TRIMMING DOWN EXPENSES ON PROJECT SUPPLIES Splitting packs and trading offcuts—yeah, that works if you’ve got folks around who are actually building ...

Color Combos That Oddly Please The Brain I hear what you’re saying about “happy accidents” with color, but I’ve seen that go sideways more than once....

BUILDING ON LEVEL GROUND: STEP-BY-STEP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A FLAT LOT Funny thing about flat lots—folks always assume they’re the “easy” ones...

Had a similar thing happen with a basement reno—inspector wanted all the flex duct labeled with his own color code, even though we’d already matched w...

STRUGGLING WITH VENTILATION INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS LATELY Man, I hear you on the inspector roulette. Had one guy last month who wanted me to demo a ...

Yeah, older wiring can definitely throw a wrench in things. Reminds me of a renovation I did a couple years back—house was built in the 50s, and the w...

Yeah, energy-efficient upgrades are always a bit of a gamble. Had a client last year who went all-in on solar panels and high-end insulation—really ni...

Timing can definitely be a factor, but honestly, I've had mixed luck with bundling overall. There was this one time I was working on a custom build an...

Gotta admit, real brick does age pretty nicely—but I wouldn't totally discount veneer. Did a project a few years back for a client who insisted on bri...

Couldn't agree more. Had a client insist on a full commercial-style faucet last year—big, shiny, looked like it belonged in a restaurant kitchen. Sure...