the repair work and promptly fixed any faults that we identified. I became to completely trust David's professional skill and that he would treat our house like his. Several nights and weekends David came to work late so that we could move back to normal life as soon as possible. In the end, we are very happy with our remodeled house. I sincerely recommend David and AOM for any house remodeling and restoration job."
"I called Joe @Contractors Plus for an estimate on installing a walk in shower for my 95 yr old father. Joe came out the next day to give the estimate, and got busy on it right away. It was finished on schedule within 3 days. Joe gave us a very fair price and my father was pleased with the result. Joe went out of his way to make my dad happy. The shower looks great, and he installed a couple grab bars to assist my dad in and out of the shower. I will definitely call Joe at Kitchen & Bath Specialties Contractors Plus for other projects."
"We got SAL?s name from friends of friends at church that they had built a new house for. After a tour of their house we were set on SAL as our contractor. We had them remodel our master bathroom. This was a big project as everything was removed down to bare bones. They guys showed up on-time every day and always cleaned up the mess at quitting time. Scott & his crew are wonderful pleasant people that truly care about what they do. Our bathroom turned out perfect. We get so many compliments on the custom shower they built. Amazing!!! I would recommend them to anyone. They aren't the cheapest contractor in town, but you get what you pay for. We plan on having them back to replace our windows too! "
HVAC, general repairs, maintenance, Lawn care, mold clean-up and Remodeling, Debris Removal, Final Cleanings plus more. We have been in business since 1982.
John was great to speak with on the phone and came out to review the project. We were very comfortable with him from the start. He's very honest and responds quickly to calls/emails. When we started the project we expected some delay due to the large amount of reconstruction in the area (due to the November 2013 tornado). As a result, John worked along side his guys to get our job completed timely. About 3-4 weeks I think since we also decided last minute that we wanted a urinal installed and we had to wait for the plumber to be able to get out to the house. I think this is standard for him to help out but either way, we were pleased that it was moving along. He let us know how it was progressing every step of the way and we trusted him with a key to our house to remodel while we were at work.
From just having the tornado affect our area and finding myself under the stairs with our three small kids, I had the idea of putting a door and window under the stairs to create a small play room for the boys so if we ever had to go under there again, it would be less intimidating for them and distract them for the time. John ran with the idea! He put in a large window (the boys have called it their fish tank as we have put up Nemo decals) and John also took it upon himself to drywall and finish off under the stairs to make it a much safer and real play 'room'.
The only hiccup we have had is that our shower was installed and it is leaking. John did mention to us that this could happen. We know nothing about showers so I don't know enough about the type of shower we picked or how that could affect leaking. Anyway, he prepared us for this, caulked the crap out of it and said he would be willing to come back for a year to help us if it does leak. Unfortunately, it has started leaking and we have contacted him for assistance. Again, I do not fully understand this issue since I am dumb to remodeling but my husband will work with John and we are not concerned but felt it was worth mentioning.
We are very happy with JMJ and would use them in the future. My sister will probably be using them coming up when she decides to finish her basement too. As a side note, my husband's family is a lot of contractors from the Chicago area and (of course) they wanted to take a look at everything that was done. They have complimented how nice it was finished off and how well it transitions into our unfinished portion of the basement.
"IRC did an phenomenal job remodeling my master bed and bath. I was so impressed with their process and company values. If you're looking for an honest, reliable, and local contractor, this is it!"
"When we decided to redo our kitchen in April of 2012, we knew what we wanted fixed, our budget and that's about it. We started talking to contractors, kitchen design centers and researching ideas. We quickly realized we were in WAY over our heads. A lot of places offer free design services if you buy all of your materials through them. We didn't want to be tied down. We didn't want a complete tear down to the studs, either. Homemade Design to the rescue! First of all the price was an absolute steal for the service provided. Amanda and co. Listened to what we wanted and came up with inovative,functional and beautiful solutions. Our house is old. We wanted to keep that 1920s feel, but still have a dishwasher, granite countertops and stainless appliances! Amanda had the brilliant idea of only replacing the bottom cabinets. She also gave me excellent instructions on how to refinish my existing cabinets so they look like new. This was a perfect solution for US. Homemade Design gave us ideas for layout, cabinets, lighting, wall paint, appliances, furniture, countertops, backsplash, faucets, sink,and cusions for built in. She would have recommended flooring if we wanted,but we didn't. Now, Amanda is more like a consultant...( I actually called her my kitchen remodel therapist). You still are ultimately responsible for the plan and what works for you. If your measurements are off (like mine were) that's on you. I was adament about no island and no microwave over the stove and so she didn't put those in the design. Some suggestions were not my style. And I said so. Honestly, if I picked out my own kitchen it would be so safe: white subway tile or something. Amanda gave me the guts to mix patterns and create something spectacular! It took almost a year to complete ( contractors fault) We did a lot of work ourselves. We bought the cabinets, backsplash tile, light fixtures, table and banquette cusions through Homemade Design at a great discount, we checked!! If you try shopping for any part of your kitchen, the volume of choices can be overwhelming. We loved having Amanda narrow it down for us. Communication was through email, mostly. She never took longer than three business days to respond to my million questions or concerns. Awesome. 5 months later, my kitchen is a dream come true. And I owe it all to Homemade Design! "
Yes, you can find ceiling joists using simple tools if a stud finder isn't available.
Using a hammer requires patience and a keen ear. Gently tap the ceiling in a grid pattern, listening for sound changes. A hollow sound indicates space between joists, while a solid, dull thud suggests a joist. Mark the location with a pencil and confirm by tapping from different angles.
Alternatively, you can use a nail, but this method will leave small holes. You'll feel increased resistance when the nail hits a joist. Mark the spot and repeat the process every 16 or 24 inches to map the joist locations. This method is considered less reliable than using a stud finder.
Yes, you will need a jack for a rim joist replacement. To prevent sagging and facilitate the removal of load-bearing wood, you’ll need to relieve the pressure from this joint before beginning work.
Due to hydraulics and other specialized equipment, a sill plate and rim joist replacement are not typically a DIY project. Hiring a professional structural engineer and experienced contractors is the best approach to replacing rotted sill plates and rim joists.
Your local building code will list all the framing requirements for whatever type of structure you're building. Most exterior walls require spacing of 16 inches on-center, while many non-load-bearing interior walls only require 24 inches of spacing. However, there are also varying requirements depending on your construction material, so checking your municipality's rules is essential.
Metal stud framing parts include the studs themselves, upper and lower tracks that act as top and bottom wall plates, various angle fasteners and clips, screws for fastening pieces togeher, metal straps, c-channel supports, and thicker steel supporting structures. Roof framing metal components include pre-fabricated trusses, heavy-gauge stud pieces, and various plates and fasteners.
When choosing a drywall anchor, consider the weight of the object you're hanging and how much weight the anchor will need to support. The heavier the weight, the stronger the anchor you'll need. You’ll find the weight capacity on the packaging when shopping for anchors.
Also, remember that you can use more than one anchor when hanging something on the wall. If you're using multiple anchors, divide the object weight by the number of anchors to determine how much each will need to support. If you need help deciding which drywall anchor to use, you can hire a handyperson to hang your objects.
The Lewistown, IL homeowners’ guide to contractor services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Need to run electricity to your basement? Learn about the cost to install an outlet in an unfinished basement and what factors affect your project cost.
Buying unfinished cabinets can help you create the custom remodel of your dreams, but is it worth the fuss? This guide will tell you everything you need to know.
