In the House

Today on In the House I speak with David Escobedo of Escobedo Group in Buda, Texas. We talk about the company’s formation starting with David’s father Dario and how the company grew to what it is today, with Escobedo Group self performing approximately 90% of the projects scope of work. We also discuss the company’s Dario panelized system and how they utilize it to build high quality, performance...

Today on the In the House podcast, I talk with one of my buddies Patrick Deutschmann. Patrick is a very talented carpenter who grew up in Germany, so naturally we talk about some of the differences between the trade programs there vs. America, and what his biggest shock was after starting to work here in Texas. Patrick also tells me some of the top three habits that he recommends for carpenters th...

On this episode of in the house I speak with Erika Bonfanti about building enclosures. Erika is the associate principal at Acton Partners Consulting in Austin Tx. Erika shares where most builders and installers struggle when it comes to waterproofing and continuous insulation. I get Erika’s opinion on her favorite and least favorite products, where to spend money on a remodel project, and whether...

On this episode of In the House I speak with Whit Smith of Smith Structural Engineering about concrete in construction and whether or not there are any viable alternative materials. We also talk about the Texas Department of Transportation's forced adoption of Type-1L cement and the liability of using this concrete mix on your project. I hope you enjoy this episode. If you do, please consider subs...

On this episode of In the House I speak with Shan Jenkins, of Jenkins Design Build about contracts. We talk about fixed price vs. cost plus and why contractors might utilize one over the other. We discuss how his strategy for finding new clients has changed over the years, and we talk about failure. We should use failures as the opportunity to remove weaknesses and to learn. I hope you enjoy this...

Today on in the house, are we building our homes the right way? Why not build a home that will last hundreds of years? I speak with Daniel Hall from Texas Limestone Home Builders about the differences between building with Limestone vs Wood. Also we touch on the building science behind this construction method as well as the cost difference between traditional stick frame construction and limeston...

This is the one year anniversary episode of the In the House podcast! For this episode I sit down with my friend Wade Lombard for a discussion about parenting. What you do for a living is a means to generate an income, but being a parent is a way to cultivate an outcome. There are things in this world that seek to tear down and destroy. We need to equip our children with the fortitude, resourceful...

On this episode of In the House, I sit down with Ben Baker and Todd Roberts of US Lumber Brokers. Ben gives us a brief history of the company and how they seek to serve their clients and community. We have an in depth discussion about thermally modified and acedylated hardwoods; what are they, and how can they be utilized on your next project? If quality if of the highest importance, then their Pr...

Today on In the House I sit down with John Gioffre of Revent Builds. John talks about how he got his start in construction by flipping low income properties. Today, John and his team specialize in building custom homes that reflect the unique tastes of their clients. We discuss some of our favorite parts of the job and what mindset you should have, to be a successful builder. I hope you like this...

Today on In the House I talk with Trent Depth of Timber Builders. We talk about all things mass timber, and the expected growth of the mass timber market over the next several years. We discuss the numerous roles that Timber Builders take on, from finding an architect or engineer, to development, to bidding and install, they can do it all. We talk through some of the benefits of building with mass...

Welcome to in the house! Today I talk with John Nelson of Austin Retrofit. Austin Retrofit is a window and door supplier and installer in Austin, Texas. We talk about the history of the company starting with John’s father and the growth of the company over the years. John talks about the mission of Austin Retrofit, and how he keeps his employees on track with those goals. Every builder and subcont...

On this episode of In the House I sit down with Ross Van Burkleo of Jenkins Design Build in Bee Cave TX. We talk about Ross's background in the paper industry and some similarities selling paper and selling custom homes. Ross's role as Customer Experience Director provides valuable insight into what makes a good client. Also, how do you find good clients? Ross also talks about this year's HBA hous...

On this episode of In the House I speak with Adam Weedman, owner of Bin Dumped in Austin Tx. We talk about his background and how he found his way into the dumpster business. We discuss the challenges he faced at startup and the difficulty of growing a company to keep up with demand. Adam shares what he thinks the key to success is in this competitive environment. Don't forget to subscribe, share...

On this episode of In the House we sit down with Arturo "JJ" Rivera. JJ is a carpenter with Cortez Fine Woodworking and I get to talk with him about how he found himself in the carpentry trade. JJ tells me about his background and what his interests were as a kid. JJ also has experience as a project manager so he is able to provide me with some valuable feedback. We dive into some things that proj...

On this episode of In the House we sit down with Daniel Glauser of Risinger Build to discuss his personal remodel project. Daniel is remodeling his 1970's home to passive house standards. We talk about some things to consider if you are looking to build a passive house. Listen to Daniel's reasoning behind going for passive house certification. We dive into Daniel's background and how he found hims...

Today on in the house, we sit down with Nicole Blair. Nicole is an architect and general contractor in Austin TX. Her practice focuses on residential, small commercial, and public art building projects. Her projects have received design awards at the local (AlA Austin), state (Texas Society of Architects), and international (Dezeen) levels, and her work has been published by Architectural Record,...

Today on In the House, we sit down with Matt Garcia and Nicole Marshall of Matt Garcia Design. We talk about their background and their pathway into design. We discuss a recent remodel of theirs that Adrian and I toured and we learn about some of the challenges associated with that project. We talk at length about some of their work and how early they like to involve the builder in that process. T...

Today on In the House, we sit down with Kyle McCollum of McCollum Studio Architects. We talk about Ledgeway Modern, their project recently featured on this year's AIA tour. We also have an important discussion about his work with the Austin 20, a non profit group that helps young women find a new life after recovering from being sex trafficked. We hope you like this episode. If you do, share with...

Today on in the house, we sit down with Michael Crane of Rockwool Insulation and the host of BS&Beer Austin. Michael tells us his story and we talk about all things Rockwool. We talk about why he started BS&Beer and some of the great topics they cover. Hang on, cause it gets a little nerdy! We hope you like this episode. If you do, share with a friend and give us a five star rating! Thanks...

Today on in the house, we sit down with Luke Mezger of Mezger Homes. Luke is a builder and business owner in Austin Texas. We talk about what it was like growing up in a small town and going through the Texas A&M Construction Science Program. We also get Luke's opinion on how the construction industry has changed over the years. We hope you like this episode. If you do, share with a friend and...

On this episode of in the house, we sit down with Wade Lombard. This episode is a continuation of Episode 10, in which we discuss 5 points you could use to establish a culture, in any organization, that is grounded in excellence. Follow along as we discuss more about the home care industry and the next five points of Wade’s presentation. We hope you like this episode. If you do, share with a frien...

On this episode of in the house we sit down with Brent Fannin. Brent is the founder of FIA homes in Austin, Texas. We talk to Brent about how he came to be in the construction industry and how FIA homes started. We discuss a couple of his projects currently underway and we talk about the deficit in skilled labor and some potential solutions. We hope you like this episode. If you do, share with a f...

On this episode of In the House we sit down with Aaron Prinz. Aaron is the creator of the Design:ED Podcast, produced by Architectural Record. We discuss Aaron's unique background as a comedian and what led him into the field of architecture. He tells us what inspired him to start his podcast and we talk about some of the amazing guests he has brought on over the years. We hope you like this episo...

On this episode of In the House we sit down with Wade Lombard. Wade is the founder of Square Cow Moovers based out of Austin Texas. Wade shares some of the lessons he has learned over the past 15 years with the company, He defines what it means to be grounded in excellence and offers a boots on the ground perspective to managing projects and running a business. We hope you like this episode, if yo...

On this episode of In the House we sit down with Christy Taylor. Christy is a principal architect at Chioco Design and president of the Austin chapter of the American Institute of Architects. Christy tells us about her path into architecture and she gives us an inside look into the AIA and what they do for the Austin community. We hope you like this episode, if you do, share with a friend and give...