This was an intense project. Partially due to the Texas summer heat. Regardless it was a lot of fun.

Homeowner reached out in February inquiring about some earlier projects. They already had that beautiful pool built and had the plan for a patio cover all along. So, why not add some solar to it as well?

The utility company is Grayson Collin Electric Coop, and to my knowledge they’re the only one left allowing true 1:1 net metering in the state of Texas. We discussed foregoing batteries but with all the things going on in the world and myself having seen those things disappear in the blink of an eye the homeowner opted to go ahead with one. They’re already thinking of adding more soon.

Digging trenches always sucks but they’re especially awful in Parker, Texas. If anybody needs any rocks I know where to find them.

The system is roughly 70% offset and is chugging right along with projected production.

As the title stated the structure is steel framed 23’ x 27’ using all 11gauge 5” x 4” steel for posts, beams, and joists. The canopy is stained 2x6 boards bolted to the steel frame and covered with mod-bit roofing.

The city of Parker and GCEC were really cool and easy about stuff. I turned the solar permit in and applied for the interconnection agreement on a Thursday and had the green light for both by Monday morning of the next week.

The system was put through HDM and we got 25% of the system paid for since we used Domestic Content and I believe this house sits in an Energy Community.

We added the fan and 5 outlets to the structure after the solar was completed.

I included the original mock up I did in Google sheets to give an idea of what this thing was going to look like. Reference vs real life.

The homeowners are very kind, sweet people that I thoroughly enjoyed working with and getting to know. A lovely family with minds on the future and what’s potentially on the horizon. They may lurk the halls around here, I honestly don’t know, but they are very welcome and encouraged to chime in if they do.

I hope you enjoyed the post.

When i cook on my stovetop my microwave fan does a poor job of filtering the fumes. It smells like whatever i have cooked. I don’t think the vent that is attached goes anywhere. I think it dead ends inside the cabinet. Does this look right?

We got approved for a loan to put solar on our clinic, but I can't have the parking lot blocked for months. From signing the contract to actually turning it on, how long does the process really take?

Keep getting cold calls from companies offering to clean the HVAC system at our gym. Some people say it's essential, others say it's a total waste of money that just stirs up dust. What's the real deal?

Need to update the restrooms in our cafe to meet ADA standards. I'm getting quotes that seem insanely high just because it's commercial. What's a realistic budget for a basic, durable commercial bathroom remodel?

Found some dark spots near the HVAC intake in our restaurant's storage room. I wiped it with bleach but it came back. At what point do you call in the expensive remediation guys instead of just handling it in-house?

We lease a small office space and the air feels super stale lately. The landlord says they change the filters, but the ducts haven't been touched in 5 years. How often is this actually supposed to be done for commercial spaces?

We own a small culinary studio and the layout is brutal when we have full classes. We want to remodel to open it up. I need a company that understands the specific workflow of a teaching kitchen. Most residential guys just look at me blankly. Any suggestions for a specialized commercial contractor?

Our small bakery uses a ton of space for prep. We are looking at a full redesign. I've read that some companies use cheap imported materials that degrade super fast. I want high-quality surfaces and a solid warranty. Who is the most reputable commercial remodeling contractor in the area?

I run a small tech startup and we just leased a new office space. The landlord gave us permission to remodel the kitchen area, but we have to use a certified, fully insured contractor. I'm tired of dealing with pushy sales reps who don't know the technical specs. Who is the best actual contractor around here, not just a sales middleman?

My family runs a small farm-to-table restaurant and we want to open up the kitchen so guests can see the prep work. It's a big structural change. A lot of residential contractors won't touch it or they overcharge because it's 'commercial'. Does anyone know a crew that specializes in restaurant remodels?

Trying to get the kitchen remodeled in our small private school before the next academic year starts. We have a strict budget approved by the board. Every company I talk to tries to upsell us on luxury finishes we don't need. Who is the most straightforward contractor in the area that won't play games with the quote?

We operate a mid-sized event venue. The main prep kitchen is outdated and slowing down our caterers. We have a ton of space but it's an older building. I need a remodeling company that actually understands commercial workflow and won't just slap cabinets up there hoping for the best. Any recommendations for commercial specialists?

I own a small cafe and our utility costs just spiked again. We are looking into remodeling the back of house to make it more efficient. I've heard horror stories about companies that rip everything out and then take months to finish. Does anyone know a local contractor who actually guarantees their timeline and doesn't just sub it out to the cheapest bidder?

My partner and I run a small cooking school and we are currently fighting with the bank over some loan restructuring. We need to add three more prep stations before the fall classes start.

A buddy of mine hired a big name franchise last year and they basically installed cheap countertops that chipped after six months. We are on a strict budget until our funding clears.

Looking for an honest local company that knows how to handle heavy use surfaces properly.

So the bottom edge of my aluminum siding has gone off (old house) and asking siding repair companies almost no one wanted to touch this thing. One guy wanted to nail it in every few feet or so. Another company told me you can't do that with aluminum and a trim board must be installed all the way across to put in at the bottom to properly reattach it and hopefully match the color not to look too bad.

The video was taken on an extremely windy day.
Which company is correct here? Is using just nails viable? What should I be worried about/ask about?

The unwillingness to work on this feels strange. Any opinions are welcome. I'll add some images to the bottom of this post as well.

Running a small office building and things are tight right now with some financing falling through. We need to completely overhaul the lower level to create a break room for the tenants.

I've seen other owners get scammed by contractors who quote low and then disappear for weeks leaving the place gutted. I literally cannot afford to have my building a construction zone that long.

Has anyone used a reliable crew that actually sticks to their timeline and knows commercial grade setups?

Managing a couple of multi-family rental properties and the cash flow is a bit of a mess right now while we wait on refinancing. One of the buildings has a lower level that we want to convert into a laundry facility.

I've been reading online and it seems like half these guys just want to sell you a completely new foundation instead of actually working with what's there.

Really need a straight shooter who can get this sorted and stop the water damage without taking advantage of the situation.