You know the boys get weepy over water pretty easily, but Steve's focus on starting with the site drives this podcast. The site is the context for the building, and broadening to site water management can really take the load off of building assembly water management. This podcast is all about digging deeper into building (sorry, just could not resist...).

 Pete's Resource(s): 

1. Pete has a series of YouTube video clips on building assessment, with the first 3 dealing with water: groundwater, site surface water, and building load. Take a look...

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2pL2KVsx9SCcqQBdEjbiYfI3AouC1CoL

 2. Superior Walls foundation system: https://www.superiorwalls.com

 3. Great Read: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angle_of_Repose

 4. This resource is more about land development at the community level, but cool site water management techniques, regardless: https://www.wbdg.org/resources/low-impact-development-technologies

We have a big announcement this week as we return to our first time having Matt Risinger on the podcast.

Jake and his builder team--Luke Mann, (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design)--work through all sorts of cool, key approaches to consider with your trades:

·      Paying subs in 21 days

·      Scheduling a site visit for a new potential sub

·      Pulling subs into the bidding process 

·      Using suppliers to evaluate potential new subs 

·      Trade team kickoff meeting to get everyone on the same page/schedule 

·      Setting up debriefs to keep things going well 

·      Reducing risk with a stronger trade team

Jake takes his builder team--Luke Man, (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High-Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design)--through this final topic with questions like:

- Do you want your company to grow? (These guys vary in size from 2 to 16...)

- How do you decide when to hire and who to hire? 

- Are you working in the business or on the business?

- Do you have a company culture that suits your team and clients?

- How do you delegate/empower/"let go" as your company changes or grows?

Luke Mann (Rangeline Homes), Shane Durkin (Patriot High-Performance Homes), and Jackson Andrews (Jackson Andrews Building + Design) work through this topic with host Jake Bruton. Key concepts include carefully distinguishing punch list vs. additional scope of work; covering closeout in project-starting customer expectations document; an extended comparison of builder closeout process to a new car purchase; dealing with "closeout-creep."

This is Q&A with Adult Supervision: Kohta Ueno. Kohta is so efficient we nailed SIX building enclosure questions: Listener Gagan - reconfiguring existing walls with new control layers; Listener Bill: the need for dedicated vent space with vertical metal siding on ICF walls; Listener Michael - rainscreens for roofs instead of walls; Listener Sean - best detail for using mineral wool (exterior continuous rigid insulation) on a roof; Listener Miles - hip roof in Arkansas best practice: vented roof, vented attic, what type of insulation; Pete asks Kohta's cut on ORNL's new BuildingScienceAdvisor.

Pete's Resource(s):

1. How to Look at a House Like a Building Scientist (Part 1 - Air) - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/?s=how+to+look+at+a+house+like+a+building+scientist

2. How to Look at a House Like a Building Scientist (Part 2 - Heat) - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-to-look-at-a-house-like-a-building-scientist-part-2-heat

3. How to Look at a House Like a Building Scientist (Part 3 -Temperature, Humidity & HVAC) - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-to-look-at-a-house-like-a-building-scientist-part-3-temperature-humidity-and-hvac-systems

4. How to Look at a House Like a Building Scientist (Part 4 - Water) - https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/how-to-look-at-a-house-like-a-building-scientist-part-4-water

5. Building Science Advisor: https://bsa.ornl.gov

Jake hooks up with the same custom builder team 

• Luke Mann - Rangeline Homes https://www.rangelinehomes.com
• Jackson Andrews - Building & Design https://jacksonandrewsbuilding.com
• Shane Durkin, Patriot High-Performance Homes https://www.buildpatriot.com

For a roundtable discussion on the ideal client. Key topics include vetting clients by matching company strengths to client expectations and budget; the two-way street of trust and respect; the importance of references or background checks (they go both ways);  pre-construction services to move the project forward; and finally, red flags...as both warnings AND opportunities.

Guest Reuben Rudisill is Huber's Research, Development, & Innovation engineer, joining Jake & Pete from the Building Science Corporation Summer Symposium in Westford, MA. Jake & Pete know just enough to get in trouble when it comes to structural details of ZIP, ZIP-R, and Advantech Huber OSB panels, so Reuben quite gently sets these guys straight on how high-performance OSB is manufactured and tested, how fasteners are as important as the panels, and what you can and cannot do with each of Huber's panels. The podcast does close out nicely with how important friendships are in the building business world (we could get this "touchy-and-feely" because Steve was "missing" for this podcast...).

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Huber Technical Support: https://www.huberwood.com/technical-support

2. Solid Panel System - https://bbe.umn.edu/research/perfect-wall-building-and-delivery-system

Join Jake and Steve as they chat with Ross Trethewey, of TE2 Engineering and This Old House, at Building Science Summer Camp 2023.

Check out TE2 Engineering

Steve calls SketchUp his electronic clay model which he can use with his builder, his enclosure consultant, and his clients. Pete gives up the dirt on WebSoilSurvey, the 1st tool he uses on every project design/spec review. Jake heads home for his favorite tool - his new Aarow Building office. Last but not least: Steve returns with his 2nd favorite tool--the field. Getting out to job sites and seeing his design work play out as a process--no substitute and this tool is key to Pete and Jake as well.

NOTE: You have to listen to the entire podcast to understand the Good Fellows reference...but it is worth the wait. Has Pete seen it yet? He is still not sure...

Pete's Resource(s):

1. Sketch-Up: 3-D rendering of 2-D plan set - https://www.sketchup.com

2. WebSoilSurvey: https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/app/

3. Aarow Building Office: https://buildshownetwork.com/contents/how-our-office-has-improved-our-business

4. THE "FIELD:" https://buildshownetwork.com/go/stevebaczek

5. What might be the Frank Lloyd Wright quote Steve is seeking: "An architect's most useful tools are an eraser at the drafting board, and a wrecking bar at the site."

6. Good Fellows - the movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodfellas