"Working with Croix River Construction was a positive experience on all fronts. Paul and his team are good at what they do, professional, and very nice! They tore down our stand-alone, falling-apart garage and built a bigger, better garage in its place. Paul made sure the new garage would match our home perfectly, and provided quality materials and workmanship. It was a big project and Croix River were easy to work with, reliable, flexible, and fairly priced. In addition to the new garage, they installed a new concrete driveway, created a slope for it, and added fill to elevate the garage-floor height (which some companies weren't able or willing to do). They also graded around the house and redid some of our concrete sidewalks. It's two years later and the concrete work is holding up well. All of it is. Highly recommended, and nice people."
"I met with Ariel Zmijewski to get a quote to side my house and garage and to install two new attic windows. I'm a single woman and homeowner and I have encountered more than my share of contractors who tend to patronize me because I am a woman. I called in several quotes for the siding job on my home and Ariel was the only one who treated me with genuine respect. Of course, I wouldn't have hired him just based on that, but GF also offered a competitive price for the job as well as quality materials. Ariel said it would take about six weeks to get the material and then they would schedule my job and after 5 weeks, Ariel called and said the material was in and would be delivered to my home in two days and they would begin the job the following Monday! Ariel guesstimated the job would take about two weeks, but it actually wound up taking four weeks - the reason being they encountered a couple issues when siding my house. I have an older home and it seems like anything I do in renovating my home causes issues - which is why I have learned it is very important to have competent contractors on the job and that is what I had with GF. Though the job took longer than planned due to these issues, these issues were resolved with fluidity and the end result is amazing! Neighbors and family have complimented me on the look of my home and also on the fellas doing the job - they were impressed at how detailed they were! The crew doing my siding and windows were amazing - ask for Mike, Jeremy and Tom and you will NOT be disappointed. These guys were not only professional in their behavior but real nice down to earth guys! I had a lot of detail work on my front porch and they took great pains to ensure everything looked nice. I baked cookies and had chips and water and pop for them one day and gave them money to buy lunch for themselves another day and really wished I could have done more - these guys work great together! And, Ariel came out to check out the work and monitored the job until it was done. He always returned my phone calls promptly and never acted like I was bothering him. I am going to get the remaining windows replaced on my home in the near future and will happily be using Ariel and GF to do the job! "
"Hired for painting, this progressed to CUSTOM plaster work and carpentry. Dan is conscientious and personable. I will really miss him when he is done."
"The father and son trio made getting my roof done easier. They explain what was going on and how it's being done so I could understand. They just all around went above and beyond any other company I had talked to. The Father and Son Trio is worth hiring and I would recommend and use them in the future."
We have the experience and skills necessary to tackle just about every type of job that comes our way. With Andy's Off-Grid, clients know exactly what to expect, professionalism, efficiency and exceptional results. Andy's Off-Grid is committed to getting the job done, especially when it comes to remodeling . You can count on us to be professional, timely, efficient and make sure you're satisfied every step of the way.
"The service was excellent! They're very reliable, easy to work with, and very accommodating. We've been very happy working with them. This is the 2nd cabin they're building for us. I highly recommend this company. Their work and craftsmanship were excellent. They are high standards. We're very pleased with their service."
"Nic was professional, courteous, and ensured that I was happy and satisfied with his work. I would definitely hire him again to help with my future home projects."
"From start to finish the entire crew led by Brian were amazing! They were prompt and worked all day and cleaned up after themselves. They took the time to educate us on what was being done. I loved their friendly attitude and could not be happier. Brian even replaced my old bird feeder and put up a bird house for me even though it was not in the contract! Now talk about Midwest hospitality. I would highly recommend Hip and Ridge Construction for any future projects! Todd kept every promise and then some! We live in Los Angeles and have our vacation home is located up in North Western Wisconsin. I was blown away with the service and how fast everything got done. I also know they did an exceptional job because a visiting friend in the same business stated so! Todd the owner even checked up on us several times just to make sure we were enjoying our vacation and if we needed anything at all! Talk about A+ service! They offered us financing and made the entire process easy! We were hesitant about hiring someone to replace our roof and Todd made the process a confident decision! I also loved how personable he and his crew were. They are truly a top notch construction crew and I would also like to add I know a thing or two about customer service! I have served in Law Enforcement for over 20 years now and I appreciate the honesty and transparency the entire staff provided. Thank you Hip and Ridge for your amazing job well done! WE LOVE our new roof! We also felt as though we made new friends which is rare in this industry!
"Dave's communication with us was timely and efficient! After he visited our home for a free estimate on our bathroom remodel, we had the work order and invoice over email that same night! He kept to the work schedule he'd offered. He was friendly and helpful; Dave even gave us some consultation advice on home projects we're doing ourselves! His installation of our new tile floor was perfect!!! High quality work and expert professionalism!"
Barndominium Builders questions, answered by experts
Pole barns and carports are similar in that they rely on posts for support and are often not connected to a primary structure. The main difference between the two is that pole barns usually include walls that surround the entire perimeter of the structure, while carports generally remain open on three or four sides. It’s possible to insulate garage doors and even exterior walls on pole barns to create a comfortable workspace, and it’s a bit more secure for storage purposes. However, carports are more affordable.
The difference between a pole barn and a stick-built barn is in the construction. Large poles in the ground provide support for pole barns. For stick-built barns, 2-by-4 or 2-by-6 lumber (known as sticks) create a frame around load-bearing beams. Stick-built construction is far more popular for residential homes. Pole barns are more cost-effective because they require fewer materials and less labor.
You can use a variety of wood to build a barn door, but the most common options include 1-by boards and 2-by boards for the backing and the decorative boards on the front of the door. Softwoods like pine will save you some money and should hold up well, while hardwoods like maple and oak will stand up to more wear and tear. You could also build the backer out of plywood to minimize the cuts you need to make. Whatever you decide on, make sure the width of the wood is compatible with the mounting brackets you buy.
Ranch and colonial-style homes are often the most affordable to build. They have a common layout with available designs that are easy to adjust in simple ways without having to spend too much on a structural engineer or architect. Both types of homes' symmetry, simple roofs, and often one or two-story plans mean they often fall in the $150 to $200 square-foot range, putting them right around average.
The lifespan of a barn is typically 40 to 60 years, but with skillful construction and proper maintenance, it can last up to 100 years. The actual lifespan depends on several factors, including the barn type, materials, usage, and climate. For example, the posts of a pole barn should last 50 years or longer, but if the structure is used for livestock in a rainy climate, it may rot within the first decade. Custom designs with high-end materials tend to last the longest. To get the best estimate for your barn's lifespan, you should consider its material type and intended use.
The Shell Lake, WI homeowners’ guide to barndominium building
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
If home is where the barn is, a barndominium may be the dream house you’ve been looking for. Here are all the details you need to know about barndominium costs.
A barndominium offers lots of advantages, including durability and versatility. But is building a barndominium the right choice for you? Let’s find out.
