Insulation by Chuck and Debbie Hymes

The company that builder Carl “Pogie” Worsley chose for the insulation was Home Solutions of Carolina Inc.

Chuck and Debbie Hymes opened the family-owned business in 1998, just as the Outer Banks was starting a full recovery from the late 1980s housing downturn.

When the company started, the Hymes’ focus was on new construction, particularly screened porches, shower doors and closet shelving. Remodels were also on the menu, including some work in sunroom additions.

In 2006, wishing to offer builders a “full package” of services, Home Solutions bought All Star Insulation and incorporated it into a new division under the Home Solutions umbrella.

In what has become a recurring theme in our story, the housing downturn’s affect on the Hymeses is reflected in the loss of jobs among their employee family. In 2006, the company employed 18. By 2008, Home Solutions was providing 29 local jobs. By the end of 2009, that number had dropped to as low as 10, and now stands at 13.

A small uptick in business, perhaps a sign of the elusive recovery, has allowed them to bring back one laid-off employee and add two new hires. The loss of employees was dictated by a decline in revenues, about 20 percent annually until 2010.

While laying off employees is a tough decision, running “a tight ship” has allowed Home Solutions to be a strong player and competitor in the market, and the company remains a viable force in the local trades industry.

Like many other business owners, the Hymeses also adapted. A major shift from residential to commercial has provided significant opportunities, and the company now offers acoustical ceilings, storefront glass and doors as well as commercial bathrooms to their product line. In addition, vehicles have been retired and replaced with less expensive models, and inventory controls are more stringent.

On the residential side, window tinting and glass coatings have been added as residents seek to save energy costs and make glass easier to clean. In short, the company continues to offer the same level of quality products and installation as before, even with the loss of employees.

Thus far, of the three subcontractors we have interviewed for this series, the percentage of employees laid off since the housing crash by each company has been over 50 percent and in one case, close to 100 percent.

Yet each of our subjects found ways to survive and remain viable in the face of adversity. This is a testament to the spirit of our small business community and bodes well for our future.