Building Consensus

We love receiving listener mail and even more so when there’s a question to answer, a problem to solve or a debate to be… debated. With some Building Science and Best Practices to parse here the fellas do their best to arrive at consensus yet again. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’...

In our milestone episode we take a moment to appreciate the support of our listeners, celebrate our past guests and even quiz Brandon on what we’ve been doing these past 2 years. Enjoy! Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/ Brandon’s Instagram: @bb...

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses and each of us has potential and the ability to contribute. That said, there are simply some tasks that require a certain trait and we need to be honest about that. Painters need good eyesight, framers can’t be afraid of heights and so on. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’...

Having a business partnership rather than flying all your missions solo can certainly spread the burden and make it easier to bear, but it also complicates decision making and invites debate. Would you be better of going it alone? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Website: https://ww...

In an ever-changing economy, we have to constantly adjust to labor rates, material costs and address market forces before we get stuck holding the bag. But how? Huge thanks to our podcast sponsor, Ring's End. Learn more at: https://www.ringsend.com/ Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’...

In lamenting the many trials and tribulations they suffer day in and day out the fellas identify a few pet peeves that have real impacts. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/ Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit Brandon's Website: https://www.aarowbuil...

The three levels of offerings often cited in building and other sales processes can offer useful comparative analysis for buyers looking to make an informed decision. Unfortunately, there is an implied but unspoken statement that “Good” is adequate and the others are unnecessary upgrades. Should we abandon GBB? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.co...

It’s always good to listen before you speak, learn what you can from others and maintain humility as we move through the world. That said, can you defer too much or spend too much time communicating praise of others when you should be positioning yourself as the valued expert? Sometimes we need a confident take-charge general in pursuit of productivity.  Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Bu...

While many of us in renovation have received a little holiday treat or something extra it's definitely not the norm, day in and day out. Should we, as service providers be part of the gratuity demanding operations so many other industries employ. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Web...

Brandon enjoys upsetting Travis enough that he's once again brought up vapor. The permeance of materials in our assemblies does matter, but just how much is up for some debate.  Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/ Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit...

Travis Brungardt uses a candid shop-floor conversation to unpack one of construction’s toughest challenges: knowing when a project is truly finished. He discusses how builders often keep refining details long after schedules say the job should be done, chasing higher standards in trim, finishes, and overall presentation. The episode explores the tension between craftsmanship, timelines, budgets, a...

From time to time we have to schedule multiple trades in on top of each other to meet schedule. This can work, but only if all the players are organized and willing. The sandbox can be peaceful and productive if we can be nice or at least respectful, and if we all share the common goal. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Trav...

What do we do when our clients don't track their spending, can't stay on budget (or won't)? Is there a reasonable responsibility we face that all parties agree to? What can we do to help our clients and ourselves finish their projects on budget? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Webs...

If you can't relax your grip on the dollars in your budget or the tools in your hand it may just keep you from ever achieving the goals you've laid out. The fellas discuss wether it's worth discussing a dream you can never realize or if it's best to just crush that dream right out of the gate with the heavy weight of reality. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buil...

Ryan writes in to ask if there’s a balance to be struck between building science based high performance goals and realistic expectations for an existing home or accessory building. Where’s the line between responsible investment and blatant disregard for budget or performance?  Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Insta...

On our last Who’s a Big Boy we discussed wether it makes sense to buy heavy equipment to operate in-house. Now it’s time to move that equipment around, along with all the material it pushes, pulls or places. So we ask: does it make sense to buy a dump trailer? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbui...

When does a company need a shop? Is it when they have too many tools and a bunch of stuff to store, when they make a product there that can be sold to pay the rent, or once you have so many people you need a place to congregate and operate? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Website:...

With the inherent risks in what we do there’s an important line to be drawn where our responsibility ends and the clients choices, maintenance (or disregard for both) begin. When they won’t follow our advice are we still gonna stand behind it? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt Travis’ Websit...

We constantly hear builders talking about the pipeline of work in queue and how they’re gonna load up… But should you ramp up and add crew to match the demand in the market? Or is it better to reduce the volume of input down to what your existing crew can manage? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalyst...

Are we able to turn trade partners loose on are clients homes based purely on their track record of charging fairly or do we need that quote in writing first? It stinks to have to do all the admin and front end confirmation but it’s the only way to protect ourselves and our clients - except when it isn’t. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/t...

Since Travis is always going on about how great his framer Wolfgang is, it comes as no surprise that Wolf is considering taking on the full scope of a renovation project. This led him to seek some advice on how to get started as a general contractor, what to include in the contract, estimating and pricing, dealing with subs and trying to profit. This is Part Two of the Q and A. Find Travis & Brand...

On the Building Consensus Podcast , Travis Brungardt and Brandon Jones open with a nod to longtime sponsor Huber Engineered Woods, reflecting on field experience with products like ZIP System sheathing and AdvanTech subflooring, and why performance and durability matter on real job sites. They’re joined by framer Wolfgang Clapper to discuss the transition from trade contractor to general contracto...

Comparing the cost, speed and quality of framing with traditional dimensional lumber against the potential labor and schedule advantages of engineered trusses leaves the fellas far from consensus. While there are some absolute certainties in building (it always costs more later, it always takes longer…) this key decision rests squarely on “it depends”. Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Buil...

When Brett Rindt reached out with number of questions about the proper Building Science approach to employ at his home renovation in Golden, Colorado we thought that his questions could be answered to broader benefit. It’s a Building Consensus strategic advisory for Brett’s WUI zone deep energy retrofit that allows air sealing and insulating from the outside in!    Find Travis & Brandon on the Web...

Since Travis is moving he and Brandon debate what tasks you feel you must self-perform on your own home versus what you can trust to a subcontractor. Also, can a modest man with an even-more-modest budget dig a hole and put together their own swimming pool? Find Travis & Brandon on the Web Travis’ Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/travisbrungardt Travis’ Instagram: @catalystbuilt...