The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to builder and remodeler Andy Steele about finding your niche as a contractor and what you can do to prepare for possible lean times ahead.

After 11 years as a middle school and high school teacher, Carly Carey wanted to do something new. Fond of HGTV and This Old House, her partner encouraged her to think about the trades. She contacted a bunch of plumbers in the Twin Cities, and one emailed her back. Three years later, she's on the way to becoming a journey-level plumber with Eric Nelson Plumbing.

Travis, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about wet versus dry air, micro toppings for concrete, and good fences before taking questions about vapor retarders for a cedar closet, heating and cooling a woodshop, and regional differences in construction terms.

Patrick and Mason talk about an event they hope will encourage more people to consider trade work and enjoy satisfaction that goes with it.

Ian Schwandt found the trades after deciding college wasn't for him. Trained by the carpenter's union, he's worked on all kinds of projects both in the midwest and on the east coast. At the start of the pandemic, he and his wife moved back to his family farmstead in Wisconsin to build their own home. Today, he's working on being a leader and manager, keeping a tab on costs TDS Custom Construction and helping folks find their footing in the trades.

Brian Pontolilo, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about hygric buoyancy and wet basement floors before taking listener questions about air-sealing the floor of a vintage mobile home, taking building tests, and the right mortar for ready-to-tile shower pans.

Patrick and Paula talk about how colors make us feel, how to test colors before fully committing, and staging a property so people want to buy it.

Jesse Neumann loves trees. He's a certified arborist and works for the city of Austin, TX. In this episode of Keep Craft Alive, he talks about the challenges of the industry, keeping trees alive in Texas, and the importance of taking good care of the tree canopy.

In this special edition of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Patrick talks to engineer Neil Freidberg and builder Kyle Stumpenhorst about creating effective building envelopes.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about HVAC myths and mapping electrical systems, before taking questions about recalled electrical panels, finishing basement ceilings, and water management behind brick.

Bob and Patrick talk about how towns assess taxes when you add-on or change your property, the pain and joy of working with your hands, and rescuing a foreclosed disaster of a house.

Bob and Patrick talk about how towns assess taxes when you add-on or change your property, the pain and joy of working with your hands, and rescuing a foreclosed disaster of a house.

Kate Hersey, executive director of the Minnesota Tool Library is passionate about getting tools into the hands of more folks. Through her work at the non-profit tool lending library, she and her community of volunteers introduce hands-on tool skills to their members.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about HVAC training, wood pellets, and minisplits before taking questions about thermal breaks for slabs, split-style heat-pump water heaters, and doing your own dense-pack cellulose insulation.

Miquel, David, and Patrick talk about starting a painting and remodeling business, getting customers to think outside the box, and the creative and financial rewards of being a contractor.

Beth Pointer is celebrating five years in business as a contractor, through it's been a long journey to get there, with a path that leads from an English major, to ironworking and labor organizing. Her remodeling business, Done Construction, now focuses on kitchens and baths.

Ian, Andrew, and Patrick hear from listeners about heat flow and population density by climate zone before taking questions on one-story vs. two-story construction costs, controlling vapor through a slab, and the best brand of DIY spray foam.

Mike and Patrick talk about the craft of low-voltage wiring, how to futureproof homes for technology upgrades, and why trade workers need to understand building science.

Learn more about the upcoming Midwest Building Science Symposium and why it's important to grow in your trade.

Kiley, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about climate control for sheds, energy audits, and water-heater condensate before taking questions about air-sealing electrical boxes, building with 2x3s, and keeping pipes warm with insulation.

Patrick talks to Caleb Carpenter, owner of Rad Wood Works, a contracting firm near Albany, N.Y., about starting a carpentry business, why it's tough to find good tradespeople, and what it's like buying a starter home right now.

Randy Williams gets to do a little bit of everything in his market, and that variety is key to a fulfilling career

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about exposed sheathing and setting up for a blower-door test before taking listener questions about delivery subcontractors, how to make a head flashing, and sealing a post-frame building at grade.

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to Morgan Thomas, production manager for Leff Construction, a design/build firm in Sebastopol, Calif., about managing client expectations, the challenges of building in California, and affordable housing for trade workers.

From rock and roll to building science, the career trajectory for Ryan wasn't necessarily a straight line, but he's found a true calling.

In this episode, Rob introduces Andrew Zoellner, current Editorial Director of Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor, as the new Executive Director of Keep Craft Alive.

Ian, Andrew, and Patrick hear from listeners about design software and building costs before taking questions about heat flow, removing a chimney, and the right nails for sheathing.

Patrick, Lindsay, and Lindsey talk about the challenges of building in the Mountain West, the difficulties in assembling the right team for a high-performance build, and the rewards of creating functional and beautiful spaces.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about shingle colors and Google's new office building before taking questions on installing foam insulation over T1-11, improving the comfort and thermal performance of overhanging bump-outs, and the best way to heat and cool a shed office.

Patrick and Mike talk about the complications of building in interior Alaska, learning the business of contracting, and how to earn more while working less.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about electric water heaters and the future of home building before taking questions about blue stuff on framing, painting open soffits, and whole-house dehumidification in wet climates.

Patrick talks to Rick Skidmore, founder and CEO of Timberlane, a shutter and garage-door manufacturer, about the utility and beauty of real exterior shutters and what drives someone to entrepreneurship.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about termites and heat pumps before taking questions about hot attic living space, using fiberglass reinforced panels (FRP) for sheathing, and bringing underporch rooms into the thermal envelope.

Patrick and Aron talk about the challenges of building on a small island, making the switch from business owner to employee, and training the next generation of builders.

Andrew, Kiley, and Patrick hear from listeners about ground-source heat pumps and air leaks before taking questions about design software, installing pine siding on a tiny house, and the right nails for cedar lap siding.

Patrick talks to Josh Orman, director of marketing and strategy at 3M, about advancements in roofing shingles and how granules are produced, sold, and tested.

The editors discuss straw-bale construction, corded vs. cordless tools, gas space heaters, repairing shrinking molding, and much more in these clips from episodes 150-154.

Patrick talks to Karalynn Cromeens, an attorney who specializes in work for construction firms, about the ways contractors can improve their chance of getting paid, as well as important clauses that should be in their contracts.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about low decks and landslides, before taking questions about converting a deck to a screened porch, insulating the floor of a raised addition, and detailing exterior foam insulation.

Keith and Patrick talk about affordable high-performance homes, easy ways to boost home efficiency, and the low-load house Keith built for himself.

Kiley, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about carbon footprints and battery-powered riding mowers before taking questions about drippy attic hatches, right-sizing a heat pump, and detailing a crawlspace vapor barrier.

Patrick talks to Bob Behnke, technical service manager for Franklin International about how to get stronger glue joints, picking the right glue for the job, and advances in construction adhesives.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about blower-door bargains and ground-source heat pumps before taking listener questions about water moving through concrete block, close-to-grade decks, and custom spreadsheets for estimating.

As one of the founders of the Pretty Good House movement, Dan talks about his shift into building science and why PGH is accessible to everyone from homeowners to builders.

Patrick talks to Cody Finke, CEO of Brimstone Energy, a startup working toward the production of carbon-neutral Portland cement about the amount of concrete we use globally, why it's a significant source of carbon emissions, and how to make it less polluting.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about industry trade shows and retrofit calculators before taking questions on building with native lumber, saving a masonry building, and insulating an old Cape.

Patrick talks to Greg Palese, vice president of marketing at Klein Tools about the history of Klein, why it's important to make tools in the United States, and what it's like working for a family-owned company.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about construction costs, SIP panels, and sliding doors before taking questions about monitoring humidity levels, pine paneling in an unheated outbuilding, and noisy pipes.

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to Keith Bohling about affordable high-performance homes, using state resources to train workers, and easy ways to boost home efficiency.

Andrew, Kiley, and Patrick hear from listeners about supply chains and music on the job before taking questions about finishing a wet basement, ground-source heat pumps, and squeaky floors.