FAQs
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
Alley Cat Design Studio was created to give me a way to keep busy (i.e. sane) and earn a living after I lost my job in '08 as a copywriter at a local TV station. I started making chalkboards out of cabinet doors and that quickly turned into reclaimed wood artwork as Alan got more involved and was asked to build things for my shop. One thing has led to another and has evolved over time as our need for good lumber keeps growing. In order to feed our creative appetite we need reclaimed wood! Alan brings over 40 years of construction experience to the table and since neither one of us are afraid of getting dirty we began offering our demo services in exchange for the material. You get your property cleaned up and we get what we need. Pretty simple formula - knock on reclaimed wood - thats seems to be working! ;-)
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Most recently, we have torn down several small sheds and cleaned up some rental properties in Springfield. We have traveled to Holden, MO and cleaned out an old cabinet shop for an older gentleman who could no longer do the work himself and salvaged wood from a 1850s homestead that had already been brought down. We are currently scheduled to demo an old dairy barn in Ozark. Funny, but teardowns are very much a part of our lives. Over the past few decades we have been involved in numerous demo work all across the state for various friends and family and even ourselves (see photos) who were clearing land and property to make room for new construction. When you see something that needs to be done, you roll up your sleeves and you do it - it's just a part of who we are.
- What advice would you give a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?
Provide us with a clear accurate description (photos are extremely helpful but not necessary) of the structure; its size and condition, the lay of the land that it sits on, what is the best way to get into the property. Tell us right away of the things we need to be aware of - neighbors who work nights and may be sleeping during the day, pets or livestock that need to be contained or the amount of heavy vegetation surrounding the building... anything and everything that will allow us to go in fully prepared. Be ready to answer our questions... and this probably goes without saying - but... please make sure you are the person authorized to make these decisions. We don't need angry relatives running us off or shooting at us. Thank you.