For more than twenty years, the Hoyt family has relied on hard work, integrity, and a wealth of experience to build their family business. Led by father-son duo Paul and Levi Hoyt, Hoyt Exteriors has become a premier source for residential and commercial building exteriors in the Twin Cities area.
Read on to learn from them what makes Hoyt Exteriors different from the competition and why we should be your first call for your home or commercial property exterior needs.
Our “Why”
Why did you start Hoyt Exteriors?
Paul: I grew up in a family-owned business and always wanted to start my own company.
After operating Hoyt Construction for more than ten years and repairing other roofing companies’ work, our son approached us about starting Hoyt Exteriors to address that frustration. He had experience in larger-scale roofing and siding, so it was a good fit with our current clientele.
Levi: I have a similar story. Growing up in a family business, I always had an entrepreneurial spirit and ran a few different businesses before I took a job for another contractor in the storm restoration/exterior remodeling industry. I had great success there but always felt that there was a quality and attention-to-detail piece missing from that company.
I had a moment on a job where I realized that the only way to move forward would be to partner with my dad and bring the exterior side to his already-growing service company. That way we could maintain the same quality and customer service that was ingrained in me from a young age and pass that along to our customers.
How does your father-son dynamic make your company stand out from others?
Paul: I feel that we both adhere to the quality and integrity of how we conduct business and continue to teach that to our workforce. We also have genuine care and concern for each and every customer.
I love working with my son and hearing the comments from customers of how well he has treated them.
Levi: I love being able to live out what was taught to me from a young age. Quality is something that we will never sacrifice for profit. If we can’t do it right, we won’t do it. That is something I am excited to pass on to my children as well.
Solving Problems for Our Customers
What do you love about the work you do?
Paul: I love working with people and fixing problems for homeowners. I also love knowing that we put our best foot forward to give them a quality job and to build a relationship that will last a lifetime.
Levi: I love being able to find a problem and fix it — that is what drives me every day. I look at each project as a challenge and I do whatever I can to create the best outcome for the customer. I like to put myself in the customer’s shoes and deliver the final product that I would expect myself.
What has been the most enjoyable project you’ve worked on?
Paul: That’s a hard one. I really enjoy all of the projects we’ve done. Each one has its challenges that make it interesting, but they are always rewarding in the end because of the connections we’ve made and the satisfaction of knowing that we have installed the best products with the highest level of workmanship.
Levi: Every project has its own distinct fingerprint. We love all of them. To be honest, I love the jobs that are the most challenging. I feel like that is where we shine the most.
The feeling of accomplishment when we fulfill our promise and meet all of our customers expectations is what drives me.
Focusing On Our Priorities
If you only had $500 to spend on growing your business, where would you spend your money, and why?
Paul: I think I would spend it on our employees and subcontractors. They are the backbone of our company and I really appreciate their commitment to quality, loyalty, and integrity. Maybe we’d give them gift cards or a fun day of racing go-karts.
Levi: I would spend it on our guys. I feel that every dollar you invest in the people that work for you is the best return on investment. We appreciate our employees and subcontractors viewing jobs through the same lens we do. If it weren’t for them we would not be who we are today.
Being an entrepreneur requires a lot of juggling. How do you stay focused?
Paul: I think having time to enjoy family, friends, and faith is so important. We have always prided ourselves on trying to get the work done in a 5-day work week, leaving the weekend for time to rest and recharge. Sometimes, depending on the weather, we will need to work on a Saturday, but it’s rare.
Levi: Having a purpose in everything we do helps to keep our focus on our customers. We understand that they have lives, jobs, and families, too. I feel that when we stay focused on the customer it helps to keep everything in perspective, and this keeps both sides happy and on the same page.
We are a family-focused company and we take time to make sure that we enjoy life and keep a good work-life balance.
Overcoming Obstacles
What is the biggest obstacle you’ve overcome in your business? What did you learn from it?
Paul: I’ve always been slow at taking risks in the past. Since our son has joined the company, I feel a lot more at ease taking the risks necessary to grow the company for the future.
Levi: I feel like every year there is a new obstacle. The past couple of years the obstacle has been the pandemic and the challenges that accompanied it.
But whether it was illness, labor issues, material shortages, etc., we have adapted. We learned to do things a different way, we learned how to plan for things in a different way, and we have been successful.
I feel that our team and our leadership set us apart and we have continued to successfully adapt to any challenge that comes our way.
Embracing Technology
Technology and new equipment are revolutionizing how we all do business. What’s your favorite tool or piece of equipment you use in your business?
Paul: I would have to say it would be our new telehandler. It helps to reduce the physical work of moving pallets of material around on the jobsite and has so many other uses. Also, the technology of measuring roofs, siding, and windows has come a long way since we started the company.
The drone equipment we have has helped with recording and getting a baseline condition of roofs for projecting future replacement or recent storm damage loss.
Levi: Technology is my passion. Whether it’s the newest app or a drone to measure and inspect a home or property, I have always embraced the newest technology and I feel like that keeps us on the cutting edge.
Our industry is always changing and innovating, and I try to stay on that edge to deliver the best outcome for every project we take on.
Looking to the Future
What else would you like people to know about Hoyt Exteriors?
Paul: I feel we have the best team of people to achieve our goals and grow into the future. It feels great to know that there is a legacy being built to pass on to future generations.
Levi: I try to think of my legacy in everything we do. I teach my children the same things I was taught. We do what is right no matter the cost and I feel that no matter what, this will always bring you success. I am able to live that out every day and I love knowing that my children are watching and I get to pass that along to them as well.
Hoyt Exteriors is your expert for residential and commercial roofing, siding, decks, windows, and more. Our team of professionals bring top-notch workmanship, quality materials, and exceptional service to every job we do. Whatever your roofing needs are, we can help. Contact us today to plan your next project.