What Does a Superintendent Actually Do? With Brandon Sampson

In this episode of The Builder’s Blueprint, Nate sits down with SoHo Construction superintendent Brandon Sampson to talk about what really goes on behind the scenes of a construction project. Brandon shares what his day-to-day looks like, from coordinating subcontractors and troubleshooting jobsite issues to keeping projects moving when things inevitably change.

They also get into the importance of building strong relationships with subcontractors, communicating clearly, staying flexible, and taking responsibility when something goes wrong. Brandon shares lessons he’s picked up throughout his 20+ years in construction and what he thinks makes a strong superintendent.

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These guys are out there actually performing the work, doing the things. And so it's one of those like you want to create, you know, not a hostile environment. You want to create a a good environment where people want to work, you know. All righty, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to the Builder Blueprint podcast. My name is Nate, the host of today's episode, and I am joined with Brandon Sampson, who is project superintendent at Soho. uh basically the master of construction, the best singer

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songwriter in town, a poet, the man can do everything. Uh he's an incredible guy and a good friend and I'm excited to have him. Brandon, welcome to the show. >> Thanks, Nate. >> And today we are going to be talking about our superintendants, what we do, how we operate at Soho. Um what the heck is a superintendent? If you are in the construction field, you probably know if you're in designer, you probably heard the term or you're not sure what are they actually doing all day. So, I

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wanted to kind of go in first Brandon's background. Um, so you've been in construction how long? >> Um, honestly, since I was a little kid. >> I grew up doing that with my dad. So, yeah. Sweeping job sites, picking up nails, stuff like that. So, >> all the fun. I'm the kid. My dad's a contractor. The stuff he doesn't want to do. >> Yeah. So seriously, like when I was three years old, he brought me on different job sites and >> it was probably by the time I was like

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12, I started like really working with him a lot, you know, and so actually getting paid, you know. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And your dad was doing uh general construction. >> Yeah. Yeah. Kind of the same stuff we do here, just remodels and stuff like that. There was a big period of time, probably seven, eight years, where we did just solid ceramic tile, >> stone installation, stuff like that. So >> yeah. Oh yeah. >> A lot of that. >> Yeah. So in that time obviously working

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with your dad a lot of people try to do the opposite and a lot of dads will say that like I'm teaching you early to get an office job go to school do this you don't have to do construction but you kind of took the opposite path. I I I don't know if you want to go into like your education because I also know you're well educated as well. It's not like you just only stuck in construction the whole time. Yeah. >> Um but what brought you back to being hey I'm going to be in charge of remodel

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new construction projects? >> Yeah. Um, I think it kind of just naturally developed like over the years. Like it was not something that I from a young age like set out, oh, I want to do this. I want to be like, you know, I honestly don't like being in like management positions sometimes just because like the delegation. But like as I've gotten older and like really built my skill sets, it's like no, I know how to do this. I'm competent. I can, you know, >> and so it just it's kind of just

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naturally worked its way into there, you know. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think it's one of those where people talk about like middle management and especially in like the corporate side of things. Um, we're obviously a middle manager of sorts, right? Right. U, but I think it's such an interesting middle management role because it's not like you're reporting to a corporate overlord or someone you don't know, right? It's like, no, I'm reporting directly to the people that

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are hiring us to make their house beautiful, right? And like their dream. >> Um, so I've always thought that's been like an interesting side of things that we do. Uh because whenever I'm doing a lot of administrative stuff, I'm kind of just like, "Oh gosh, this is tough to get through." Like daydreaming like it wouldn't be too bad to be digging some holes right now. But uh then at the end of the day, it's like, "Oh yeah, okay, but we're doing this and like this stuff

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has to happen to get them what they want, right?" >> Um so I think it's like an interesting thing and interesting perspective that we put on it and sometimes forget about. Um, but kind of getting into like what that actual middle management day-to-day role looks like. So, I know every single construction company is a little bit different how they operate, but in your role here at Soho. Yeah. >> Uh, like what does the day-to-day superintendent do besides >> go fishing and relax and go to sit in

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the air conditioning truck? >> Yeah. um a dayto day like I get up in the morning I usually go over my emails my you know text messages my schedule calendar kind of look at where I need to be that day because it's that's one of the things in in this kind of industry and this position too is like every day is a different day and like every day changes you know >> and so >> um kind of just plan out my day like see where I'm going to be going what I'm you know who I'm going to be meeting and you

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know and then just kind of go from there and uh drive around the job sites. A lot of times I jump in and actually do work between subs, you know, like that, you know, say, "Hey, the drywall guy is coming in and the framer didn't finish putting backing around here, you know, so I got to jump in and do that myself or just things like that." So, anything I can do to keep the job rolling is what what my job is. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> Yeah. which I think is like I think one

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of the things that separates from being, you know, full-time construction company to, you know, like the guy who's just trying, but he's working out of his own truck and doing his own thing, you know, he's kind of like got to do everything. >> Sure. >> And I feel like maybe from your experience growing up, you you just basically learned like, okay, I have to learn how to do all of these tasks, like working with your dad as soon as it's like, okay, all of these things I'm

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exposed to. I got to understand. Um, so when the guy doesn't show up inevitably, which unfortunately happens all the time, or he's short-handed, you know, you can jump in and say, "All right, crap. I know how to do this, maybe just this me a couple things, but like I got a general idea of like this is how this needs to go." >> Um, I think that's cool. I think that's one of the coolest things about being bags on superintendent >> is there's just so many opportunities

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for that, >> right? >> And I think obviously Soho benefits from that, but hopefully it's enjoyable. probably cuz it's like the dayto day is is like you're talking about a little different. >> Um >> but in terms of the uh administrative side because I know we touched on that a little bit. So in the morning you wake up kind of check like here's what I got to do. Um for the actual job let's say you've got you've got we'll talk about the ones you

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have now, right? We've got a couple live projects. So, you're there, you show up to the job site, and you've kind of made a plan the day before, and then like what does that part of the day look like for you when you're actually there? Like, what is Brandon Sansson working on when he's not doing that pickup stuff? Yeah. >> Like there's a lot of coordination, behind the scenes stuff that happens. Maybe if you can like just do an example of like this is like something I have to

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do that ends up during the Um, like for instance today, like I planned out my day, got to the job site, the electrician was there, gutting out this house and all this stuff, but we had to keep specific things energized. We had to keep the landscaping going, the pool, hot tub, the Wi-Fi, cuz the pool and hot tub and landscape stuff are on the Wi-Fi like to be able to access that. So, like I had to go in, walk through, trace out things with him, coordinate all that simultaneously getting calls from the

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plumber on two other projects about what we're going to do here, here, and here, you know, >> and then like >> me bugging you for >> Yeah. It's just [laughter] It's like So, it's constant I'm troubleshooting and, you know, putting out fires and answering, you know, questions and things like that just from the the moment I get there, >> you know. So, it's it's exciting and overwhelming at the same time because it's like, you know, what what's next?

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>> And then you're also like, well, God, what's next? Like, >> yeah. [laughter] Yeah. I know. Honestly, so like I we I think everyone wishes, you know, everyone wishes the project would just go and you'd walk in and you say, all right, here's my plan. And then it just build exactly what's there and everything you take out goes exactly in how it needs to go. But obviously that's not the case. Um, so one of the things I think we wanted to chat about was what happens and what are the things that

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just completely derail projects that we see happen all the time. >> Yeah. >> Because there's like specific stuff all the time happens and it seems to always be like three or four specific areas that always derail stuff. >> What derails? There's I mean there's [laughter] there's a lot of things because like everything is so contingent and dependent on each other. Mhm. >> So, it's like one little thing just domino effects everything, you know. >> Um,

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I think one of the big things is like not getting your roughins correct because then once you get to your finish stage, all of a sudden it's just like >> Mhm. >> You know, now you got to like tear out walls, now you got to move this, now you got to do that. So that that's a a major derailing in my my opinion >> because then you know you you're stepping backwards backwards backwards like and it's like >> it's amazing how far backwards you can go from one rough valve being an inch

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off you know if it needs to shift over to the left and you're like oh no and then you got to make sure the drywall can get back in there on schedule and like the guy's going to cut it out and the plumber's got to come back and then sometimes you're like well you got to do a little bit more plumbing than we thought or my I think my favorite thing to have happen is you get it in the right spot and then you start putting in drywall and then someone comes in and says, "I think I want to change that

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layout. I think that should be deck mount, not not [laughter] >> after you fixed something already, then they wanted it." Yeah. >> Yeah. You're like, "Oh, [laughter] no." So, like that one always drives me mad, but it's part of what we do. It's important. At the end of the day, it's like I think people need to be free to be able to change their mind, you know, and to see something in person and say, >> "That's maybe not how I envisioned it."

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>> Um cuz I think from the get-go, we can say a ton to people about like this is how you're going to use it. This is what's going to happen if you choose this or this, so you should choose this version. But like >> that's just our opinion. You know, they might get in there and say, "Well, that's not actually how I do it. I brush my teeth like a maniac and I do this weird thing and I need to have this specific [laughter] thing. I don't know. You know, and so sometimes what we think

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is the best >> doesn't turn out to be the best. And I think like >> an important part of being a superintendent, which is what I love about our superintendent is just a lot of flexibility and understanding >> of like, okay, I didn't realize that and we put this in the different spot based off what we were planning, but like, okay, we'll dig it out. We'll get it fixed for you. I know a lot of people will just say, no, >> can't do that. I've got to get in. got

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to get out where I think we and this might just be a benefit of having a little more custom projects where we have the time to do that and >> clients kind of understand like that's what they're getting with custom home. >> Yeah. Um, but I do I do think that's a a key thing if you are listening and you're thinking about this or you struggle with this. Like there's only so much you can do if you want to be in the custom space. Like you do kind of have to be flexible with

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stuff. um and super understanding and not get frustrated because it there can be days where you'll have four projects and all four projects change their mind all on the same day and you your schedule suddenly becomes three weeks back on four projects and then it's timer for everybody. >> So I think I do think that's important. >> I think I think you have to be flexible. It's one of those my dad my dad used to say this quote that's um blessed are the flexible for they will not break

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>> and like I adhere to that in my professional life in my personal life because it's one of those Yeah. especially on job sites like that, like you have to you have to be flexible. You have to change. And kind of going back to the one thing you said with sometimes you do something and someone sees it and they're like, "Oh, that's not exactly what I was thinking." Or whatever, you know, like I think that's why like communication and over articulation and like all of that is so important, you

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know? It's like some people have a hard time like visualizing things, you know? And so it's like you almost have to learn people's personalities and like how they perceive and receive things to be able to like really get in there and like communicate well because it's like that'll bite in the ass in the end where you're like, "Oh well, I thought we were on the same page, you know, and like that goes across the board of humanity, but >> like >> but yeah, I think very specific in what

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we do." It's like >> I wish there was fewer words. I wish there was like fewer descriptive words because there's so many ways to describe like what your vision is and a lot of times like the words seem interchangeable but they're not right you know and so like we'll talk about a detail and someone who doesn't know like if they wanted like a bullnose for example say like I just need it a little softer you know and like you kind of think oh a bullnose that's what it's

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going to be and then you get in there and they're like have a completely different idea of what they were talking about and you just immediately jumped to one thing and said it and they don't know the difference, you know? So, like that happens so often. Um, and like you'll think like I'm in this, I got it, I understand what they want. And then they see it in person cuz like the drawings even sometimes are deceiving, you know? Right. >> Um, cuz it's really hard to tell depth

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and actual like edges and details and drawings, >> especially just like two-dimensional. It's sometimes hard to just Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, even in the 3D models, it's just so small some of the details that we're working on, but like they do make such a big impact. >> Yeah. So, man, details, details, details. Um, so, oo, I like this one. Uh, building relationships with subcontractors. Our subs are our lifeblood. >> So, if you're ever getting into general construction, if you are doing a project

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and running it yourself and you're a designer, you're just trying to figure out what's going on, like subs are the people you need to take care of. Um, if you're going to yell at somebody, yell at Nate, yell at Brandon, yell at Near. Uh, that's what we're here for. Don't yell at the sub. They are just doing their job as we told them. And so it there is a lot of like defending I would say of our subs because >> sure >> we we at the end of the day whether they

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messed up or not it's our subs that we chose. It's like someone that we have established a relationship with, right? >> Um and it's important to keep those relationships because like you're going to thrive as a construction company if you've got good subcontractors that like you, that care about you, that want your project to do well. Yeah. >> Um and they continue to want to do business with you. And so on the administrative inside, the office side, obviously, it's making sure they're

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paid. Uh making sure that we're getting them projects, we're not giving them bad projects that aren't going to sign. And we kind of have a general idea. We try not to ask too much. Um but just give them as much information as possible. And then also try to stay on top of them if we see like they're behind on asking for vayments or they're behind on um providing change orders and make sure it doesn't become as big surprise to everybody, but in the field yours is obviously very different.

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>> Um I don't know if you want to go into a little bit about like what you do if you're hanging out. I don't know what you do exactly with the guys in the field other than like you seem to all be best friends. So that actually is a big thing because it's like I think like you said they're I mean you didn't say this but like they're [snorts] your hands and feet, you know what I mean in the field and so it's like >> if you're if you're a general contractor

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and you're treating your subs shitty like it's a reflection on you totally like you need an attitude adjustment but [laughter] but like these guys are out there actually performing the work doing the things and so it's one of those like you want to create you know not a hostile environment you want to create a a good environment where people want to work, you know, and it's it's one thing that like I always try to become become like good friends with these people, you know, because it's like I'm going to be

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working with them 40 50 hours a week as much if not more than the people I go home to and call my family, you know, so why not be family with them, >> you know? And it's like I'm a big advocate on connecting to the human level of people, you know, in that rather than just being a number and just a a cog in the wheel type thing, you know. Um, and like I know personally like as as someone that has been a sub or worked under generals and stuff like that, I feel appreciated. When I feel

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appreciated, I actually do better. I work harder. right? You know, and I try to do that in general, but you know how it is like if you're treated well, you're you're going to want to perform well, you know. >> Yeah. >> And so I think that's I think it's a very important thing, you know, to to reciprocate with each other, you know. >> Yeah. Absolutely. And and I think it's like it's different for every single sub, right? Um cuz there are some like their whole job is get in, get out.

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They're like, I can't really hang dance around and play all day, you know? Totally. U but there is always that time and that experience that I mean you can spend even if you just spend like five minutes at lunch just with them like hey man what's up like you got projects what are you guys doing what are you guys working on >> um you can learn a ton from your subs as well even just asking them about things that they're doing not even at your job site >> I've learned a bunch from even our

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plumbers and how they're installing the same thing the HVAC they're like install a different system on a different job and I'm like oh I had no idea you could do that >> um and so I I always feel like there's tons of opportunity and you see you just communicating and being a normal person, you know, like take your business hat off for a second and just be a normal guy >> and or gal and you know, you'll be surprised at how many jobs, how many opportunities, how many cool things you

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learn just from doing that. Yeah. >> Um, one one challenge part and it's I know it's like you're just trying to be, you know, their friend and make the relationship, but at the end of the day, like there are times where guys goof up, you know, and it might not be like, "Oh, I installed a little bad." Like they might have just completely messed up something and a little bit on the point we were talking about earlier, you might have thought you like explained exactly what you need and then they go, "Well, I

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installed it how you said." and [laughter] you're like, "Okay, well, maybe I said the wrong thing or maybe you just didn't understand." Um, and both can happen, but like how in the field are you dealing with that cuz >> you're like we might be saying, "Bon, go tell them this is what they did, but like you're the guy you have to follow, you know?" So, like, what does that look like for the supers? Yeah, I definitely approach that like on a professional

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level where, you know, you go communicate this, hey, this is what what we said, this is what was done, this was wasn't done or whatever, you know. >> Um, but I don't go there and yell and be iate and cuss at them and things like that because I've had I've had bosses I've had contractors do that to me and it's like I don't deserve that. You know what I mean? Like [clears throat] whether I I mess something up, I don't deserve to be talked to like that. Like that's where I'm going saying going back

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to the human level of something like you you're you're still a human that made a mistake, >> you know, and so like let's connect, let's work this out, let's talk this out, you know, but at the end of the day, you have to hold to your word because, you know, we're we're contracted to do these things and there's money involved. There's, you know, >> Yeah. >> So I try to approach it from that way. And >> for the most part, I think it works, you

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know, like you can't always be just buddy buddy with everybody, you know. So it's like I'm not I'm not saying that >> you can't be the walked over, >> right? No, not at all. Not at all. You have you have to like establish respect that people respect you, >> but also, you know, that people love to be around you too because they respect you because you respect them, you know? >> I think that's important. So yeah. >> Yeah. And I think at the end of the day,

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like we've had this happen so many times where it's just frustrating. everyone's upset and obviously like when it happens I don't think anyone's happy you know like they're in your look at yourself when you make a mistake you're yelling at yourself already going oh sure why did I freaking do that you know how did I mess up >> and I think also just going end of the day like when things get heated sometimes you know and the conversation does get they're frustrated or losing

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money or you're losing money and there's just a lot of things where it's like god we got to come up with something you know and then you I've always found lots of success in going back can be like, "Look, man, at the end of the day, we're having whatever we're having right now or whatever we need to resolve, but like this is just the client's house, >> you know, like this is so important to them. We like promise them a good thing and we're trying we're all trying to

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collaborative do that together." And >> it sucks right now in the situation we're at. But like, okay, I think if we refocus ourselves on, okay, why are we here? What are we doing? >> Going to be a little bit grateful that we even got an opportunity anyway. uh you know to be doing our work, doing the craft that we actually want to be doing. This is a very unique >> like industry where it's if you're like a tile guy, if you're a drywall, you're a specialty, you know, carpenter, like

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you're doing hopefully what you really love and enjoy and found a way to make money from it. Um and that only exists because these people trust you, you know, and are spending a lot of money to to make sure that you're doing it. And so yeah, I think like stepping back for a second like yeah, I'm doing the cool thing I like and I'm not in an office sitting clicking buttons for the man. So like I I do think maybe stepping back sometimes has always been helpful. Um and >> I don't know, it's just just take care

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of your subs. That's the most important part. >> Um conflicts in the timeline, project challenges, subs, I mean it's kind of the same same topic. the uh conflicts. Every project's got conflicts. If you don't have conflicts, you're just not doing enough work or working with subs who are not good. [laughter] Like that's just where you're at right now, you know? Cuz like like we said, >> one valve being off can bring in three guys who thought they were gone from

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that project forever and they haven't thought about it in three months. And I like, oh crap, okay, what am I doing? I gotta get back there. It might take them a couple days, you know. Um, so that happens endlessly and there's probably 3,000 projects just happening in San Diego right now and every single sub, there's not that many of us and all getting pulled back and forth to different stuff to fix things, repair things, change things, um, just look at something sometimes. The amount of times

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I ask somebody, hey, can you just look at this with me and talk me through it? >> Um, like they're all doing that stuff. So, it's like I think just being understanding again of of the timeline and that sometimes they are going to be conflicting and sometimes we need to be flexible, sometimes they need to be flexible. Um, but not just always being that guy who says you need to be in my project every day from the time you said to the time you're going to be finished and you have to stay in this timeline.

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It's just not feasible, >> right? >> It's not like very respectful either of like what people's actual job looks like. Um, they also deserve vacation, you know, like everyone deserves, you know, to do their thing, work their hours, and get their time for their family, right? >> Yeah. No, I agree. >> Mhm. All right. Um, so outside of that, uh, I guess lessons, these can be construction lessons, these could be life lessons, these can be >> really guitar lessons. There could be

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any lesson that you're thinking right now that you'd like. Over the past 20 years, let's just call it from this industry. What do you feel like is your big takeaway? >> Wow, that's a lot. >> I know [clears throat] that's deep. >> Over the past 20 years, what's my big takeaway? >> Um, I think like staying in construction like we're um in that vein of it. Um, I don't know, learning to be flexible. That's really that's a huge thing for me

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is like you have to stay flexible. You have to stay, you know, moldable. You have to stay, you know, willing to admit you're wrong. You have to, you know, um, wow, that's a that's a good question, though. Like, I'm >> there's a lot to that. Mhm. >> I can't say there's one specific thing, >> you know, there's there's just a lot. >> I hate copying people, but you know that one guy, he's the big military guy who has the book uh and it's like extreme

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accountability. I think >> the joke something I can't remember his name is. Um >> but [clears throat] like I've started to just notice that more on my end because I obviously have not been doing this exact thing for 20 years. My dad also did landscaping and other type of construction so I've been around it. Yeah. >> Um, [clears throat] >> man, oh man, just noticing and thinking about all the times where I'm like when I especially if I know I messed something up, right, and it's like

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probably on me of just stepping on it at the very beginning and just being like, >> wow, life is so much better when I just accept that, hey, this one thing went wrong and like I was the one who sold the project, so it's on me. >> And just be open and honest about it straight up from the get. No, I agree. Yeah, that's that's a big thing. And I feel like, yeah, it's just incredible how many times people get upset and angry and flustered and like I've definitely not done it sometimes and

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been defensive >> and then I sit there and I'm like, "Wow, why did I do that?" It just caused more problems. I should have just literally said, "You know what? All right, that's on me. You did hire me to do this job and this part went wrong. That's on me." Um, and yeah, it doesn't really matter who on the team or where it happened that went ary, but like at the end of the day, yeah, if you just take it on you, it's amazing how quickly you can solve stuff as well.

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>> Oh, sure. >> You know, instead of just the festering, oh god, this is a terrible situation to be in like you can move right on through. >> Um, and obviously you can't do that with everything. there are sensitive things you just need to talk and communicate with and like we're not saying just someone gets upset about something and you immediately take the blame every single time cuz like you do have to sometimes say like no man that was on you. We've talked about that a little

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bit, right? >> Um but I think it is just yeah really being the uh the leader and the accepter of responsibility is is super important. >> Um [sighs] I mean that's honestly what I got in this episode. I feel like pretty solid. Hopefully it was uh helpful. Hopefully you learned a little bit. Um hopefully you want to hang out with Brandon. He is cool. If you are looking for good poetry, follow his Instagram if [laughter] you're looking for good stuff. Meanwhile it or bag it. This is the part of the

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show where we talk about a few items that are in design in construction and just could be anything related. It's all construction. Uh but we decide and give our opinion and decide if this is something that we think you should build or bag it and leave it in the past. So number one, smart home. Unless it says smart home wiring, I'm just going to assume means start smart home controls. >> Okay. Build it or bag it. Smart hook controls. I'd say build it. >> Okay. >> Yeah.

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>> Do you have any reason why? Um, I've I've done a lot of electrical and like, you know, technology stuff over the years and like schooling for that and like I think it's pretty rad like the things that you can can do with a home, >> you know. Um just just the the ease of operating things and then also like just the energy efficiency of those things like reducing your you know your bill monthly a lot of times from >> the way they'll shut off at different times rather than keeping them on all

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the time or you know there's a lot of really cool technology that goes into that, you know. So I I I'm an advocate for it for sure. >> Okay, that's good to know. I absolutely am. I'm a huge technology nerd, so I might just be biased here. >> Um, but like the fact that you can just tell your home control system, not all of them, but some of them. Um, you can just say, "Hey, I've got a party tonight at 6:00, and I would like the lighting and the music to come on at 6:00. It's

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going to be like a, you know, taco dinner siesta kind of thing." So, if we can do like Spanish style. >> Um, and then just dim the lights a little bit to entertainment setting. And then everything in the house, everything in your landscape can all change right at 6:00. And you don't have to think about it. You don't have to do anything. It just happens. Guests start arriving. There you go. I'm like, that is just so incredibly cool where I'm just like >> I don't even know how that works anyway.

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And like just electricity is a is magic. Uh but man, it is so cool. Like I'm a fan. So I'd say build. It sounds like we are group build. [laughter] Next, spray foam insulation thoughts. >> There are some people who hate this. There's some specific trades that really hate this because of the impact on the trade, but >> I think it is. It's a messy trade for sure. Um, >> but there's a lot of really cool applications where it's almost necessary like you can't use other insulation on

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those, you know. um trying to stick them to uh like say containers or something like that, you know, shipping containers. if you're trying to insulate that or certain areas where you know it has to bond to it you know you can't just have this batten between you know >> um >> and a lot of that there's there's some really cool like our value in that that happens you know that you don't get in your your standard insulation you know which >> I'm an advocate for it but like I don't

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think you wouldn't just be spraying every home with it you know like what we do like we're we're using regular insulation in the walls But I think it's great for some applications. So >> yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. I think it's great. Like there's so many different areas of the home that need to get sealed as well that >> we like I was just talking about doing a whole house fan the other day >> and between the bay where it meets the drywall. If you have furring strips down

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there for any reason like you got that gap, you need to seal the gap so you're not just sucking air and losing uh its efficiency. You just spray foam, seal it around it. There you go. And obviously there's frame more of a sealer. Um, but I do think there's a lot of value in it. I think like Brandon said, there's pros and cons to each. Obviously there's pros and cons to regular batting that goes in the wall. Um, there's also negatives to that, right? Like if you've got

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condensed and over time and it sags or gets wet, like >> you're going to lose that RV value. Uh, but to your point, I don't think there's always a need to spray everything. And if you are a spray foam insulation guy, um, just be courteous of your other trades. [laughter] >> That's all I would say. >> Mask everything off. >> So, yes. >> So, I guess I'm still build it. I do think it's cool when they spray it on the ground and it all expands. It's just

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fun to watch. >> Uh, oh, wait. Did you say build? Yeah, you said build it. Yeah. Yeah. All right. >> Heated floors. Okay. depends on your location, but man oh man, I was just in Montana and the house had heated floors in the bathroom and like I don't even think it wasn't even cold. I still was like, "Oh, this is so nice in the morning." >> Um, so I'm for sure I think it's great. I don't think you need it in the whole house, but like it is so nice in the

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morning in like a bathroom on tile. >> Yeah. >> Just feels good. >> I' I'd probably say yeah, build it. Um, but that was my first thing was it depends on your location geographically cuz it's like >> I grew up in Palm Springs area and it's like you don't need that there. You need air conditioned floors, you know what I mean? And it's like but you get those areas where it's cold like I lived up in West Texas up near um New Mexico and it like >> got super cold like snowed for a couple

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months out of the year and like they had we installed that's probably the one place I installed more more heated floors than anywhere. Like I don't install a lot of them here in California. Like especially along the coast, you know, occasionally you'll do them in a bathroom here and there, you know, like >> but um they're also finicky, too. Like they can have a lot of like issues if you don't do them properly install them. There's always wiring issues. Then if you mess that up, you got to tear up the

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whole floor. And >> so you got to be real ginger with how you install those things. Yeah, >> I think Yeah. Yeah. If I would I'd be on the build it for the uh use case bag it for the >> heated floor guys figure this out manufacturers what the heck I feel like it's so you can barely nick it >> and the whole thing oh useless got to redo it all I'm like you're kidding me >> like just give me thicker sheathing or something you know um same thing the thermostats they're finicky and then

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just maybe more clarity too for installers on if it's on concrete which if you're in California, you're probably on a concrete slab. >> Um, >> you got to run them closer and you got to be able to tell people like, "Oh, it's not going to get to 93 if that's what you set it at. It's going to get to 88." You know, like that the concrete's going to suck a lot of that heat out of it. >> So, I think >> there's a lot of marketing that's done

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with it. It's great. I I do think it's a cool product. I do think it's really comfortable. Oh, man. Right in the last one. Okay. Uh, concrete slab versus crawl space versus full basement. I guess this is I don't really know if we can have an opinion on building or pegging it because that depends on how the house needs to be built. Uh, I suppose you could add a basement in California. Um, and you just >> dig it and put tons of concrete and blocks. >> Um, you're definitely not stick framing

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your basement. But >> yeah, do you have an opinion on this? >> I think that question is almost similar to the heating floors. depends on like location cuz like >> it's not super common to have >> basement in California. >> Um especially just because all the engineering that goes into the foundations because stuff like that. Yeah. So it's like >> I've done basement in California and >> they're expensive. Like >> I did one up in Pioneer Town one time

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and we spent about $380,000 in just the footings. >> Just the footings foundation for the basement itself. Mhm. >> And then you build this twotory house on top of it that was another like 6 thou 6 600,000 or something. You know, it's like so you're paying a third >> of your entire house is just just the foundation work of the basement. So, >> um >> but concrete versus crawl space, that's also depending upon where you're building. Are you building on a

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hillside? >> Maybe the crawl spaces are easier for building, you know? Um I don't know. So, it's kind of hard question to say build it or bag it because they're so contingent upon location. >> Yeah. >> You know, >> I agree. I also think that yes, it's hillside. You can have half of it on a slab, half of it on the raised fortune. You know, like you could do that on a regular house, too. Really, >> there's a lot of different applications. So, I wouldn't say there's one way or

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the other. If I'm going to say like what do I like? >> Um, honestly like conditioned crawl spaces. Maybe not like the full basement is cool. I'm not going to lie. having a cool basement to hang out and have friends and do stuff like >> especially as a as a kid. I remember I go over to my cousin's house that had a basement and it was like that was the hangout spot. >> Yeah. Yeah. It's always hang. It should be I think that's like why you have a basement. Obviously there's tornadoes

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and stuff. Great. That's awesome. >> Uh but at the end of the day, yeah, we're using it to go play pool and have fun. >> Yeah. >> Um so yeah, that has been the episode. Uh Brandon, thank you for joining us today. I appreciate it. Thanks for taking the time away from your projects. Yeah. >> Um, and just another reason superintendants might be slow on your project one day. They might just be doing a podcast. Um, but they're great guys. So, thanks, man. And we will see

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you guys in the next one.