Building Consensus

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: @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 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: 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.

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’ 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.

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: @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.

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/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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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