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 & 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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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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 contractor. The conversation covers contractor licensing, pulling permits, and navigating municipal requirements, along with structuring proposals, defining scope of work, and choosing between cost-plus and lump-sum contracts. They also examine subcontractor relationships and the operational shift from hands-on construction to managing risk, budgets, and business systems.

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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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’ 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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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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

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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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

Travis’ Website: https://www.catalystbuilt.com/

Brandon’s Instagram: @bbuildsit

Brandon's Website: https://www.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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The fellas decide what from 2025 should be left behind and what change they will push for in 2026. From celebrating growth to making some strategic contractions, new materials that worked great or hard lessons learned that will now never be repeated, this is your end of your Building Consensus wrap up.

Huge thanks to our episode sponsor, Huber Engineered Woods  

Learn more at: https://www.huberwood.com/

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.

When our team fails to follow instructions because they think they know better it wastes the time taken to plan the job, time spent to visit the site and lay out the crew as well as the time required for the lead to determine what happened and wether or not the new strategy is acceptable. Is following instructions the most valuable skill or would trade it for someone who knows their stuff?

Huge thanks to our episode sponsor, Diamond Kote. 

Learn more at: https://diamondkotesiding.com/

and find them on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/diamond_kote/

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.

While it’s frustrating to be mistaken it absolutely maddening to be right when you think “this is going to be a problem”. Finding a way to work with a subcontractor who you knew was going to be a problem seems like an unfair burden to bear but perhaps we have only ourselves to blame.

Huge thanks to our episode sponsor, Diamond Kote. 

Learn more at: https://diamondkotesiding.com/

and find them on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/diamond_kote/

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

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It may seem so obvious as to not even warrant a discussion, but when considering the challenge of building a new home versus renovating an existing home there’s an awful lot to argue about. High stakes in either case with clients, designers, weather and cash on the line make this one not as simple as you might think.

Huge thanks to our episode sponsor, Diamond Kote. 

Learn more at: https://diamondkotesiding.com/

and find them on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/diamond_kote/

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.

Many view the Passive House building standard as the pinnacle of high performance building but so often that view gets tied to specific products. While some make it easier than others, the technique is really the key so we discuss that with self-performer Jeremiah Sommer. Wether you certify with PHIUS or just build a Pretty Good House the strategies make all the difference.

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.aarowbuilding.com/projects/gilman

Don't miss a single episode of Build Show content. Sign up for our newsletter.