In this insightful episode of the Build Show Podcast, host Matt Risinger sits down with Stephanie Dailey—longtime colleague, project manager, and now remote collaborator—to explore what it really takes to build a remote career in the construction industry. Stephanie shares her unconventional path from jobsite coordination in Austin to managing high-performance builds from hundreds of miles away. With candid stories about burnout, family priorities, and the pursuit of flexibility, Matt and Stepha...
Jul 11, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 186
In this episode of the Build Show Podcast, our host Matt Risinger sits down with builder, educator, and longtime friend Jordan Smith for a deep dive into one of the most important questions in residential construction today: how do you build high-performance homes without blowing the budget? Drawing from Jordan’s real-world experience and his recent video series, the two break down what “attainable high performance” really looks like—focusing on the four key “knobs” builders can turn to control ...
Jul 04, 2025•27 min•Season 5Ep. 185
In this episode of the Build Show Podcast , Matt Risinger sits down with Matthew Cooper, COO of PEG, and Justin Pratt from Builders FirstSource to discuss how preplanned MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) design is transforming residential construction. Drawing from Matt’s own ultra-tight .50 ACH Risinger Build, the conversation highlights how digital tools—like Revit and advanced modeling—are making HVAC layouts, material coordination, and on-site execution faster and more precise. With...
Jun 27, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 184
In this episode of the Build Show Podcast , Matt Risinger sits down with South Dakota builder Josh Stange—featured in the premiere of Building Across America —to dive deep into what it really takes to build high-performance homes in rural America. A true one-man show, Josh not only designs, frames, and insulates his projects but recently shocked the team with a .18 ACH50 blower door result— before mechanicals. Together, Matt and Josh explore the details behind this incredible feat, from innovati...
Jun 20, 2025•38 min•Season 5Ep. 183
In this episode of the Build Show Podcast , Matt Risinger welcomes second-generation builder and Build Show contributor Stephanie Dailey to unpack the unexpected truths behind a recent remodel project outside Salt Lake City. Based on her ongoing video series That 70s Remodel , Stephanie shares the hidden challenges of bringing a dated home up to modern performance and code—from termite damage and cardboard sheathing to insulation gaps and seismic shear reinforcements. Together, they discuss how ...
Jun 13, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 181
In this deeply personal episode of The Build Show Podcast, host Matt Risinger opens up about his 20-year business journey, sharing hard-won lessons about debt, financial struggles, and the path to recovery. As he reflects on three significant anniversaries - 20 years in business, 10 years debt-free, and 15 years since accumulating massive debt - Matt provides a candid warning to fellow builders about the dangers of speculative building and overleveraging. Matt recounts his early days starting Ri...
Jun 06, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 179
Are you ready to nerd out? This week on the Build Podcast, Matt welcomes Deputy Building Official of Beaumont, TX and Host of The ICC Pulse Podcast, Beau Hansen, to explore updates in the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) and International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) compared to the 2021 version. Key changes include tighter blower door score requirements, enhanced moisture management, evolving energy compliance, and more flexible emergency escape provisions. They highlight the import...
May 30, 2025•40 min•Season 5Ep. 178
Matt continues with Part 2 of “Ask the Experts” to answer YOUR questions on high-performance homebuilding. Topics range from the feasibility of geothermal HVAC systems in Mississippi to the benefits of pairing ICF foundations with monopoly framing in Michigan. Matt also shares insights on exterior insulation, including ZIP-R sheathing and air sealing strategies for cold climates. He critiques vinyl siding, explains the evolution away from traditional house wraps, and emphasizes the importance of...
May 23, 2025•26 min•Season 5Ep. 177
Matt goes solo this week to share hard-earned wisdom from his 30-year construction. He outlines three foundational principles that have shaped his success—and helped him recover from serious setbacks. 1. Understand Building Science Matt emphasizes the importance of knowing how climate, materials, and design affect building durability. Lessons from Portland’s mold crises taught him that “if it can’t dry, it’s going to die.” Builders must master rain control and moisture management to prevent fail...
May 16, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 176
Matt is joined by Risinger Build Executive Project Manager Daniel Glauser to discuss pre-construction service agreements (PSAs), emphasizing the importance of getting paid for the extensive time and effort builders invest before actual construction begins. They explain how PSAs help weed out unserious clients, foster transparent collaboration with architects and homeowners, and ultimately ensure a smoother, more efficient building process. Matt and Daniel outline Risinger Build’s current process...
May 09, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 175
The Build Podcast tackles a very timely and top-of-mind topic: tariffs. This episode dives deep into the current (as of April 28, 2025) and forecasted state of the U.S. housing and remodeling industry, with a spotlight on tariffs, economic uncertainty, and demographic trends. Matt is joined by two experts from Zonda (a leading housing data and insights company), Matt & Todd, to discuss how global tariffs are expected to raise material costs by up to 9%, even for companies that don’t directly...
May 02, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 174
Welcome to the first official “Ask The Experts” edition of Build. Matt answers real questions from builders, architects, and fans of the show. This episode covers a wide range of high-performance building topics that every pro should consider. First, Matt breaks down unvented attic assemblies in LA’s dry climate, offering insulation recommendations and best practices for staying code-compliant without overcomplicating the build. Then, he dives into the hot topic of venting dryers in airtight hom...
Apr 25, 2025•21 min•Season 5Ep. 173
What makes a great project manager in the residential construction world? Matt and Risinger Build business partner, Tim Hill, sit down to discuss what they’ve come to define as a GREAT project manager. Drawing on years of experience, they identify five essential qualities: Leadership Collaboration Communication Work Ethic People Management Great project managers earn the respect of their teams through fairness, transparency, and deep knowledge. They must also collaborate effectively with everyon...
Apr 18, 2025•31 min•Season 5Ep. 172
Matt welcomes fellow Build Expert, Travis Brungardt, back to the studio for a “back to basics” conversation: HVAC 101, which includes foundational concepts, practical advice, and common mistakes in residential HVAC systems. Emphasizing the importance of proper planning, they stress starting with accurate manual J load calculations to avoid outdated “rules of thumb” like sizing based solely on square footage. Matt & Travis also break down the crucial roles of manuals D (duct design), S (equip...
Apr 11, 2025•47 min•Season 5Ep. 171
Matt and his business partner, Tim Hill, dive deep into the realities of profitability in the construction industry. Recorded in the brand-new Risinger Build studio, Matt & Tim share a candid conversation about the challenges general contractors, home builders, and remodelers face when it comes to profit margins, client expectations, and project planning. Despite the common misconception that builders are highly profitable, they reveal that average net profits hover around just 5–6%. This lo...
Apr 04, 2025•33 min•Season 5Ep. 170
It’s an IAQ Deep Dive…part two! Matt welcomes Sean Harris back to the studio to continue their discussion indoor air quality improvements for existing homes, focusing on mold prevention, HVAC upgrades, filtration, and dehumidification—especially in hot, humid climates like Texas. Sean emphasizes that mold issues often stem from leaky ductwork in unconditioned spaces, poor ventilation, and high humidity, leading to compromised air quality. Instead of cleaning mold, he recommends removing contamin...
Mar 28, 2025•42 min•Season 5Ep. 169
Matt welcomes fellow Build Expert, Travis Brungardt, to discuss the brand-new Build Original Series® Prairie Sun & Timber , which follows Travis as he builds a hybrid high-performance home blending Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs) and traditional framing. Travis outlines the project, noting that the upper level utilizes SIPs for insulation and strength, while the walkout basement level is conventionally framed with ZIP-R9 panels for flexibility. Throughout the series (and build itself), a ...
Mar 21, 2025•34 min•Season 5Ep. 168
Matt welcomes indoor air quality (IAQ) expert Sean Harris to explore mold prevention strategies for new construction. They discuss key building science principles, including air sealing, moisture management, and proper dehumidification to prevent mold growth in hot, humid climates like Texas. Sean emphasizes the importance of moving ductwork into conditioned spaces, using AeroBarrier and AeroSeal technology, and installing dedicated dehumidifiers to control humidity. He reveals that 90% of the 1...
Mar 14, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 167
Matt interviews Paul Atherton, CEO of High Spire, about how builders can create generational wealth by leveraging their construction businesses for real estate development. Most builders sell their companies for 1-2x earnings, which isn’t enough to pass down wealth. Instead, Paul outlines three wealth-building pillars: operating a profitable business, investing in real estate, and adding value to assets. Builders have a competitive edge in real estate because they understand construction costs, ...
Mar 07, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 166
This week on the Build Podcast, Matt welcomes Justin Pratt from Builders Firstsource (BFS) back to the ROCKWOOL studio to explore the future of home sales, particularly whether traditional model homes are obsolete. Rising construction costs and changing buyer expectations have made 3-D digital tools a cost-effective and efficient alternative. With over 398 pre-vetted home plans at BLDRPlan.com , builders can license ready-to-build designs that integrate seamlessly with BFS’s advanced building te...
Feb 28, 2025•36 min•Season 4Ep. 165
Matt is solo this week for an in-depth discussion on spray foam insulation, focusing on the differences between closed-cell and open-cell foam and the benefits of creating a conditioned attic space. Traditionally, HVAC systems and ductwork are placed in unconditioned attics in the South, leading to energy loss, duct leakage, and humidity issues. By using spray foam insulation at the roofline, homeowners can effectively seal and condition their attic, improving efficiency and reducing moisture pr...
Feb 21, 2025•32 min•Season 4Ep. 164
Live from the ROCKWOOL studio, Matt and Steve explore how to design and construct homes optimized for extreme health, focusing on mold resistance, superior indoor air quality (IAQ), and moisture control. They discuss essential strategies such as building tight, well-ventilated homes to prevent mold growth, using high-performance dehumidifiers, and implementing advanced HVAC systems with MERV 13+ or HEPA filtration. Matt and Steve highlight the importance of managing bulk water through proper sit...
Feb 14, 2025•36 min•Season 4Ep. 163
Find Matt and The Build Show on the web: Build Show Videos: https://buildshownetwork.com/go/mattrisinger Instagram: @risingerbuild and @thebuildshow TikTok: @thebuildshow YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@buildshow Website: https://risingerbuild.com/ and https://buildshownetwork.com/ Find Jeremy on the web: Instagram: @rishermartin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RisherMartin/ Houzz: https://www.houzz.com/professionals/general-contractors/rishermartin-fine-homes-pfvwus-pf~2046903330 ?...
Feb 07, 2025•36 min•Season 4Ep. 162
Matt does a deep dive into foundations and why one foundation might be a better choice than another, depending on your location. Many foundation styles came about because of frost-line differences. Northern builders might have a 3-foot frost line, which means it's necessary to dig below the frost line to avoid freeze-to-thaw issues in the wintertime. In other parts of the country, there might be a 1-foot frost line so a crawlspace makes the most sense. Finally, in the South and parts of the coun...
Dec 20, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 161
This week, Matt goes solo to highlight five common construction mistakes made by Texas builders and offers practical solutions to improve building quality. Ductwork in Hot Attics Placing ducts in unconditioned attics leads to inefficiency, mold growth, and energy loss. Builders should relocate ducts into conditioned spaces using techniques like closed-cell foam insulation or innovative Rheia duct systems. Cardboard Sheathing Flimsy, paper-based sheathing lacks durability and fails to resist air ...
Dec 13, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 164
In this episode of the Build Show Podcast, host Matt Risinger is joined by Lydia Crowder, better known as "Drywall Shorty," a seasoned second-generation drywall contractor from Bozeman, Montana. Together, they dive into the secrets of achieving flawless drywall results, focusing on the critical details that set high-quality builders apart from the competition. Lydia emphasizes the importance of proper framing, noting that uneven or crooked framing creates challenges that cannot be fully correcte...
Dec 06, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 163
Matt teams up with master plumber Eric Aune, aka @mechanicalhub, to explore the “art” of value engineering plumbing systems. They dive right into cost-effective strategies that don’t compromise quality. Matt and Eric cover the shift from traditional materials like copper to modern solutions such as PEX and PERT, highlighting their affordability, durability, and ease of installation. They also discuss the evolution from cast iron to PVC for drainage, weighing the pros and cons of each. For homeow...
Nov 29, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 162
Live from the ROCKWOOL studio, Matt discusses the pros and cons of fixed-price and cost-plus construction contracts with guest Jeremy Martin, co-owner of Risher Martin, a leading custom homebuilder in Austin. Jeremy shares his firm’s unique approach to fixed-price contracts, emphasizing rigorous pre-construction planning and detailed specifications to ensure predictable budgets and schedules. This method fosters trust and minimizes change orders by clearly defining project scopes, materials, and...
Nov 22, 2024•38 min•Season 4Ep. 161
This week, Matt chats with fellow Build Show Expert, Zack Dettmore, about his brand-new Build Original Series “Let’s Renovate A Bathroom.” The series follows Zack through a bathroom renovation, offering practical advice for both professionals and DIY enthusiasts. They discuss balancing tasks homeowners can tackle, such as framing, trim, and using accessible materials like Schluter KERDI-BOARD, with jobs best left to licensed pros, such as complex plumbing and electrical work. The goal is to empo...
Nov 15, 2024•35 min•Season 4Ep. 160
Live from the Rockwool studios, Matt talks with Brian Long to explore the challenges and advancements in the custom home building industry. They emphasize the need for higher standards in construction, including licensing for general contractors and increased education through trade schools. Their conversation highlights strategies to compete against lower-cost builders by focusing on detailed budgets, premium materials, and superior waterproofing, offering long-term value to clients. Matt and B...
Nov 12, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 159
