In the House

On this episode of In the House, we speak with Brooke Vandenhouten about what to expect if you are considering a career in architecture or construction. As an "emerging professional", Brooke discusses some of the pros and cons of higher education and licensure. What are some things you should expect when entering the workforce and the challenges that come with gaining a foothold in the industry. W...

On this 50th episode of in the house. We sit down with a buddy of ours, Adam Harrison to take a deep dive into Build Different. Through this discussion our goal is to provide examples of ways we can all elevate our professional and personal development. We talk in depth about accountability and follow-through, clarity and initiative, and how to increase productivity & focus even in this modern...

Today on In the House, Michael and I take a hard look at Autclaved Airated Concrete or AAC. AAC is an excellent building product if your goal is build homes that are stronger, quieter, resistant to water damage and termites, have high thermal performance, and fire resistant. Ricardo Gomez of AAC Texas gives us a detailed look into this innovative building product and its many applications. Co-Host...

On this episode of in the house, I speak with my friend Michael Stolle. Michael is a talented architect who, after finding himself wanting to gain a deeper understanding of building principles, decided to work in the field as a builder. Currently working for Dalgleish Construction Company in Austin TX, Michael and I explore the idea of Build Different, meaning to build in an extraordinary way, set...

On this episode of In the House we take a detailed look into sheetrock with Junior Coronado of GCTEX Drywall. We dive into the history of sheetrock, where it comes from, what new products are on the market, who makes it, why gypsum and how did it become the standard substrate for wall finishes? Junior walks us through each level of drywall finish and we discuss best practices for achieving a level...

Today on In the House, I speak with the founder of Made in Austin, Chris Bradsher. Made in Austin is a local page created to highlight the best local contractors, builders and artists. Made in Austin serves as a valuable resource for clients looking for reliable contractors in the Austin area. Chris tells me about how Made in Austin came to be, some common issues that contractors are facing, and h...

Today on In the House, I speak with Brett and Naomi Jimison, who left their home in California in search of freedom in the great state of Texas. With no prior building experience, Brett and Naomi decided to build their house out of solid limestone. We discuss why they made the choice to use limestone over wood framing and how the house performs in the summer and the winter. We also discuss the rea...

On this episode of In the House I speak with James and Jessica Murdock. James of J Murdock Homes, is a home builder in the Liberty Hill area and Jessica is a realtor with Magnolia Realty, who several years ago, helped my wife and I buy our first home. We discuss how the market has changed recently and some lessons learned through the aftermath of the pandemic. James walks us through what his clien...

Today on in the house I speak with Mr. Alan Heine about how he got into the painting business. Alan Heine is known to be one of the best home painters in Austin, but there is no doubt it takes a lot of hard work to reach that level. Alan tells me about how his dad started painting when he was young and the valuable lessons he learned about hard work from working in the oil business. Alan tells me...

Today on in the house I speak with John Garrett of John Garrett Design. John tells me his amazing story about how he found himself in the landscape business after getting his start as a sculptor and chef. He walks me through his process on how he starts a landscape project and the many elements that affect the design. John talks about the numerous services he provides and gives his take on setting...

Today on In the House I have a really fun chat with Matt Brading of Texas Edge Home Inspections about some of the many horrifying things he encounters as a home inspector. Matt tells me how he found himself in the home inspection business and the most common issues he finds with older homes and new construction. I get to know Matt as we talk about bourbon, his rise in popularity on Youtube and som...

Welcome to In the House, on this episode I speak with Ryan Steel of Architectural Tile and Stone about how deep her family roots go in the tile and stone business. We discuss how she found herself back in the family business as its new owner, after working for a healthcare design firm. Ryan walks me through their design process and what you should expect whether they complete the installation, or...

Welcome to In the House, today Pat Bailey of Artisan Hardwood Floors and I have a conversation about what it takes to be in business for over 50 years! We talk about how his family found themselves in the flooring industry and Pat tells me about the biggest challenges of running a company over the years. We talk about the common issue that Pat finds on every project and some common mistakes home o...

On this episode of In the House, Mr. Doug Cameron of Render ATX stopped by to have a chat about social media use. We talked about our own struggles with spending too much time on the little black box and some ways to limit your screen time. We talk about the upsides of not being dependent on your device and what that can mean for your family and your health. If you like this episode, subscribe and...

Today, Mr. Hugh Jefferson Randolph is In the House. We discuss his childhood growing up in Louisiana and Texas, and how those two environments influenced his architecture today. We talk about all the things Hugh draws inspiration from in his design process, and the collaborative relationship with his clients. We take a look at their 10th street remodel project and the merging of traditional vs. mo...

On this episode I speak with the founders of CoXist Studio, Frank and Megan Lin. We talk about their background, how they met and what inspired each of them to pursue a career in architecture. We discuss their adaptation of mid-century principles in their modern approach to problem solving designs. We also talk about some current projects in which they serve as both the architects and the develope...

Today on In the House I sit down with a friend of mine Mr. Jeff Schneider of J. Schneider Studios. Jeff is a welder, artist and glass blower and has spent many years working in the construction industry, on the management side, to help support his passion for creativity. Now Jeff runs a business installing structural steel and other architectural components, while also finding the time to continue...

On this episode of in the house I take a walk at Escobedo Group’s impressive facility in Buda Texas. David takes me through the steel fabrication, stone and Millwork shops and their finishing booth. We dive into the details of their Dario Panelized system and inspect some panels that are waiting to be shipped out. David and I discuss the feasibility of this business model and what the future holds...

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...