All About Home Construction

This Halloween, Terry takes the microphone solo for a look at some spooky facts before turning to something even scarier: real construction disasters! From building collapses and bridge failures to crane accidents and engineering mistakes, we explore some of the worst construction disasters in American and world history. We'll look at more than a dozen incredible events, including what happene...

In this episode, we’re diving into the rich world of Appalachian weather folklore! We break down the classic mountain signs passed down through generations—from counting August fogs to reading pinecones and bird behavior—and explore the surprising science hidden behind these old-time tales. Stick around until the end to see how simple modern tools like NOAA weather radios carry on this mountain tr...

Can a heat pump really keep your home warm during a cold Blue Ridge Mountain winter? And will it actually save you money? This week on All About Home Construction , Terry Gunnell-Beck and Randy Blake break down the pros and cons of modern heating systems and what homeowners need to know before making a decision. We compare heat pumps with propane, natural gas, and electric resistance heating, expl...

What should you do when a storm damages your home and you're waiting for the insurance adjuster? Knowing how to protect your property, document the damage, and make temporary repairs can help prevent a bad situation from getting worse. On this episode of All About Home Construction , Terry Gunnell-Beck and Randy Blake discuss five common weather-related home disasters and what homeowners shoul...

How did we go from men cutting logs by hand to modern sawmills using lasers, computers and high-speed bandmills? In this episode of All About Home Construction , Terry Connell Beck and Randy Blake take a look at the history and evolution of sawmills. We talk about the early water-powered mills, the arrival of steam power, circular saws, portable sawmills and the development of modern bandmills. Th...

How did loggers get massive trees out of the mountains before logging trucks, chainsaws, and modern equipment? In this episode of All About Home Construction , we go back through the history of American logging and timber harvesting — from the 1600s through the 20th century. We look at how loggers used axes, crosscut saws, oxen, horses, rivers, and eventually steam-powered equipment to move timber...

This week on All About Home Construction , we take a look at a material most of us use every day but probably don't think much about — rubber . We talk about where natural rubber comes from, how people first discovered its waterproofing properties, and how rubber went from a product harvested from trees in South America to an important material in the modern world. We'll look at the develo...

Labor Day is more than the unofficial end of summer. In this episode of All About Home Construction , Terry and Randy take a look at the history behind Labor Day and some of the major events that shaped the American workplace. We’ll go back to the first Labor Day celebration in New York City in 1882 and explore how the holiday eventually became a federal holiday. Along the way, we’ll look at some...

Before there was a booming Boone, paved roads, big-box stores, and modern construction, Watauga County was a collection of small mountain communities connected by trails, rivers, stores, mills, and the people who lived and worked there. In this episode of All About Home Construction , we go back to the early days of the High Country and explore the important role of the general store . We’ll look...

What sounds like science fiction is quickly becoming reality in the construction world. On this episode of All About Home Construction , Terry and Randy explore some of the remarkable materials and technologies changing the way we build—from self-healing concrete and transparent wood to graphene-enhanced concrete, thermal “batteries,” cool roofs, solar shingles and photovoltaic windows . Some of t...

What would happen if you took an average American house from 1976 and compared it to one being built today? The differences are bigger than you might think. On this episode of All About Home Construction , Terry and Randy look back at 50 years of changes in the way we build and live in our homes. We'll compare home sizes, electrical service, aluminum wiring, windows, insulation, and energy eff...

Concrete has been shaping the world for thousands of years—but today's concrete is changing in some surprising ways. This week on All About Home Construction , we take a look at the fascinating history of concrete, from the ancient Egyptians and Greeks to the incredible Roman structures that are still standing nearly 2,000 years later. We’ll talk about how Portland cement transformed construct...

Tiny homes have become one of the hottest conversations in residential construction, but what many people don't realize is that the debate is about much more than small houses. This week on All About Home Construction , we look at North Carolina's proposed changes surrounding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and what they could mean for homeowners, builders, and communities. What exactly is...

This week on All About Home Construction , we're taking a special break from construction to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. Join us as we explore the founding of the United States, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the documents that shaped our nation. We'll also look back at some of the defining moments that have transformed America over the past 250 years...

Summer is here, and that means higher electric bills and increased water usage—but it doesn't have to! This week on All About Home Construction , Terry and Randy share practical, money-saving tips to help homeowners stay cool without breaking the bank. Learn how your thermostat settings can impact your monthly energy bill, why a ceiling fan doesn't actually cool a room, and the simple main...

This week on All About Home Construction , Terry and Randy discuss how small contractors can successfully compete with larger construction companies. From providing personalized customer service and building strong relationships with homeowners to leveraging local knowledge of mountain terrain, weather, and building challenges, small businesses often have advantages that big firms simply can't...

This week on All About Home Construction , we're answering listener questions from around the High Country and beyond. We cover practical landscaping tips, including drainage solutions, planting around foundations, and choosing the right mulch. We also discuss ladder safety, common mistakes homeowners make when working at heights, and how to stay safe while tackling projects around the house....

This week on All About Home Construction , we're digging into the bones of a building—its framing. We discuss how builders determine the right size lumber to use, how span tables are used to safely size joists and beams, and why understanding load calculations is critical for any construction project. We also break down the difference between live loads Join us as we explore the importance of...

This week on All About Home Construction , we take a step back in time and explore the lost trades that helped build Appalachia. From hand-hewn log cabins and stone chimneys to blacksmith shops, sawmills and mountain communities depended on practical skills and hard work to survive.

Carpenter ants might look harmless, but they can be a warning sign of hidden trouble inside your home. In this episode of All About Home Construction , we dig into carpenter ant damage, how to spot the early signs, and why they’re often tied to moisture problems rather than just “bugs in the house.” We talk about what carpenter ants actually do to wood, how to tell them apart from termites, and wh...

On this episode of the podcast, we talked all about saw blades — from choosing the right blade for the job to knowing when it’s time to sharpen or replace one. We discussed the differences between cheap and premium blades, tooth counts for 10-inch blades, and how the number of teeth affects the quality and speed of a cut. We also covered blade sharpening tips, common mistakes that can damage blade...

Randy's grandkid hanging out on the show today! We have a local celeberity!

On this week’s episode of All About Home Construction , we dig into landscaping—what works, what doesn’t, and what homeowners need to know before starting their next project. We talked about one of the most important (and often overlooked) parts of landscaping: drainage—how to move water away from your home and prevent costly damage down the road. We also covered the proper use of mulch, when and...

This week on All About Home Construction , we’re digging into the business side of building that can make—or break—a contractor. We start with the basics of protection: why general liability and workers comp aren’t optional if you want to stay in business and protect what you’ve worked hard to build. Then we get into one of the biggest mistakes small contractors make—handshake deals—and why a soli...

Scams aren’t just something that happen to “other people”—they’re happening every day right here in North Carolina, and they’re getting more convincing than ever. On this week’s episode of All About Home Construction , we step outside the jobsite and into the digital world to talk about the scams that are costing Americans billions—and hitting close to home. From fake bank texts and phone calls to...