Advertise on podcast: Danny Madden - Roofing Show

Danny Madden is joined in the studio by self-employed Carpenter and Bespoke Joiner Dom Edington. Dom looks back on how he got into the trade, what inspired him to go self-employed and how his business has developed. He also shares some of his most memorable experiences, from dream jobs and great customers to nightmare projects, bad decisions and moments that still leave him shaking his head. Dom also faces a series of quickfire trade dilemmas, including the realities of working alone, dealing with customers and whether he'd rather spend a day on the tools or creating content for a trade brand.

Danny Madden explores the challenges poor ventilation and condensation create for roofers, how to tell the difference between a leak and condensation, and the best ways to identify and solve the problems. Joining Danny is Steve Dickinson from London Flat Roofing to discuss spotting the difference between leaks and condensation, common roofing mistakes and finding the real cause of the problem. Mark Williams from the Confederation of Roofing Contractors shares advice on responsibility, customer expectations and avoiding disputes when the roofing work itself doesn't cause condensation. Dean Shipstone from DCS Roofing Services brings real-life experience of tackling condensation issues and preventing problems further down the line. Together, they explore how to identify the warning signs, avoid costly mistakes and get repairs right the first time.

Danny Madden chats to three tradespeople who took very different routes into construction. Award-winning plumber and gas engineer Shoaib Awan explains why he switched careers and how his experience has shaped his work fighting tool theft. Carpenter Mark Boxall looks back on his time in the police before making the move into carpentry, while Danny catches up with his former labourer Stuart Cornes...

Danny Madden is joined by fellow roofers Dan Iwanejko and Michael Walker from RLR Roofing to get into the awkward, funny and sometimes costly world of honesty in the trade. From promising jobs before figuring out how to do them, to fixing mistakes without the customer finding out, they share their experiences of telling the odd white lie and dealing with customers, subcontractors and suppliers who aren't always truthful themselves.

Can you turn your social media following into another income stream without losing the trust of your audience? Danny Madden explores the world of construction influencers, brand partnerships and making social media work alongside life on the tools. Joining Danny are Sam Hughes from the Bald Builders, painter and decorator Sian Francis, and The Paint Warrior, Kevin Tingley, to share their experiences of building a following, working with brands and turning online opportunities into business. They discuss the red flags to look out for when negotiating deals, when to say no to a brand, and how to promote products without coming across as inauthentic or overselling to your audience.

Danny Madden looks at what it really takes to make slate roofing work. Gary McIntyre explains the skills and techniques involved, the creative opportunities and whether slate can offer better profits than other roofing materials. Josh Williams from 1st Choice Roofing discusses rising slate prices, the impact on margins and how winning the Great British Slate Off has affected his business. Danny Smith from Kingfisher Roofing reveals why slate isn’t more popular with customers, the challenges around labour and supply, and the benefits of offering slate roofing.

Danny catches up with two guests who are balancing life on the tools with life in the boxing ring: Swansea heavyweight and roofer Moses Jolly, and Fix Radio presenter and tiler Chris White. Moses talks about his recent fight at the O2 Arena, what comes next, and getting back on the tools after a big night in the ring. He also shares how his roofing work is going, his plans for the community gym he’s opened with his long-time coach, and whether he could eventually make the move to boxing full-time. Chris also explains what boxing means to him, why he’s stepped into the ring, and how he’s balancing an intense training programme with his work as a tiler. After winning his first fight in July, he looks at what’s next and what he ultimately wants to achieve in the sport.

Danny Madden hears directly from tradespeople working across the capital, including roofers and plumbers, about the everyday challenges they face. From traffic, parking and road restrictions to rising costs, difficult access and customer expectations, there are plenty of frustrations — but what keeps tradespeople coming back?

Danny Madden looks at the highs and lows of planning permission, from tricky applications and unexpected refusals through to finding ways to get projects over the line. Danny chats to Nick Webb from Prism Construction about his planning rollercoaster with the White Lion in Marsworth. They discuss the challenges of the process, what happens when planning is rejected and the lessons Nick has learned along the way. Danny is also joined by builder Jack Auletta to discuss the biggest planning headaches he’s faced, the impact of delays on a business and what builders can do to avoid common mistakes. Plus, Brad from the Bald Builder's Breakfast on Fix Radio shares his experiences with drainage, garages and keeping neighbours onside when planning permission is involved.

Danny Madden looks at the dangers of breathing in harmful dust and particles, from everyday work activities through to the much more serious risks associated with asbestos. Danny chats to Glen Greenway from Nilfisk about dust extraction, the different types of dust tradespeople can encounter, good working practices and how to reduce exposure — particularly when working in customers' homes. Danny is also joined by asbestos removal specialist Jack Leese to discuss where asbestos can be found, how to recognise the warning signs and what tradespeople should do if they uncover it while working.

Danny looks at the common ways tradespeople can end up winding up residents, from parking and material deliveries to early starts, noise and working at weekends. Danny is joined by Nicola De Sousa, Central Director of the Federation of Master Builders, to discuss good practice when working in residential areas, what builders can be reported for and how to handle disputes between customers and their neighbours. Roofer Lawrence Robinson and Fix Radio Presenter and Carpenter Robin Clevett also share their own experiences of working in domestic settings, including dealing with difficult neighbours, avoiding unnecessary complaints and finding yourself caught in the middle of a neighbourhood dispute.

Danny Madden hears from tradespeople about their experiences working for people they know, from family jobs that have become complicated to mates’ rates, unpaid little fixes and the awkwardness of saying no. Danny chats to carpenter George McKechnie, builder Noel Bardall and Fix Radio’s Todd Glister about the good, the bad and the potential pitfalls of taking on work for people close to home. Is working for friends and family worth it, or is it sometimes better to keep business and personal relationships completely separate?

Danny Madden chats to fellow Roofers about how this year's wild weather has caused jobs to overrun and things taking longer than planned. Danny talks about how we should communicate with customers over these kind of challenges, when to work and what might mean it's best to leave it for another day, also how to avoid getting caught on jobs when it comes to figuring out how long it might take you. Guests: Joshua Lewis, Lawrence Robinson & Will Hughes AKA Will The Roofers.

Danny Madden invites those involved with the Festool and Friends 2026 project to join him and talk about what happened after last week's show and whether they were able to complete the Punt and bring it onto the water.  Danny catches up with Gary Banks from Banks Carpentry and gets his perspective on what the project meant to him as an experience and collaborative effort with some of the best craftspeople in Europe. Mikkel Pagh Bådebyggeri talks about the details of the project from his perspective, some impressive craft he witnessed on the project and the final stages of the project. Fabian Ertinger from Festool shares some highlight, the innovative use of Festool tools on the project, use of social media for sharing skills and knowledge, what the role of social media can be within the trade and shares details about where Festool & Friends 2027 will take place!

Danny Madden talks to tradespeople who have come together for Festool and Friends to build a punt that can float on the river in Cambridge.  Guests: Gary Banks, Mikkel Pagh Bådebyggeri, Alessandra Basile Giannini & Patrick Haußmann