The Fine Homebuilding Podcast

Andrew, Ian and Patrick hear from listeners about radon and excavation contracting before taking questions about fixing the floor in an Eisenhower-era bathroom, vapor control for a small shop in Manitoba, and water pouring from this home's electrical service entrance.

Patrick talks to Dave Cooper, a construction-media content creator and YouTube presenter who advocates for panelized and modular construction methods,  about the advantages of off-site construction and ways it can speed the building process and help solve the affordability crisis.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about porch conversions, sawing your own lumber, and pandemic remodeling before taking listener questions about noticeable settlement, multihead minisplits, and repairing a stone foundation.

Patrick and Tara talk about how contractors can better track their financials, what bookkeeping information they should be able to produce in a few keystrokes, and what to do when your business has you feeling overwhelmed.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about building your own house and the cost of electrical work, before taking questions about above-garage living spaces, using paper-faced insulation behind siding, and leveling a sawn-lumber floor system.

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to epoxy floor finish contractor Kevin Smith  about decorative epoxy floor finishes and a lifetime spent working on houses.

A part time gig as a bookkeeper at an insulation company lead to a passion for building science and eventually, becoming the owner of Insulation Unlimited in Chattanooga, TN. Nathan Shirai is passionate about using insulation to help buildings perform better, and he's also a founder of Chattanooga's BS and Beer chapter. Head to bsandbeerkc.org to register for the Southeast Building Science Symposi...

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about one- vs. two-story builds and thermodynamics before taking questions about detailing garage-separation walls, building a new house in stages, and the risks of a root cellar with radon.

In this Pro-Talk podcast, Patrick talks to builder and remodeler Andy Steele about finding your niche as a contractor and what you can do to prepare for possible lean times ahead.

After 11 years as a middle school and high school teacher, Carly Carey wanted to do something new. Fond of HGTV and This Old House, her partner encouraged her to think about the trades. She contacted a bunch of plumbers in the Twin Cities, and one emailed her back. Three years later, she's on the way to becoming a journey-level plumber with Eric Nelson Plumbing.

Travis, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about wet versus dry air, micro toppings for concrete, and good fences before taking questions about vapor retarders for a cedar closet, heating and cooling a woodshop, and regional differences in construction terms.

Patrick and Mason talk about an event they hope will encourage more people to consider trade work and enjoy satisfaction that goes with it.

Ian Schwandt found the trades after deciding college wasn't for him. Trained by the carpenter's union, he's worked on all kinds of projects both in the midwest and on the east coast. At the start of the pandemic, he and his wife moved back to his family farmstead in Wisconsin to build their own home. Today, he's working on being a leader and manager, keeping a tab on costs TDS Custom Construction...

Brian Pontolilo, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about hygric buoyancy and wet basement floors before taking listener questions about air-sealing the floor of a vintage mobile home, taking building tests, and the right mortar for ready-to-tile shower pans.

Patrick and Paula talk about how colors make us feel, how to test colors before fully committing, and staging a property so people want to buy it.

Jesse Neumann loves trees. He's a certified arborist and works for the city of Austin, TX. In this episode of Keep Craft Alive, he talks about the challenges of the industry, keeping trees alive in Texas, and the importance of taking good care of the tree canopy.

In this special edition of the Fine Homebuilding Podcast, Patrick talks to engineer Neil Freidberg and builder Kyle Stumpenhorst about creating effective building envelopes.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about HVAC myths and mapping electrical systems, before taking questions about recalled electrical panels, finishing basement ceilings, and water management behind brick.

Bob and Patrick talk about how towns assess taxes when you add-on or change your property, the pain and joy of working with your hands, and rescuing a foreclosed disaster of a house. 

Bob and Patrick talk about how towns assess taxes when you add-on or change your property, the pain and joy of working with your hands, and rescuing a foreclosed disaster of a house. 

Kate Hersey, executive director of the  Minnesota Tool Library  is passionate about getting tools into the hands of more folks. Through her work at the non-profit tool lending library, she and her community of volunteers introduce hands-on tool skills to their members.

Andrew, Ian, and Patrick hear from listeners about HVAC training, wood pellets, and minisplits before taking questions about thermal breaks for slabs, split-style heat-pump water heaters, and doing your own dense-pack cellulose insulation.

Miquel, David, and Patrick talk about starting a painting and remodeling business, getting customers to think outside the box, and the creative and financial rewards of being a contractor.

Beth Pointer is celebrating five years in business as a contractor, through it's been a long journey to get there, with a path that leads from an English major, to ironworking and labor organizing. Her remodeling business, Done Construction, now focuses on kitchens and baths.

Ian, Andrew, and Patrick hear from listeners about heat flow and population density by climate zone before taking questions on one-story vs. two-story construction costs, controlling vapor through a slab, and the best brand of DIY spray foam.