by HJ HOLTZ | May 13, 2026 | Client Work, Commercial Painting
Every project is important to H.J. Holtz & Son team members. But some touch the soul more than others. That was the case for Holtz craftspeople participating in the creation of a new chapel on the campus of Saint Gertrude High School in Goochland County.
“A lot of folks who work here are faithful people, and we take working in a church very seriously,” says Kelly Kutchey, Holtz production manager. “A project like this definitely adds a little weight to the work.”
Saint Gertrude relocated from its original home in the city of Richmond to its current campus in 2023. After a period of fundraising, the school turned to finishing its worship space in 2025. Named the Sullivan Chapel in honor of donors, the focal point of the space is the high altar, where hand-applied gold leaf provides a glowing backdrop for the school’s original wood crucifix and flanking angels.
Holtz team members painstakingly applied each piece of 23.5-karat gold leaf in the chapel – covering the front sanctuary wall and edging arches and wall elements. Gold leaf was also applied to the alcoves holding statues of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.
Kutchey says the project required 4,228 linear feet of gold leaf, each piece 4.25” wide. Laid side by side, that quantity of gold leaf would span the length of 14 football fields. “[Applying] that amount of gold leafing is not something we do all the time,” he says.
Applying gold leaf is challenging, Kutchey says, because it is so delicate. But even before the work could begin, the Holtz team had to source the material. “We had to find a supplier who could provide the amount we needed,” he says.
The company found SeppLeaf Products in New York City and developed a relationship that went beyond a simple purchase. “Lauren Sepp was extremely helpful,” Kutchey says. “We had experience with gold leaf, but because of the size of the job, we had to train more people. Lauren helped with that.”
Part of the training included how to handle the leaf. “It’s incredibly thin,” Kutchey notes. “A cross breeze through the space would blow it to pieces. You have to handle it with tools, not bare fingers, because it’s so delicate and will tarnish just like solid gold.”
In addition to applying the gold leaf, H.J. Holtz & Son team members installed six murals, painted, and stained a door. The scope of the project meant that Holtz often had half a dozen workers in the space daily for months.
A fall 2025 article in a school magazine notes a goal of the chapel’s design was for it to be beautiful, to reflect the glory of God. That’s a goal that Holtz team members strive for every time, Kutchey says.
“We always try to make everything look beautiful, whether it’s running white trim or adding wallpaper,” he says. “We want crisp, straight lines – clean and beautiful. Whatever we do, we want it to look the best.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Jan 29, 2024 | Residential Painting, Commercial Painting, Designer Projects, Wallpaper
The team at H.J. Holtz & Son knows the value of relationships. As a third-generation family-owned company, we enjoy working with designers, contractors, and vendors over and over again, because we know that strong collaboration benefits clients.
As a thank-you to our professional partners and to celebrate those connections, last year we held a Designers and Contractors Appreciation Lunch at Independence Golf Club. The location was fitting, as we’ve worked with Independence over the years to freshen their spaces. The event was so successful – with representatives of 8 paint, wallpaper, and millwork companies showcasing their lines – and more than 60 designers and other business partners in attendance, that we decided to do it again!
This year’s event will also be in February, a time of year when many of us think about what and who we love – thanks to Valentine’s Day and prompting from heart-themed store displays. Many of last year’s representatives will be on hand, as will additional friends eager for conversations with others in the same industry. We are excited to see what new products and ideas are surfacing in the industry and happy to bring together people who share our ethos of customer service and high-quality workmanship.
If you’re in the industry and would like to join us, please give the office a call!
by HJ HOLTZ | Dec 27, 2023 | Carpentry Services, Commercial Painting, Residential Painting, Wallpaper
Everyone knows that moving into a new place is a process. Decisions have to be made about how to best use the space, what renovation or construction is essential immediately, and where everything is going to go.
Now imagine that new location isn’t a house for a family, but a building for a fully functioning company, with ongoing projects in need of attention and employees in need of work areas. That’s what H.J. Holtz & Son has been experiencing over the last six months.
“We knew this was a big change, but it doesn’t really hit you until you’re in it,” says Rick Holtz, the Holtz Painting president and third generation owner. “We’ve been going full steam since we moved in, and there’s more to do.”
The company purchased the new location, a former auto repair shop, in May and began work immediately to make it their own. They’ve removed interior walls to create an open space where estimators and project managers can confer and hung new drywall throughout to create a fresh, clean environment. Virtually all of the interior changes are being handled by the Holtz team, except for significant electrical work, which is managed by Jon Calhoun of Cardinal Electrical Services, a regular partner.
The new shop at 2025 Tacony Drive, near the intersection of Hull Street Road and Chippenham Parkway, is nearly double the size of the company’s former location in Scott’s Addition. The added room allows for additional spray booths, greater dedicated space for the carpentry division, and more holding area for projects that are in process.
“We didn’t realize how cramped we were at the old location until we got in here,” Holtz says. “Even though we’ve got more arranging to do, to use this space to its full potential, we’re already able to better manage work flow. And we don’t feel like we’re constantly bumping into one another.”
The company’s shift from Scott’s Addition to Chesterfield County makes no difference when it comes to serving clients.
“We have clients throughout the Richmond metro area,” Holtz says. “With the Chippenham Parkway right here, we have access to expressways that take us wherever we need to go. It’s a great spot.”
As for when the new shop will be fully finished, don’t hold your breath. “It’s like the old saying about the cobbler’s children who go barefoot because everyone gets shoes before they do,” Holtz says. “We’re still putting our clients first. Our shop can be perfect later.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Dec 12, 2022 | Commercial Painting
Frank Cava, founder and principal of Cava Companies, a comprehensive real estate and property management firm, knew he needed H.J. Holtz & Son as the finishing touches were being added to his firm’s new headquarters.
“I didn’t want to pay to do it multiple times; I wanted to pay to do it once,” Cava says.
Cava had been introduced to the Holtz team through Avery Sefcik, a local designer and friend who was working with Cava and his wife in their personal home. “Avery had recommended Rick, telling me he’s not the cheapest, but he’s the best,” Cava says.
In the Cava residence, the Holtz team executed a variety of techniques, including paint, decorative finishes and lacquer. After seeing what was possible, Cava decided to hire the company again to create a dramatic office space for him, and to paint doors and trim, which are noticed and take a lot of abuse.
“I’ve been around painters for years,” Cava says. “The thing that caused me to use Holtz more than once is the process. They show up on time; they do an incredibly great job; and they clean up after themselves.
“For me, painting is like making sausage,” he adds. “It’s delicious when it’s finished, but the process is messy. The Holtz process isn’t.”
For his office, Cava selected Sherwin-Williams Bunglehouse Blue, a deep blue with gray undertones. The Holtz team painted every inch of the room, including a wall filled with shelves and cabinets. The effect is exactly what Cava was looking for.
“People come into my office and say ‘Wow,’” Cava says, grinning.
The Holtz team also painted an entryway in a separate Cava Companies building, a space featuring architectural design Cava describes as 1960s Eastern Bloc.
“I wanted [the foyer] to pop without ripping the stairs out, to unlock the hidden beauty of the building,” he says. “Most of what we do is restore and rehab and bring luster to forgotten-about properties. This is where it’s so critical to call someone with Holtz’ quality. They’ve been in business so long, they’ve seen it all and done it all.”
Cava says he appreciates the professionalism that the Holtz team brings to projects.
“Construction is a very complicated process, and the painting usually happens toward the end when you’re out of money and behind schedule,” he notes. “What’s great about Holtz is they’re able to work with you, often in a compromised work space, and give you an incredibly great product while being flexible. They talk to you and communicate when there’s a problem, and there’s always a problem. They give you the power to make decisions on your projects.
“I try to add value to my customers’ experience, to provide them with great service so they can’t not call me,” he adds. “What I notice with Rick [Holtz] is that I can’t not call Rick. He’s going to provide me with a level of service that I know is certain and is the best possible I can get. This is why we’ll continue to use them in the future.”
by HJ HOLTZ | May 17, 2022 | Commercial Painting
Nancy Hartt called on H.J. Holtz & Son when she opened her fashion boutique eight years ago for painting and wallpapering. It was only logical that she would call on the Holtz team again for a recent refresh.
“They’re the most trustworthy people of all time,” she says. “They are accommodating, and if something goes wrong, [company president] Rick [Holtz] has someone here within 24 hours.”
Hartt’s shop, Nellie George – named for her French bulldogs – opened with a floor painted in a hexagonal pattern, a custom design executed by Holtz painters. “We have not had to retouch that floor in eight years,” Hartt says. “People and dogs are on it all the time. There’s very high foot traffic, and it looks terrific.”
Recently, Hartt decided to shift the color scheme of the shop from blue to pink, which included a haven for her bulldogs. “We have a cute little dog bed that was blue, and now it’s pink,” she says. “It’s this lovely pink pagoda dog bed; people comment on that all the time.”
A second doorway at the rear of the store provides access to parking and is often used by customers. Holtz painters touched up the rear hallway and nearby dressing rooms in crisp white to make the space more inviting. “We needed to lighten that up a bit,” Hartt says.
Hartt was well acquainted with the Holtz team even before she opened her business. “Holtz has been helping my family in our houses since before I was born,” she says. “They are awesome.”
Another useful aspect of having the Holtz team in her shop, Hartt says, is their understanding of her needs as a business owner.
“We’re a commercial space, and we need to be open for customers,” she says. “Guys would come in at 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. to make sure the paint was dry before we opened for the day. That means so much. They are worth every penny.”
by HJ HOLTZ | Aug 10, 2021 | Commercial Painting, Residential Painting
Remember how hard it was to find toilet paper, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes in spring 2020?
The same forces that led to runs on basic supplies a year ago – increased demand and blockages in the supply chain – are now driving significant increases in paint cost. H.J. Holtz & Son President Rick Holtz says it’s been hard to watch the steady climb.
“One paint company has raised prices 13% this year,” Holtz says. “Consumers are seeing that in stores, and we see it, too, when we go to buy from our suppliers.”
According to PaintMag.com, which reports on the painting trade, the worldwide paint supply was hit early on by lockdowns and business closures, just as other industries were. Once businesses were allowed to reopen, a shortage of containers made it hard for paint to actually be moved from manufacturing sites to distribution locations.
Other problems in the supply chain can be traced to issues at specific plants. Facilities manufacturing epoxy resins in China and Korea experienced fire and other fabrication problems, which halted and slowed production. The Institute of Coating Technologies, a Greek organization that monitors the worldwide industry, noted in February 2021 that nearly all the raw materials involved in the coating industry increased in price. With raw materials responsible for more than 50% of the cost of paint, a hike in component prices drive the final cost up.
Then, in February 2021, a deep freeze in Texas shut down the approximately 150 petrochemical facilities in the Houston region for three days. According to Vertical Research Partners, a Connecticut equity research firm, the cold snap took three-quarters of the ethylene production capacity offline for days. Ethylene is a component of paint, used to improve flow and stability, and enhance application properties.
On top of supply and manufacturing challenges, demand for paint has soared. Homeowners spending more time than usual in their spaces have turned to paint to comfort and inspire. Thanks to low interest rates, home sales hit a 14-year high in 2020, according to the National Association of Realtors. New homes need paint, and older homes going on the market often get a fresh coat, too.
“We hear from clients every day how important their homes are to them now,” Holtz says. “We love being able to help people make their spaces feel fresh and new.”
