Timber Frame6 min read
Timber-Framed Homes: A Timeless Investment
Why a timber-framed home holds its value across generations: what the joinery actually is, how it lasts, and what the up-front cost really buys.
Journal
Notes from the south metro
Straight talk on remodeling, basements, custom homes, and planning a project in Minnesota. Written by the people who do the work.
- Home Plans6 min read
How to Choose the Right Floor Plan for Your Family
Start from how your family really spends a day, not the rendering, and the right floor plan gets a lot easier to choose.
- Maintenance Guides6 min read
Minnesota Winters: Home Features Worth Adding Before the Cold Hits
The upgrades that make a Minnesota house warmer and lower-maintenance through winter, and why the best time to add them is before the first freeze.
- LBI News6 min read
LBI Partners With Natural Element Homes to Build Custom Log and Timber Homes
A new partnership lets us bring custom log and timber homes to the south metro, with national design and materials built on your site by a local crew.
- Technology5 min read
How Aerial Data and 3D Scanning Change the Way We Build
A laser scan captures the whole house, not just the dimensions someone thought to write down. Here is how 3D and aerial data make a renovation smoother.
- Bathrooms5 min read
Making a Bathroom ADA-Friendly, or Just Easier for Everyone to Use
The accessible bathroom features worth building are the ones that quietly make the room easier for every age, not just for a wheelchair.
- Bathrooms6 min read
Turning a Primary Bedroom and Bath Into a Retreat
A calm primary suite comes from smart layout and everyday comfort more than luxury, so here is what makes the biggest difference and where to spend.
- Minnesota Living5 min read
Pet-Friendly Renovation Ideas for Dog Owners
Renovation ideas that make a home work better for dogs and their owners, from durable flooring to a mudroom dog wash station.
- Basements6 min read
Turning a Basement Into a Legal Rental Unit in Minnesota
A basement apartment can help pay the mortgage, but only when the conversion is done to code, and here is what that takes in Minnesota.
- Bathrooms6 min read
How to Renovate a Bathroom on a Budget
A contractor's plain guide to remodeling a bathroom on a budget: keep the layout, refinish what is sound, and splurge only where it counts.
- Remodeling6 min read
Remodeling in Minnesota: The Pros and Cons of Every Season
Timing shapes a Minnesota remodel as much as budget or scope. A season-by-season look at when to start, and what to watch for.
- Planning Guides7 min read
How to Hire a Contractor in Minnesota (Without Getting Burned)
A straightforward guide to checking a contractor's license, insurance, references, and bid so you hire the right builder the first time.
- Minnesota Living6 min read
Designing a Family-Friendly Home in Minnesota
Designing a home that works through Minnesota family life, from the winter drop zone to durable materials, open sightlines, and rooms that adapt as kids grow.
- Planning Guides5 min read
Five Renovations That Add the Most Value to a Minnesota Home
The five renovations that reliably add value to a south metro home, and how to weigh resale against the comfort you get every day.
- Remodeling6 min read
Home Repair vs. Home Remodel: What's the Difference?
One puts your house back the way it was, the other changes what a room does. Here is how to tell a repair from a remodel, and which you actually need.
- Planning Guides5 min read
Safety First: How to Keep Your Minnesota Remodel Up to Code
Codes and permits are the unglamorous half of a remodel. Here is what they protect, what needs a permit in Minnesota, and how to stay on the right side of both.
Start
Start with a plan.
Build with confidence.
Tell us about the project. We'll walk through scope, timeline, and budget, and tell you straight if we're the right fit.