R-Value

Building standards and regulations have changed A LOT recently. It can be difficult to keep up with and communicate all of the changes, leading to failed inspections and lost revenue. The pace and volume of change is a major challenge for builders across the country and non-profit organizers are stepping into the maze to help solve the problem.   People like Cardice Howard, Deputy Director of RESN...

In this episode of The R-Value Podcast, IDI Distributor’s Ken Allison sits down with Chuck Casto, Alignable's business development guru and Head of Content Marketing. Alignable, often described as the largest online Chamber of Commerce or the Facebook for business owners, is a platform that allows small business owners to connect with one another and share resources, ideas, and advice. Ken and Chu...

In this episode, IDI’s Ken Allison speaks live with Steve Skodak, CEO of the Building Performance Association at the organization’s 37th annual National Home Performance Conference & Trade Show.    The Building Performance Association has expanded its focus and reach significantly over the past few years. "Three years ago, we were communicating with maybe 7,000 to 8,000 people in our industry each...

Winning bids and creating a profitable business doesn't just happen accidentally. It takes great people, great products, great work, and a team dedicated to learning and adapting to constant market changes. Today we're talking to an expert in the field of building successful contracting businesses, Joe Arrigo. He shares his 5 best practices for building a contracting business that becomes profitab...

The Inflation Reduction Act may have already passed but there are still lots of questions about the credits, incentives and rebates contained within. How will the funds be distributed? Which states will benefit most? What’s the best way for contractors to ensure they can deliver these incentives to customers? Today we hope to answer these questions and more, which is why we’ve brought the foremost...

For contractors and consumers 2023 really is the “year of the rebate” courtesy of the Inflation Reduction Act. Potential customers are just starting to learn about how they can utilize these rebates to start new projects, which raises the question. How should you adjust your marketing plan to best capture the interest of these new prospects in your market? Today on the R-Value Podcast, you will ge...

According to Forbes, over 40% of the US construction workforce is expected to retire over the next decade. The fact is the construction industry faces a workforce shortage and according to Associated Builders and Contractors that shortage is up to 650,000 in 2022. This means every worker is critical including workers that came to our country looking for work. For many installation contractors, mig...

A lot of changes are coming to tax credits and other ways to save contractors and their clients money with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes not only new programs, but also adjustments to regulations and extensions around exisitng credits like the 179D. It’s one of the most underused credits but it can save business lots of money. Knowing more about these credits can be a c...

The Inflation Reduction Act is set to provide a lot of subsidies and other resources to contractors. But unless you know the details, you may not be able to maximize them for your business. That’s why we’ve invited Xavier Walters on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They explain how you can get access to these benefits and how to best utilize them to hire and ret...

Doing things the right way, even when it’s harder, will help you maintain a business with great customer relationships and a reputation that attracts more customers. That’s a philosophy that is central to the success of Suburban Manufacturing and our guest today, Mike May. Mike is the Product Manager of the Python division at Suburban Manufacturing, which is headquartered in Monticello, Minnesota....

At IDI, we like to push the envelope, do the unthinkable, achieve the impossible. With this podcast, we're doing just that by welcoming Mike Swift, VP and General Manager, and Kurt Walters the National Account Sales Manager for Owens Corning . You read that right, Owens Corning, one of the world’s largest insulation manufacturers, is on the podcast and they are talking all about their recent acqui...

This episode’s guest has a PHD in physics and he knows how to use it. Dr. Allison Bailes is the founder of Energy Vanguard, a company that focuses on teaching, HVAC design services , and consulting. Dr. Bailes works on the forefront of change in the way people see and use energy in homes.  Understanding the science behind the decisions you make and equipment you use is vital in today’s hypercompet...

When it comes to keeping moisture from destroying a home, it's all in the details. That's what Jamie Kaye is focused on. He's a Building Science Practitioner and Healthy Home Professional at Elm Energy Group and he joins us today to discuss how to prevent moisture intrusion and increase energy efficiency at every step of the build process.  In this podcast... 1:38 - How Jamie became interested in...

Various economic pressures are leading businesses to make creative decisions on supply of product and supply of people. How do you balance business realities with customer satisfaction? Today’s guest, Joe Arrigo, has the latest data and strategies to help you navigate these difficult questions. Joe Arrigo is the President/Owner of Resource Development Partners, a company that provides training, ce...

People think starting a business can be hard, but building a business on the other hand can be even more challenging, ESPECIALLY if you don't anticipate simple obstacles that can sink your best-laid plans. That's why business development education is extremely important and why we're talking to one of the best voices in building business education, Joe Arrigo.  Joe Arrigo is the President/Owner of...

We’re well into 2022 and a lot has already changed in the building industry, codes, regulations, legislation, and COVID guidance just to name a few. We’ve called in one of the leading experts in insulation, Dr. Joe Lstiburek, to help you understand these changes and prepare your business for the next 3 quarters and beyond.  Joe Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. H...

It’s not just your phone, technology is improving rapidly in every facet of our lives including the tools we use to get the job done. Today we pay special attention to one of the most vital and complex pieces of your operation, the spray foam rig.  Our guest this week is Nick Pagano, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Graco’s Contractor Equipment Division. Nick has been in the spray foam industr...

It's the Super Bowl of spray foam conventions, SprayFoam 2022, and it's live and in-person this February. Today we're talking to the man who is helping to put it all together, Rick Duncan. He is the Executive Director of the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance (SPFA), the industry’s leading organization representing contractors, material and equipment manufacturers, distributors, and industry consult...

There's an adage in writing for the stage and screen: show, don't tell. That's an adage that has led to big business for our guest today, DeWitt Driscoll of Positive Energy Consultants. He's taking on the hardest jobs and using cutting-edge technology to make sure customers understand what they need and how he can help. In this episode... 1:10 - Building performance is a family affair in the Drisc...

We have news from the capital city, Washington D.C. that can help you keep more of your capital. Host, Ken Allison, speaks with Kara Saul Rinaldi, the President and CEO of the AnnDyl Policy Group, LLC, a clean energy policy group that works on the federal and state level. Her organization is a driving force behind the Hope for Homes legislation, a bill that would fund training for work on clean en...

This one goes out to all the women out there breaking down glass ceilings and insulating buildings. We're discussing women in the insulation industry with four of the brightest minds at IDI distributors and the entire industry; Rachel Perry, Commercial Sales Specialist, Daja Oliver, a Branch Manager in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jessica the Attic Queen out of Tampa, Florida and Chelsea Whitley, SPFE...

Bryon Adamczyk, President of AI Building Products, knows what it takes to hire, train and manage multiple teams of contractors. In this episode, he shares his no-nonsense insights into obtaining, retaining and training talent that will save your business money and reputation.  AI Building Products was founded in 2018 in Fort Myers, Florida and has been providing service excellence in Fort Myers an...

To keep the outside, outside and the inside dry and quiet takes a lot of science. No one knows that better than The ROCKWOOL Group who have been protecting residential and commercial properties from moisture and sound pollution since 1909. Host Ken Allison welcomes Brendan Van Gool and Jason Howell from the ROCKWOOL Group to discuss the world of exterior insulation and the unique challenges that d...

No matter what line of work you're in you'd like to be given a gold star, by your industry and certainly by your customer. Who is setting the standards for what qualifies as world-class building and contracting? Host Ken Allison welcomes Larry Zarker and John Jones of BPI, the Building Performance Institute to discuss how BPI formulated the training and qualifications that make up its GoldStar Con...

On today's show the focus shifts from spray foam to blown fiberglass insulation. And no one knows it better than Chris Fuerst, IDI's Fiberglass Equipment and Sales Rep. Chris has a decade of experience in the industry but just recently joined IDI in 2020.  Don and Travis discuss every facet of blown insulation operations with Chris, and his knowledge and experience are clear. He explains about mak...