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Nick and Tyler sit down with Gary Katz to talk about American Mantelpieces, a project that began nearly three decades ago and became something much bigger than a book about fireplaces. Gary reflects on craftsmanship, architectural proportion, rejection, persistence, and how years of studying the work helped him understand not just what looks right, but why it looks right. The conversation expands into how a craftsperson's perspective changes with experience, why finishing imperfect work can be more valuable than chasing perfection, and how understanding the history behind what we build can completely change the way we see our own work. Gary Katz  https://garymkatz.com/new-book   Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Nick and Tyler sit down with Jeff Sweenor to talk about what it actually takes to keep framing, finish carpentry, cabinetry, masonry, and other trades in-house. Jeff breaks down the constant balance between quality, productivity, overhead, scheduling, hiring, and knowing when a specialized subcontractor can simply do the work more efficiently. The conversation also gets into how Sweenor Builders tracks each division, develops skilled craftspeople, and decides which capabilities are worth continuing to own. Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/b41e44fc86 Sign up for the newsletter: https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/1cc009f591 Video Notes: Self-Performing vs Subcontracting (3:30) Managing Labor Productivity (7:23) Competitive Advantages in Framing (13:12) Logistics of Custom Builds (27:36) Hiring and Market Positioning (33:40) Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Tyler is back with an update on where his house build actually stands, what has gone according to plan, and where he has intentionally chosen practicality over perfection. He gets into framing the house, crawl space and insulation decisions, managing costs, working alongside a framing crew, upcoming windows and rough-ins, and the lessons he is learning from being both the builder and the client. It is also a look at everything happening around the project, from TRG and Modern Craftsman to family, work, and trying to keep all of it moving at once. Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/b41e44fc86 Sign up for the newsletter: https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/1cc009f591 Tyler is back with an update on where his house build actually stands, what has gone according to plan, and where he has intentionally chosen practicality over perfection. He gets into framing the house, crawl space and insulation decisions, managing costs, working alongside a framing crew, upcoming windows and rough-ins, and the lessons he is learning from being both the builder and the client. It is also a look at everything happening around the project, from TRG and Modern Craftsman to family, work, and trying to keep all of it moving at once. Video Notes: House Build Details and Challenges (3:17) Foundation and Crawl Space Preparation (5:09) Framing and Subcontracting Decisions (12:10) Next Steps and Project Management (19:24) Challenges and Learnings (23:12) Personal and Professional Updates (38:44) Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

This house looks calm. Precise. Almost effortless. Behind that simplicity is an enormous amount of coordination, fabrication, experimentation, and restraint. Nick and Tyler walk the completed home from front door to mechanical room, breaking down the details that made it possible, from full-height doors and flush transitions to custom millwork, stone fabrication, integrated ventilation, dropped framing, hidden storage, and thousands of hours of finish work. Nothing here happened by accident. It was a prototype in nearly every sense, built around the idea of seeing how far a team could push residential construction when compromise was taken off the table. VIDEO NOTES Entryway and Initial Impressions (0:03) Cabinetry and Material Coordination (2:47) Kitchen and Material Consistency (4:50) Detail and Execution in the Kitchen (8:05) Dining Space and Skylight (13:08) Living Room and Outdoor Spaces (18:23) Staircase and Second Floor Details (20:23) Primary Bedroom and Bathroom (26:11) Secondary Bedrooms and Bathrooms (34:29) Basement and Mechanical Room (36:42) Garage and Mechanical Room Details (37:57) Final Thoughts and Reflections (40:11)

Nick and Tyler sit down with Architect David Hornstein to talk about what has been lost as residential construction has become more specialized, more layered, and more expensive. Drawing from decades as a carpenter, builder, architect, and product designer, David makes the case that highly custom work can still be efficient if the people doing it understand the entire process. They get into the master builder mindset, the value of having experienced people on site, why communication gets diluted through layers of management, and how relentless attention to small efficiencies can dramatically change the cost of custom construction. David also shares how that same mindset eventually led him to create Dura Gutter. David Hornstein https://www.light-house-design.com/ https://www.duragutter.com/ Join the Modern Craftsman Community 👉🏻 https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/b41e44fc86 Sign up for the newsletter: https://modern-craftsman.kit.com/1cc009f591 Video Notes: David Hornstein's Background and Initial Impressions (0:00) Challenges of Modern Construction (9:21) Efficiency and Specialization in Construction (10:25) The Role of the Master Builder (10:42) The Impact of Product Development on Craftsmanship (10:59) The Evolution of Construction Management (11:11) The Importance of Building Experience (11:44) The Development of Dura Gutter (11:58) Architectural Details and Product Evolution (12:32) Insulation and Exterior Details (72:16) Efficiency in Construction (74:10) Challenges of Modern Construction (76:57) Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Nick and Tyler bring Shane Durkin back, with Brad Leavitt joining the conversation, to challenge one of construction's most persistent problems: how project money moves and who should actually carry the financial risk. They get into deposits, escrow accounts, credit card rewards, cost-plus construction, project-level accounting, lien waivers, trade payments, and the hidden complexity that comes from running millions of dollars of client funds through a builder's business.  Shane explains how LedgerWise separates project finances into their own accounts while Brad, Nick, and Tyler push on the tradeoffs, risks, and real-world practicality of the model. Ultimately, the conversation asks whether builders should be spending their energy managing cash flow and financial workarounds at all, or whether a simpler system could let them get back to building.    From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up   Shane's Websites: https://www.buildpatriot.com https://www.ledgerwise.com     ShowNotes: Cash Flow Challenges in Construction (0:00) Introduction of Ledgerwise and Construction Accounting (0:39) Discussion on Construction Accounting Models (4:24) Details of the Escrow Model (6:41) Benefits and Challenges of the Escrow Model (6:58) Case Study: Handling Project Cancellations (9:27) Conclusion and Final Thoughts (10:28) Minimum Balance and Client Trust (10:42) Payment Process and Trade Onboarding (11:19) Lien Waivers and Preliminary Notices (11:37) Cost and Revenue Model (74:47) Builder Testimonials and Industry Challenges (79:27) Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts (83:04)   Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Most builders start by taking every job, doing everything themselves, and figuring out the business after the work is already underway. Nick & Tyler pull together the five systems that helped them move from owning a job to building a company: pre-construction, numbers, production, lead vetting, and team. From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up This episode was compiled from conversations originally heard in episodes 380, 384, 387, 390, 394, 399, and 410. Show Notes:  00:00 Coming Up 00:35 Where Most Builders Start 05:36 System 01 - Clarity Before Construction 14:31 System 02 - Know Your Numbers 19:32 System 03 - Run the Build 23:38 System 04 - Attract the Right Work 30:54 System 05 - Build the Team 36:25 Teaching From the Scars 40:25 Free Workshop August 11 Video Version: https://youtu.be/PjjwwTEz3TM Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

A job can turn into a completely different house when major design changes arrive after framing starts. Charles Ochello, Nick, and Tyler talk about the pressure to keep moving, the cost of avoiding a full stop, and why the big decisions need to be settled before construction begins. Charles' Website:  https://www.vitruviusbuilt.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:00 Bringing the Design Team in Too Late 01:34 A Beautiful House Delivered a Year Late 02:50 Why the Project Needed a Full Stop 07:43 Preconstruction Is Everything Full Video Version: https://youtu.be/Dvm4c6QxY5I Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Charles Ochello walked away from emergency medicine to build luxury homes in Park City. He talks about the financial runway, the insecurity of starting over, and how lessons from the ER shaped the way he manages high-stakes projects and clients. Charles' Website:  https://www.vitruviusbuilt.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:00 The Work You Wake Up Thinking About 02:29 The Financial Reality of Leaving Medicine 06:57 When People Think You're Crazy 17:51 How Insecurity Fuels the Chase 27:39 Why Park City 43:28 Managing Homes Like Family Office Assets 53:32 The Project That Should Have Been Paused 1:06:36 Learning the Language of Luxury 1:12:23 The Emotional Weight of High-Stakes Work 1:17:35 Chasing Consistency Instead of More Video Version: https://youtu.be/Dvm4c6QxY5I   Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

A midlife crisis might not be losing control. It might be reaching a dead end, quitting on creativity, and deciding there's no better version of yourself left to build. Mark D. Williams talks about risk, fulfillment, expensive lessons, and why the next bet can matter even when it doesn't fully check out on paper. Full Episode: https://youtu.be/A6S_eqGEstA Mark's Website: https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com Mark's Podcast: https://www.curiousbuilder.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:00 There's Never Enough Time Anyway 01:22 The Entrepreneurs Who Couldn't Give Up Their Phones 02:11 When the Project Doesn't Pencil 04:40 The Guy in the Mirror Can Sell You Anything 05:32 What If You Lose $2 Million? 08:34 The House Became a Reflection of Himself 10:24 What a Midlife Crisis Really Is Video Version: https://youtu.be/BKTU_Q47TfA Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Everybody wants to build the project they believe in, right up until the risk gets real. This episode gets into what it looks like to take a swing on a house that does more than one job, why Mark D. Williams built Mysa Hus the way he did, and how the project became part business play, part creative reset, and part bet on the future. Mark's Website: https://www.mdwilliamshomes.com Mark's Podcast: https://www.curiousbuilder.com From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:00 The big bet 00:09 Intro 04:19 What Mark fears most 15:18 Risk, danger & decision-making 19:03 From spec house to story home 27:25 The build that made Mark love building again 29:49 What wellness actually means 38:28 Boundaries create freedom 46:37 Buying back time 53:25 When a risky project is still worth it 1:15:18 Building a home that fits your real life Video Version: https://youtu.be/A6S_eqGEstA Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

The business starts leaking money when the plan in your head never makes it to the people doing the work. Nick and Tyler talk about teaching clearly, building repeatable systems, and why shadowing someone only works when they eventually have to do it themselves. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:00 The Lesson That Changed the Business 02:47 You Don't Know It Until You Teach It 05:32 Every Step You Forgot to Explain 07:22 Why Apprenticeship Still Matters 13:16 Builders Keep Reinventing the Wheel Video Version: https://youtu.be/tOjp2zn7GWc Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Most builders learn the trade first and figure out the business by taking hits for ten years. Nick and Tyler talk about college, online education, fake gurus, systems, financial clarity, and what builders should actually invest in before the business gets away from them. From Contractor to Company Workshop: https://www.moderncraftsman.co/workshop-registration Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  00:04:15 The Problem With Builder Education 00:14:55 Are Online Courses Any Better? 00:22:49 Builders Never Learned the Business Side 00:30:29 You Don't Know It Until You Can Teach It 00:40:32 Builders Keep Reinventing the Wheel 00:46:45 Where Should a Young Builder Invest? 00:53:43 Teaching From Scars, Not a Script 01:03:06 There Is No Silver Bullet Video Version: https://youtu.be/Th0DA9TFKoU Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear Bolster   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

This compilation pulls from recent guest conversations with Mark O'Brien, Shane Durkin, Mike Romanowicz, Morgan Molitor, and Michael Holmes Jr. Five different perspectives, but a shared thread runs through all of them: risk, money, systems, tools, identity, and what it really takes to build a better business. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Show Notes:  01:00:00 Five Takes on Building a Better Business 01:00:35 EP 406 Mark O'Brien 01:06:47 EP 407 Shane Durkin 01:18:00 EP 403 Mike Romanowicz 01:24:49 EP 402 Morgan Molitor 01:33:27 EP 401 Michael Holmes Jr. 01:43:37 You Need the Backbone Before You Scale Video Version: https://youtu.be/aU1xKwkUOsE Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media

Tyler gives another update on the house build while juggling client work, family, site prep, foundation details, and the next round of framing decisions. He gets into the reality of self-performing a build while life, work, and money keep moving. Sign up for the Modern Craftsman Community: 👉🏻 MC Community Sign-up Sign up for the newsletter: Newsletter Sign-up Video Version: Show Notes: 0:14 Midweek From the Build 1:15 Working Around the House 4:43 Foundation & Crawl Space 10:15 Framing the Floor 13:02 Exterior Plan & Windows 17:37 Partners & Products 22:19 Building a Real House 24:02 Course & Community Updates Partners:  Andersen Windows Harnish Workwear  Use code H1025 and get 10% off their H-label gear   The Modern Craftsman: linktr.ee/moderncraftsmanpodcast Find Our Hosts:  Nick Schiffer  Tyler Grace  Podcast Produced By: Motif Media