The Construction Life
Manny Neves
What is The Construction Life? The Construction Life is a daily routine of waking up at 5am, working out, showering, preparing lunch, sending off the family, driving to the construction site, organizing and preparing for the day's work, building, having fun on the job, wrapping up at the end of the day, returning home, spending time with the family, and preparing for the next day. It's a lifestyle that involves a constant commitment to hard work and a love for what you do, and it's never about settling for "good enough." The Construction Life is about striving for excellence every...
#714 – Reinventing Metal Fabrication & The Future of Construction Supply Chains
Ryan Borkowski, The Exterior Specialist, returns to TCL to talk all things construction, innovation, and efficiency. A true advocate for the skilled trades, Ryan is shaking things up with a game-changing web portal set to revolutionize the metal fabrication industry—and you don’t want to miss it.Beyond tech, we dive into market trends, supply chain challenges, and the push for locally sourced materials in construction. With a passion for efficiency and a soundtrack to keep the job site moving, R
#713 – 20 – Safety Corner - AI & Robotics in Construction: The Workforce Shift – Part 2
In Part 2 of this eye-opening series on AI and Robotics in Construction, we tackle the biggest question facing the industry today:"It’s no longer about if robots will be on job sites—it’s about how much of the workforce they’ll replace."As technology accelerates, construction is witnessing unprecedented advancements in robotics, automation, and machine learning. Phill dives into:🔹 The rapid development of autonomous machinery—from brick-laying robots to AI-driven site inspections. 🔹 The realit
#712 – Building for the Future: How Nanotechnology is Revolutionizing Construction with GoNano
In this cutting-edge episode of (TCL), we sit down with Jonathan Duquette and Charles Dumont from GoNano—a company at the forefront of material innovation through nanotechnology.Discover how GoNano’s groundbreaking technology is extending the lifespan of building materials like shingles, concrete, and wood by 10 to 100 years. With nanoparticles as small as 40 to 60 nanometers, their products go beyond surface-level protection—infiltrating materials and reinforcing them from within.🔹 The science
#711 - Blueprint to Brilliance: Stavros Grekos President Towerline Building Group Inc.
Step into the world of high-end construction and development with Stavros Grekos, a visionary builder who transforms ambitious concepts into architectural masterpieces. Armed with formal education from George Brown College and decades of hands-on experience, Stavros and his elite team at Towerline Building Group Inc. bring precision, quality, and innovation to every project.From concept to culmination, Blueprint to Brilliance explores the meticulous planning, high-stakes negotiations, and relent
#710 – 16 – Building Joy - Knapsack to New Beginnings: Kaitlyn Cook’s Journey to True Happiness
In the latest episode of Building Joy with Teresa Greco, we pick up the phone and connect with Kaitlyn Cook, who shares her incredible, raw, and inspiring journey of leaving Australia with nothing but a knapsack and a desire for change.Kaitlyn’s story begins with one simple but profound realization: "I cannot have the same year I had last year."What followed was a bold decision to ask her employer for a career break—a leap of faith that catapulted her into an unknown future in the UK. With no co
#709 – 19 - Safety Corner - The Rise of AI & Robotics: Shaping the Next Decade of Construction
In this eye-opening episode of Safety Corner, we delve into the rapidly evolving world of AI and Robotics in Construction. The industry stands at a technological crossroads, and the next 10 years promise groundbreaking innovations that will transform how we build, monitor, and manage projects.From AI-driven project planning and robotic site assistants to machine learning algorithms tracking production metrics in real-time, we break down the key pillars of this digital revolution:🔹 Creation: How
#708 - Wood Protection Mastery with Jon Witt: Cutek’s Ultimate Defense
In this episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with Jon Witt from Cutek to dive deep into their revolutionary wood protection solutions. From the harsh Canadian winters to the scorching heat of Australia, Cutek is engineered to keep wood projects looking stunning and standing strong.We also bring Made Of Barn into the conversation, discussing firsthand how Douglas Fir and Pine were exposed to the elements—summer heat, fall rain, and winter snow—after being treated with Cutek. Jon breaks d
#707 - Wired for Change: The Future of Trades with Matthew David the 5th term electrician
Meet Matthew David, a 5th-term electrician with the IBEW in Toronto who believes he’s got the answers the younger generation needs. At just 24 years old, he’s ready to shake things up in the trades, bringing fresh perspectives on construction, politics, and the real issues no one wants to talk about.In this episode, Matthew shares his unfiltered thoughts on the industry, unions, and the struggles of getting young people into the trades. He’s not afraid to challenge the system—even if it means ri
#706 - Next Gen Trades: Building the Future with Daryl Gratrix of Next Gen Skilled Trades
On this episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with Daryl Gratrix, a trades veteran on a mission to guide the next generation into skilled trades. Launching Next Gen Skilled Trades, Daryl is actively connecting with young people who show an interest in the trades, helping them navigate their career paths, and ensuring they find the right opportunities.We dive into his early construction days, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and his current work with MPC Components. From hands-on t
#705 – 18 - Safety Corner: Safety or Strategy? Unpacking Accreditation in Construction
In this compelling episode of Safety Corner, we welcome special guest Carlo Colozza, the Director of Health and Safety at Bothwell Accurate, into the studio. Together, we tackle a thought-provoking question: are industry accreditations truly making job sites safer, or are they simply a ticket for companies to bid on larger projects?From SOSE (Supporting Ontario Safe Employer Program) to COR, ISO, and CSA certifications, we dive into what these programs mean for tradespeople, site supervisors, an
#704 - No Filters, No Suits – The Real Construction Life with Scott Enright of Wal to Wall Flooring
From excavation at 16 to mastering interior finishing and flooring, Scott Enright (@wall_to_wall_flooring) has built his career on hard work, no corporate nonsense, and telling it like it is.Scott joins TCL to talk about the freedom of working in construction, why it beats the corporate world, and how tradespeople thrive in an industry where straight talk and hard work rule the day.If you’ve ever wanted to ditch the office, build a real career, and stop talking like you're in a boardroom, this e
#703 – Breaking Construction Barriers in the Trades with Layla Brady of Layla Painting
Layla Brady (@layla_painting) has been a painter in the construction industry for over 20 years, long before social media gave tradespeople a platform. She joins TCL to discuss breaking the stigma around the trades, why it’s an amazing career choice, and how women in the industry continue to defy expectations.From her personal journey navigating a male-dominated industry to inspiring young people—not just young women—to pursue the trades, Layla is on a mission to empower the next generation of b
#702 – Reinvent, Adapt & Thrive – Navigating Tough Economic Times with Nick & Agostino from Revalate
We welcome back Nick and Agostino from Revalate to tackle a critical topic—how to keep your business moving forward in challenging economic times. The key? Accessibility, Affordability, and Flexibility.Learn how small business owners can reinvent themselves, reduce daily stress, cut costs, and gain back valuable time with smart business solutions. Plus, Revalate is offering a 30-day free trial so you can see the impact for yourself.🔧 It’s time to work smarter, not harder. 📍 Find them at www.re
#701 – 17 - Safety Corner: Collapsed Justice - Tragedy in the Trenches
In this hard-hitting episode of Safety Corner, we take a deep dive into the devastating realities of trench collapses in construction. Focusing on a shocking case study, we reveal how systemic failures allowed a builder, Maple Construction Company to escape justice after two workers tragically lost their lives and two others suffered critical injuries—one left paralyzed. While the Ministry of Labor conducted a thorough investigation, it was the Crown's mishandling of the prosecution that left ju
#700 – From Construction to Comedy: Brian Couto's Journey of Redemption and Laughter
In this raw and inspiring special 700th episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with the one and only Brian Couto, a man whose story is as captivating as his punchlines. Brian takes us on a journey through his humble yet challenging Portuguese upbringing, his years working in construction, and his bold leap into the world of stand-up comedy.But the conversation goes deeper than laughs as Brian opens up about his battles with addiction, his time in rehab, and the personal demons he’s fought
#699 – 7 Minutes to the Truth: Nina Deeb on Canada's Housing Crisis and the Path Forward
In this eye-opening episode of The Construction Life, we welcome back special guest Nina Deeb, real estate expert and author of 7 Minutes - Straight Talk on the Housing Crisis in Canada. Nina dives deep into her upcoming book, shedding light on the worsening housing crisis and the corruption that infiltrates all levels of government. Together, we discuss how Canada has become increasingly challenging for Canadians and the barriers keeping us from solving these critical issues.Despite the challen
#698 – 15 - Building Joy : The Truth Behind New Year's Resolutions with Teresa Greco
In this insightful episode of Building Joy, Teresa Greco and Manny unpack the phenomenon of New Year's resolutions. Why do we make them? Why do so many of us struggle to keep them? Teresa dives deep into the psychology and emotions that drive our yearly promises to ourselves, revealing the hidden truths behind why resolutions often fail and how we can approach them differently. Tune in for a conversation full of wisdom, practical tips, and inspiration to make your goals stick—without the pressur
#697 – 16 - Safety Corner: Everyday is a Monday – Preventing Falls and Avoidable Injuries
In this thought-provoking episode of Safety Corner, we kick things off with a fiery discussion about the current state of Canadian politics—comparing the drama to a telenovela and questioning how corruption has been allowed to persist for so long. But the real focus of today’s show is worker safety on job sites.We dive into the critical topic of falls—whether from heights or at the same level—and the devastating injuries they can cause. Learn about the practical steps and preventative measures e
#696 – Rejuvenate, Don’t Replace: RoofLife’s Game-Changing Solution with Brett Mitsubata
We welcome Brett Mitsubata, the expert behind RoofLife, to discuss their groundbreaking Roof Rejuvenation Solution—an innovative alternative to costly shingle replacement. Using an environmentally friendly soy-based formula, RoofLife extends the life of asphalt shingles by up to 15 years, saving homeowners thousands of dollars while reducing waste.Brett explains how RoofLife not only protects your home from leaks and deterioration but also helps homeowners in Toronto and the GTA, as well as acro
#695 – Building Smarter: The Jobtable Revolution with Kosta, Johny, and Charlie back in the studio
In this episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with Kosta, Johny, and Charlie—the driving force behind Jobtable, the app revolutionizing the construction industry. Discover how these innovative minds created a platform designed to simplify life for construction business owners, project managers, suppliers, and tradespeople. From streamlining project management to enhancing collaboration, Jobtable is making the construction life easier and more efficient for industry professionals everywhe
#694 – 14 – Building Joy : Finding Flow in the life you’re searching for with Cecil McIntosh
In this inspiring episode of Building Joy, host Teresa Greco welcomes relaxation expert and Barbadian spiritual teacher, Cecil McIntosh. From a humble upbringing in Barbados, raised by his grandmother and the village, to experiencing life-changing setbacks in Canada, Cecil shares his incredible journey of transformation.After facing divorce and bankruptcy in the same week, Cecil set out on a quest for clarity, learning how to step off the hustle hamster wheel and embrace a life of peace and purp
#693 - 15 - Safety Corner: The Digital Safety Trap tradespeople are creating for themselves
In this eye-opening episode of Safety Corner, brought to you by MYS1 TCL, hosts Phill and Manny dive into a critical issue facing the construction and trades industries today: social media oversharing. While those behind-the-scenes videos and impressive project shots may rack up likes and followers online, they could also attract an entirely different kind of attention—from the Ministry of Labour and OSHA.Phill and Manny explore how even the smallest safety infractions caught on camera can lead
#692 – Deep Health with Alex Reposo: Unlocking Vitality at Any Age
Join fitness and breathwork coach Alex Reposo as he guides you through the secrets to achieving deep health—a harmonious balance of mind, body, and spirit. In this episode, Alex tackles modern challenges to well-being, addressing why our bodies and minds face so many issues today and how we can overcome them through simple, effective practices.Explore key topics such as:Foods to avoid and essential nutrition for vitality.Building realistic and sustainable exercise routines.The profound impact of
#691 – 13 - Building Joy: Reclaim Your Happiness
Discover the secrets to cultivating happiness in every stage of your life. "Building Joy" dives deep into how our bodies evolve, yet our energy remains a constant force often overshadowed by daily routines and habits. Learn how your nightly habits set the tone for your mornings and how small adjustments can bring big changes to your mood and outlook.This episode tackles the hidden thieves of joy: negative people, the 24/7 news cycle, doom-scrolling, and how our devices drain our energy. With act
#690 – 14 – Safety Corner: Building a Safer Business
In this episode of Safety Corner, we explore how employers can protect their business and workers while staying compliant with safety laws—all without breaking the bank. Hiring a safety representative is as vital as choosing the right tradesperson for a specific job. Safety isn’t achieved overnight; it requires consistency, discipline, and commitment, much like maintaining a fitness routine.We’ll discuss actionable steps to create a safer work environment, including how to find the right safety
#689 Revolutionizing Recruitment: How UBILD is Transforming Construction Hiring with Matteo Nunziata
We sit down with Matteo Nunziata to explore how UBILD is changing the game in construction recruitment. If you’re tired of sifting through unqualified applicants on generic job boards, UBILD offers a solution tailored specifically for the construction industry. This innovative app allows you to hire, manage, and pay skilled workers all in one place, saving you 80% on recruiting costs and reducing hiring time by 90%.Whether you need laborers, site supervisors, project managers, or office staff, U
#688 - The Art of Stucco: Mastering the Surface Business with Zeyd Kan of Future Design Stucco
Step into the intricate world of exterior design with Zeyd Kan and his expert team at Future Design Stucco. Specializing in EIFS (Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems) and masonry, this show takes you behind the scenes of full exterior retrofits and new build construction.From the challenges of winter stucco work to achieving flawless limestone finishes, Zeyd and his crew explore techniques to get that perfect straight corner, reveal the hidden ways bad framing can sabotage a job, and discuss t
#687 – 12 - Building Joy with Teresa Greco and special guest Dwight Peterson a pastor from South Africa
In this heartwarming episode of Building Joy, Teresa Greco and Manny sit down with 21-year-old South African pastor Manchester Dwight Peterson from Cape Town, a young visionary who has transformed lives with his powerful message of happiness and purpose. Five years ago, a life-altering experience set Dwight on a path of helping others discover what truly matters. Together, they explore the essence of happiness, how time can either foster or rob us of joy, and why overcoming fear is key to embrac
#686 – 13 – Safety Corner: What makes you an effective safety professional with John Savoia
John Savoia, a former Ontario MLITSD Officer and OHSA/OSHA Regulatory Law SME, joins us again, third times the charm, for an intense and enlightening episode of Safety Corner. Sparks fly as John and Phil dive into the critical topic of being a safety professional, workplace safety, debating the balance between profits and ensuring that every worker makes it home safely. This passionate conversation, filled with expert insights and personal stories, reminds us all of the importance of prioritizin
#685 – Dust to Dust: Combating Airborne Silica Risks in Construction with the Silica Control Tool
Airborne particulates from materials like concrete, stone, brick, and ceramics pose a significant health risk to construction workers, with nearly 1/3 of the workforce exposed to silica dust on job sites. In this eye-opening episode of The Construction Life, we welcome Melanie Gorman Ng, PhD CIH, and Meghan Friesen, leading Occupational Hygienist and Health and Exposure Scientist, from BCCSA and OHCOW.Together, they delve into the dangers of silica exposure, its impact on the workforce, and how
#684 - Grounded in Excellence: The Ground Floor Industries Legacy with Keegan Burke COO
On this episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with Keegan Burke, the driving force behind Ground Floor Industries (GFI). Since its inception in 2004, GFI has become a trailblazer in concrete solutions, completing over 100 million square feet of self-leveling, polished concrete, epoxy coatings, and more. From high-rise towers to civil projects, GFI’s reach spans across Southern Ontario and beyond.Keegan shares insights into GFI’s journey, their mission to innovate and set higher standards
#683 – 12 Safety Corner- The Frontlines of Safety: Tim Cole’s Mission from Canadian Forces to Construction
In this episode of Safety Corner, powered by S1 and TCL, we welcome Tim Cole, aka @that.safety.guy, to the show. Former Canadian Forces member and seasoned construction worker, Tim has transitioned into a full-time health and safety consultant and trainer, taking his mission directly to job sites. Tim shares his experiences educating workers on the risks of unsafe practices, the rising challenges in maintaining safety standards, and his passion for making workplaces safer for everyone. Tune in t
#682- 🎅 Santa Stevie’s Holiday Special with TCL: Laughs, Cheer, and Portuguese Flair
🎄✨ This festive episode of The Construction Life features the one and only Santa Stevie@steviejust4laughs, bringing holiday cheer and plenty of laughs back to the studio! Fresh off his successful stand-up show, Stevie is feeling relaxed, recharged, and ready to share his signature blend of humor with all of you. 🎤🎉From hilarious Portuguese jokes to heartfelt holiday messages, Stevie’s infectious energy will leave you smiling through the season. 🎁 Plus, we’re getting a sneak peek at what’s to
#681 – 🎙️From Apps to Education to Finish Carpentry Craftsmanship: The Taylor Francis Story
🔨✨ In this special three-in-one episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we sit down with the multi-talented Taylor Francis to uncover his incredible journey through the trades world and beyond. 🚀💡💻 Part 1: Contract App It all started with a client refusing to pay, leading Taylor to develop an app that’s changing the game for tradespeople. Say goodbye to unpaid invoices and hello to streamlined contracts! 📲🛠️On IG @contractapp.ca https://contractapp.ca/ info@contractapp.ca📚 Part 2: Teach
#680 TNT - Built to Last: Health & Fitness for Tradespeople Alberto Rocha Premier Physiotherapy & Sports Medicine
In this latest episode of TNT, Alberto Rocha returns alongside co-host Jonathan Cinelli to dive deep into the physical and mental challenges faced by tradespeople. From the constant strain of running a business to the physical toll of swinging the hammer, the panel explores practical solutions for managing stress, fatigue, and recovery. Discover the secrets to building a stronger body, achieving better recovery, and finding balance with supplements and exercise. Whether you’re in your 20s or 50s
#679 - 11 🎄 Safety Corner Christmas Special: Holiday Hazards with Steve Melo or is Jorge Ferreira? 🎅🛠️
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… or is it? 🎁✨ This special holiday edition of Safety Corner takes a hilarious and eye-opening turn when Phill arrives on site and discovers Steve Melo from @steviejustforlaughs not playing it safe. 🎬⚠️From improper PPE to creative misuses of equipment, Steve brings his unique “interpretation” of safety to the job site—all while communicating in his own "language" that no one seems to understand! 😂👷♂️Will Phill manage to get Steve on the right path, o
#678 - 10 Safety Corner: Decoding Safety: Fines, Enforcement, and the Alphabet Soup of Agencies
In this episode, we break down the complex world of safety regulations, exploring the many agencies and their acronyms that govern job site safety. From enforcement protocols to the hefty fines you could face for ignoring regulations, we simplify the maze of rules and explain what every contractor and tradesperson needs to know to stay compliant and keep their team safe. Tune in for real insights and practical advice to navigate the high-stakes world of construction safety.You’re listening to Sa
#677 From Pipe Dreams to Plumbing Powerhouse: The iPLUMB Journey and the ride is still going
In this episode of The Construction Life, we sit down with Kosta, Johny and Charlie the driving force behind streamlining iPLUMB Inc., a plumbing company. What began as a strategic overhaul of their operations became so impactful that they decided to package their process into an app called Jobtable, now revolutionizing how contractors work across North America.We dive into the plumbing trade, the challenges and opportunities in the industry, the role of unions, and the realities of running a th
#676 TNT - The New Tough: Fighting for Financial Fairness in Construction for Tradespeople
Jonathan returns for a hard-hitting discussion on the rising financial challenges crippling tradespeople and contractors in today’s construction industry. From clients and general contractors who refuse to pay, to suppliers taking advantage of small businesses, we examine the devastating impact on hardworking professionals who are the backbone of our economy.We also delve into the harsh realities of pursuing legal action—a path that’s increasingly stacked against tradespeople. Litigation is ofte
#675 Safety Corner: Unmasking the Truth – Fines, Housing Myths, and the Exploitation of Undocumented Workers
In this episode of Safety Corner, we dive into the latest government proposals for increased fines in the construction industry and uncover the truth behind the touted housing starts. Phillip explores the growing issue of undocumented workers in the industry, revealing how they are being exploited through unsafe conditions, unfair wages, and lack of protections. With a focus on creating safer, fairer job sites, we examine the ripple effects these issues have on the industry as a whole. After all
#674 Reimagining Urban Living: The Blue Lion Design and Build Approach with Evan Saskin
Evan Saskin, founder of Blue Lion Building, joins us to discuss his architect-led design-build firm specializing in urban infill housing in Toronto. Since 2011, Blue Lion has been redefining how we use space, blending innovative designs with modern materials like new brick, ACM, and cladding. From laneway homes and ADUs to rooftop decks that offer a retreat from the bustling city, Evan shares how natural light, clever use of angles, and thoughtful details like open riser stairs and floor-to-ceil
#673 Steve Melo: Turning Life's Challenges into Passion for Construction and making people laugh
Steve Melo from @steviejust4laughs_ brings his unique blend of Portuguese humor and heartfelt insight to this episode, sharing his 25+ years of experience in construction. From being told by his father to "get out of the house and get a job," to discovering his passion for the trades, Steve's journey is one of resilience and determination.He opens up about growing up without a mother, recently losing his father, and the challenges he and his sister now face navigating a world that often underval
#672 Mastering the Art of Stereotomy with Fred Garceau: From Temples to Timber Frames
Fred Garceau returns to The Construction Life Podcast to share his continued journey in mastering carpentry through the art of stereotomy. In this episode, Fred dives deep into his recent projects, including the successful completion of a praying monastery built for monks using intricate timber framing techniques.He also recounts the challenges and triumphs of restoring an old barn that defied gravity despite missing twelve critical braces, and provides a step-by-step insight into the stereotomy
#671 Safety Corner: The Hidden Struggles of Undocumented Workers in Construction
In this eye-opening episode of Safety Corner, we delve into the complex challenges faced by undocumented workers in the construction industry and the ripple effects on safety, wages, and legitimate workers. We explore the size and impact of the immigrant workforce and shine a light on the exploitation they face from hiring consultants, false promises, and temp agencies.The conversation also tackles the growing competition between legal and undocumented workers, the downward pressure on wages, an
#670 Drywall, Mudding, and the Social Media Shift in Construction with Shawn Ramsden
Shawn Ramsden from Brollys Dad returns to the show for an in-depth conversation on the art of drywall and mudding, taking us through the nitty-gritty of life on the construction site and the challenges faced by today’s tradespeople. We also explore the evolving role of social media marketing in the construction industry—how it’s influencing the trades, reshaping perceptions, and creating new opportunities for builders and brands alike. If you’re passionate about construction or curious about the
#669 The Green Building Illusion: Costs, Delays, and Misguided Standards with Michelle Dada, P.Eng.
In this episode, Michelle Dada, P.Eng., of MNT Consulting Group Inc., pulls back the curtain on the chaos of Ontario’s green building standards. From conflicting municipal rules that defy the Ontario Building Code Act to inflated costs and delays, Michelle argues that these so-called “sustainable” initiatives are failing to deliver real results. We break down programs like ThinKING Green and Aurora's Green Development Standards (GDS) to uncover how these initiatives set ambitious targets before
#668 Building the Future: Modular Innovations with Adnan Zabian of ACAD Modular Design + Build
Adnan Zabian returns to the show to dive deeper into the exciting world of modular construction and the cutting-edge developments at ACAD Modular Design + Build, where he leads innovation, alongside his partnership with PPH Modular. In this episode, we explore recently completed projects, including the groundbreaking start to Peace Village initiative kicking off in Florida. We also discuss the global impact of the modular industry, from trends showcased at European trade shows to the rapid growt
#667 Safety Corner: Defining Duties & Responsibilities Workers Supervisors Employers & Constructors
In this essential episode of Safety Corner, we break down the key duties and responsibilities of every major player on a construction site—workers, supervisors, employers, and constructors. From ensuring workplace safety to adhering to legal requirements, we discuss the roles each group plays in creating a safe and efficient work environment.Join us as we dive into the specifics of compliance, accountability, and collaboration, highlighting how clear communication and understanding of responsibi
#666 Where’s the Money Going? Breaking Down Canadian Construction Funding with Ryan Borkowski
In this insightful episode, we sit down with Ryan Borkowski to tackle the pressing issues surrounding Canadian construction funding and its impact on the industry. From start-and-stop projects to housing shortages, we dive deep into the real challenges facing construction and development in Canada. We explore how funding is allocated, uncover the inefficiencies and bureaucratic hurdles that cause delays, and expose the disconnect between government promises and on-the-ground realities. Ryan exp
#665 Building an Ironclad Brotherhood of Strength: A Journey of Fortitude and Sobriety with Ivan Fredette
In this powerful episode of, we are joined by Ivan Fredette, the founder of Ironclad Brotherhood, a movement dedicated to building strong men—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Ivan shares his personal journey through tragedy, resilience, and transformation. From losing his best friend to suicide in his late teens to recently facing the heartbreaking loss of his sister, Ivan opens up about how these experiences have fueled his commitment to sobriety, men’s health, and personal growth.Through
#664 Safety Corner: The Impact of Unemployment on Job Site Safety in Construction
In today’s episode of Safety Corner, we tackle a crucial issue affecting the construction industry—unemployment and its ripple effects on job site safety. With economic shifts and seasonal changes leading to fluctuations in construction employment, we explore how unemployment can increase safety risks. From understaffed sites and overworked crews to skill shortages and the pressures of rehiring, we examine how these factors can compromise safety standards and what can be done to mitigate these r
#663 Libertarianism and the Future of Construction: A Global Perspective with Daniel Zalcman
We welcome Daniel Zalcman to discuss the potential impact of libertarian policies on the construction and real estate industries in Canada. From changes to building codes and labor laws to the influence on interest rates, Daniel breaks down how a libertarian approach could reshape the way we build and manage property.We also explore the recent political shift in Argentina under President Javier Milei, whose libertarian-inspired policies are transforming government and empowering citizens for a b
#662 Framing Resilience: Mathew Guluzian’s Journey in the Trades as a framer and a Story of Loss
In this powerful episode, we sit down with Mathew Guluzian of Rise Again Framing Ltd. to hear about his journey into the world of framing and the people who shaped his career. Mathew opens up about the highs and lows of his path in the trades, including a tragic incident that changed his perspective forever. He recalls the day he stood just six feet away from his colleague and a mentor, Mike Groulx, when a fall led to a fatal injury. Mike suffered a fractured skull and passed away one week later
#661 Safety Corner and Strength: A 40-Year Retrospective with Frank Tancredi
Join us for a compelling episode of Safety Corner powered by S1 and The Construction Life, featuring industry veteran Frank Tancredi, who brings nearly four decades of experience to the table. Frank’s career began in his early 20s with a decade of hands-on work in heavy demolition, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to the construction industry. He then transitioned to an impactful 21-year tenure with the Ministry of Labour, overseeing safety and regulatory compliance across all levels
#660 TCL Roundtable Tile Talk: Mastering the Art of Installation with Industry Veterans and Laticrete
We bring together four experienced tile installers and suppliers for an in-depth discussion on everything tile-related. From seasoned pros to the next generation, our guests share their unique perspectives on the tile industry, covering everything from the challenges of working with clients to the latest innovations in products and techniques.Featuring insights on Laticrete products, we explore the materials and tools that are transforming the trade, making jobs faster, stronger, and more reliab
#659 Elevating Spaces: The Art and Excellence of Stone with Cava Surfaces and Massimo Ferrara
Massimo Ferrara from Cava Surfaces explores the world of premium stone solutions that are reshaping both the construction and design industries. Based in Toronto’s vibrant design district, Cava Surfaces is known for its extensive showroom on Tycos Drive, showcasing over 350 globally-sourced, hand-selected stone varieties, including marble, quartzite, granite, onyx, and more.Massimo shares insights into Cava Surfaces’ role in supporting residential and commercial projects, from countertops and wa
#658 Inside RONI Group: Building Ontario’s Future with Hamaza Momade and Mike Jesus
Hamaza Momade, Director of Special Projects, and Mike Jesus, Senior Site Supervisor, are in the studio to discuss RONI Group’s impactful legacy and ongoing projects across Ontario. With over 40 years of experience, RONI Group has set the standard for industrial, commercial, institutional, and residential construction services, including demolition, shoring, excavation, civil work, waterproofing, forming, and landscaping. We take a deep dive into their current work on the Finch LRT and explore ho
#657 Building Beyond Limits: A chat with Rezan Mert of Engineering Building Solutions Corp EBS Global
We sit down with Rezan Mert, the General Coordinator of Engineering Building Corp (EBS Global). Rezan brings his young experience into the construction industry to discuss the innovative approaches EBS Global takes in tackling complex construction and engineering challenges. We explore the company's core services, project highlights, and the vital role they play in advancing the construction industry. From designing robust building systems to optimizing project efficiency, Rezan shares insights
#656 Safety Corner: Defining Roles and Responsibilities for Workplace Safety – Who’s Accountable?
In this episode of Safety Corner powered by S1 and TCL, we dive into the critical topic of workplace safety responsibilities, breaking down the "Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How" of safety on construction sites. From owners and constructors to workers, suppliers, and other key stakeholders, we’ll identify each party’s role, proper titles, and the specific responsibilities they carry on a job site. Understanding who is accountable for what aspect of safety isn’t just important—it’s essential
#655 AVAS Automation: Mastering the Future of Home Automation Sound Video Security with Dennis & Ken
We welcome back Dennis and Ken from AVAS Automation for a deep dive into the cutting-edge world of home automation, security, and entertainment systems. With decades of experience, Dennis and Ken share their insights on how modern technology is shaping homes while emphasizing the importance of doing things the right way amidst a market where too many are cutting corners. From dealing with demanding clients to navigating an unpredictable economy, the duo highlights the challenges of maintaining h
#654 Crafting Legacies:The Art and Architecture of John Le Blancq Special TCL Series Part Three of Three
Part Three: Designing for TimelessnessIn the final episode, we shift focus to the principles that guide John’s architectural design philosophy. We discuss how he creates spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and enduring. With projects spanning Toronto, Ottawa, the 1000 Islands, and New York, John shares his process for delivering customized solutions for clients, from initial consultation to final touches. We also touch on his international reach, including worldwi
#653 Building a Legacy: James Andich’s Journey from High School Shop Class Student to Master Framer
James Andich of Andich Carpentry, a framer whose passion for the trade began in high school and has only grown stronger over the years. James takes us through his journey from his early days in shop class, where he first discovered his love for carpentry, to finding and learning from the mentor of all mentors. He shares insights on the dedication it takes to succeed in framing, his experience working with the Gatti Bros (past guests of TCL), and how he continues to seek out opportunities to lear
#652 Crafting Legacies: The Art and Architecture of John Le Blancq – Special TCL Series - Part Two of Three
Part Two: Restoring the Past, Building the Future The second episode takes a closer look at John’s specialization in heritage and historic architecture conservation. We explore the delicate art of restoring historic buildings, furnishings, and architectural elements such as doors, windows, and parquet flooring. John explains the unique challenges of working with antiques, marble, and custom woodwork, and how his approach blends traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques. This episode offer
#651 Safety Corner: Analyzing the recent Uptown Toronto Crane Collapse – What Went Wrong?
In this latest episode of Safety Corner, we dive into the details of a recent crane collapse in the uptown core of Toronto. Fortunately, there were no fatalities, but the incident raises serious questions about safety standards and practices in the construction industry. Phillip from S1 is here to break down what may have caused this incident, drawing parallels to past crane collapses and highlighting the four common factors that contribute to such incidents.Together, we explore possible reasons
#650 Crafting Legacies: The Art and Architecture of John Le Blancq – Special TCL Series - Part One of Three
Part One: The Master Craftsman’s JourneyIn the first episode of this series, we dive into the life and legacy of John Le Blancq, a seasoned architectural designer with a career that stretches back to 1946. We explore his journey from a young artisan to an internationally published expert in heritage and historic architecture. John shares stories from his decades of experience, detailing how he honed his craft in woodworking, cabinetmaking, and architectural design. We discuss the evolution of th
#649 Hammering Through the Hard Times: The Life of a Framer with Chris Wren of Wren Contracting
Chris Wren, the dedicated framer behind Wren Contracting, who truly embodies what it means to have a “hammer for a heart.” Chris shares his story of putting in long hours and hard work to master the framing trade, discussing the dedication it takes to thrive in the construction industry today. We also tackle the risks that come with being a framer—from physical hazards on the job site to the challenges posed by fluctuating market conditions and labor shortages. Chris offers insights into the evo
#648 Turning Wood and Changing Lives: Sarah Goldstein’s Mission with Rosie’s Woodshop
In this heartfelt episode of The Construction Life, we’re joined by Sarah Goldstein, the talented woodworker behind Rosie’s Woodshop. With a strong presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook as @Rosieswoodshop and Rosiespenturning, Sarah has captivated followers with her beautiful woodturning creations and unique craftsmanship. But her passion extends beyond just creating—Sarah has a heartfelt mission to open a woodshop specifically for children with disabilities, where they can learn woodworki
#647 Building & Designing Dreams: The Husband & Wife Team Behind Jarvis Contracting & Juliette Interiors
Introducing the dynamic partnership of James and Ceara Jarvis, the powerhouse husband-and-wife team behind Jarvis Contracting and Juliette Interiors. James leads the charge on custom projects, managing a skilled team to deliver everything from ground-up constructions to full home renovations. Meanwhile, Ceara brings her expertise in interior design, working closely with contractors and homeowners to create thoughtful spaces, including custom cabinetry and beautiful finishes. Together, they disc
#646 TCL – Safety Corner with Phillip Ferreira of S1 We talk about the Green Book Explaining the Safety Game
Safety Corner — Your Weekly Guide to Safer ConstructionEpisode #2 – Learn the game. Prevent anything dangerousIntroducing Safety Corner, the latest must-watch show from the creators of The Construction Life. Co-hosted by safety expert Phillip Ferreira @my_s1 and powered by his S1 safety division, this 30-minuteish weekly series cuts through the noise to bring you real footage and raw insights from actual job sites. No fluff—just hard-hitting analysis as Phillip and TCL's Manny break down what w
#645 From the Cave to Craftsmanship: Building Finland’s Future with David Myers of Finnralia
In this special episode of The Construction Life, we Zoom in with David Myers, the nearly 7-foot-tall Viking of the Finnish construction world. Originally from Australia, worked in Dublin for years, Dave took the unconventional route to Finland, where he learned the art of building with his hands, using both ancient techniques and cutting-edge tools. He and his rock star crew of skilled, ethical builders have been making waves in Finland’s construction scene, appearing on popular TV shows like K
#644 Wired for Success: A Deep Dive into Electrical Trade with John Pirillo of CINQ Electrical & Home Automation
John Pirillo, the master behind CINQ Electrical and Home Automation. John shares insights into the ever-evolving electrical trade and the exciting world of lighting and home automation. We discuss the current state of the industry, the influx of new apprentices, and the evolving expectations of the next generation entering the trade. John also opens up about the challenges and opportunities within electrical services and automation, offering valuable advice for both veterans and newcomers to the
#643 Evan's Workshop Returns: Growth, Giving Back, and Building for the Future
Welcome back Evan from Evans Workshop for his second appearance on the show. Over the past two years, Evan has experienced remarkable growth both personally and professionally. As he prepares to graduate high school and considers studying business administration, he shares his insights and plans for the future. We dive into the many trade shows and events he's attended, the fascinating people he's met, and the trade secrets he's picked up along the way. Evan also highlights his continued dedicat
#642 Threads of Life: Healing Hearts and Saving Lives in the Construction Industry with Johanna and Melanie
In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Johanna LeRoux and Melanie Kowalski representing Threads of Life, a national charity dedicated to supporting families who have lost loved ones due to workplace tragedies. We explore the emotional and lasting impact of losing someone in the construction industry and discuss how awareness, education, and prevention are crucial to lowering the rate of fatalities and injuries on job sites. Johanna and Melanie share their own powerful stories, we dive into
#641 Heroes, Villains, and the Future of Canada: A Candid Political Conversation with Liam DeBoer
In this hard-hitting episode where politicians are not doing the right things, we sit down with Liam DeBoer, a passionate advocate for truth, justice, and the Canadian people. Known for champing heroes and roasting villains, Liam dives deep into the current Canadian political landscape, exposing corruption and comparing agenda-based mandates to the downfalls of past empires. He raises a stark warning: if things don’t change, Canada as we knew it may cease to exist. A true Superhero Stand for the
#640 Planning for the Unexpected: Carlo Di Renzo on Navigating Economic Downturns and Electrical Projects
Carlo Di Renzo of Effect Electric Ltd, a seasoned electrician and savvy business owner who’s successfully weathered the storm of a downturn in the industry. While many others expanded too quickly and are now feeling the pinch, Carlo shares how he strategically planned for this shift and kept his business on solid footing. We get an inside look at his latest residential and commercial electrical projects, from main service panel installations to Kohler generators, and how his team continues to pr
#639 Running Through Construction and Demolition: Mustafa Memon of Reno Rabbit & Demo Rabbit
We sit down with Mustafa Memon, Co-Founder of Reno Rabbit, a rapidly growing construction company, and Demo Rabbit, their brand-new demolition venture. Mustafa shares the thrilling journey of building these companies from the ground up, navigating the challenges of the construction and demolition industries, and the hilarious, unbelievable stories they’ve encountered along the way. With insights into what drives their success, how they stay innovative, and what the future holds for both Reno Rab
#638 TCL – Safety Corner with Phillip Ferreira of S1 First show on everything safety in the construction industry
Safety Corner — Your Weekly Guide to Safer Construction Introducing Safety Corner, the latest must-watch show from the creators of The Construction Life. Co-hosted by safety expert Phillip Ferreira @my_s1 and powered by his S1 safety division, this 30-minuteish weekly series cuts through the noise to bring you real footage and raw insights from actual job sites. No fluff—just hard-hitting analysis as Phillip and TCL's Manny break down what went right, what went wrong, and what could have gone ca
#637 Framing Life's Challenges: Brayden Harkness on Loss, Mentorship, and Moving Forward
In this emotional and inspiring episode, we sit down with Brayden Harkness of Sandman Construction, a framer by trade who opens up about his journey through loss and the resilience he's built in both his personal and professional life. Brayden shares how the sudden death of his mentor, whom he almost partnered with, and the passing of his father after a nearly decade-long battle with cancer, reshaped his outlook on life and construction. With his loyal companion, Diablo—a Cane Corso and Bull Mas
#636 Building Resilience: Mark Davies on Construction, Triathlons, and Life’s Hard Lessons
We sit down with Mark Davies of Davies General Contracting to dive deep into a conversation that blends the grit of the construction site with the endurance of a triathlon. Mark shares his journey of going solo in the construction world, the challenges of building a business, and the unexpected health scares that forced him to pause and reflect. But true to his tenacious spirit, Mark triumphed over adversity, returning stronger to the job site and to his passion for triathlons. This episode is a
#635 Mike & Eugene Explore the Art of Metal Fabrication & Highlight MNR Metal Accomplished Projects
Mike, one of four Mikes at MNR Metal and Eugene dive deep into the world of metal fabrication, exploring the craftsmanship and precision that goes into creating some of the most impressive projects MNR Metal has accomplished. From discussing the challenges faced in the industry to tackling the often-demanding unrealistic expectations of young tradespeople, they provide an honest and raw perspective on the metalworking trade. Politics and regulations in Canada, and their impact on the trade, also
#634 Jake Aronson from MZL Roofing & Metal Works talks about exterior challenges that get done well
Jake Aronson from MZL Roofing & Metal Works discusses the complex exterior challenges encountered in the roofing and metal works industry. Jake shares insights on how these obstacles are addressed, showcasing the expertise required to execute them effectively. The conversation touches on practical approaches to tackling common roofing issues and ensuring long-lasting results. Building a brand during pandemic and working on projects that inspire every tradesperson. MZL Roofing & Metal Works www.m
#633 Sealing and Snowing the Deal: Protective Coatings, Epoxy & Snow with Mikayel and Nem
Welcome to the world of specialized coatings and property maintenance with our guests from Just Sealing and Just For Snow Property Services. Mikayel and Nem share insights about their expertise in pressure washing, sealing, epoxy applications, and interlock/concrete restoration. We also explore the unique challenges in the epoxy flooring market and discuss the latest products and techniques they use to keep projects looking pristine. With their humorous take on "sealing mouths shut" when it come
#632 Transforming Spaces and Mindsets: Roc Renovations on Barbershops, Remodels, & Trade Education
We welcome Stephen and Ava from Roc Renovations, transforming both residential and commercial spaces in Ontario. Known for their expertise in complete remodeling, kitchen and bathroom renovations, and flooring, Stephen and Ava bring a wealth of knowledge to the table. We’ll be diving into their recent work on the Rendezvous Barber Shop, discussing what it really takes to design a custom shop and breaking down the costs — including the ever-popular question, "What’s a barber chair cost these days
#631 Flipping the Script on Construction: Bold Design to Rental Nightmares Adam Popovic of 804 Group
We sit down with Adam Popovic from 804 Group, based out of Burlington, Ontario, to discuss everything from construction trends to the realities of flipping houses in today's market. Adam, who specializes in investing, building, and managing multi-family conversions, renovations, and new builds, dives deep into the current challenges and opportunities in the construction world. We’ll cover hot topics like bold design choices (Black powder rooms anyone?), and explore what both young and old trades
#630 From Construction to Politics: Will He Change the System or Will the System Change Him?
We sit down with a contractor, Mitchell Baker of Karnak Pro Builders in BC is running for North Vancouver-Seymour as an Independent in the upcoming October 19 election. Mitchell, who is making the bold leap from the construction site to the political arena. Frustrated by the outdated infrastructure in his province and the waste of billions on untested construction products, he's running as an independent candidate to shake up the stagnant political environment. With a unique perspective on adapt
#629 Becoming a Project Manager and what all of that means in today’s construction industry
In this episode, with the help pf Jonathan, Erica and Nick, we dive into the evolving world of construction, exploring the path to becoming a project manager (PM) and what defines a great one, including the blend of leadership, communication, and technical skills required to succeed. We also tackle the hot topic of artificial intelligence and its potential impact on the workforce—will AI replace workers, or will it create new opportunities for collaboration? The discussion moves on to compare tr
#628 Has the level of Corruption in Construction Reached a Point of No Return?
In this eye-opening episode, we dive deep into the murky waters of corruption within the construction industry in Canada. Public servants at various levels of government are under scrutiny as allegations of deceit, cronyism, and illicit favoritism come to light. Are contracts being funneled to friends and family members at the expense of public interest? We explore the extent of these illegal actions, their impact on society, and what must be done to put an end to this unsustainable practice. Th
#627 Teresa Greco / Building Joy with Erica about socially reconnecting & finding fun things to do
Saving money on fun with Teresa Greco on Building Joy. We talk to Erica about social reconnecting after Covid, balancing cost and experience, and letting go of drama on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. This show is brought to you by.T.A.P. – Tradespeople Alliance ProgramAre you ready to take your construction business to the next
#626 Fighting cost and everything else for great building with Zeke Kaplan of ZZ Contracting
We talk about lateness and lack of initiative from new trades, indecision and hidden budgets from clients, and massive costs and poor green initiatives from the government. We also discuss protecting natural stone from weathering, creating value with laneway homes, building sustainably, and asking for respect from non-trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Zeke Kaplan of ZZ Contracting at ZZContracting.com and @ZZContracting. Reach out at Info@ZZContracting.com and 416-820
#625 Teresa Greco / Building Joy - Punam joins us and talks about creating happiness in the work place
What are you leaving behind? with Teresa Greco on Building Joy. We talk to Punam about creating happiness in the workplace, the change a business owner can make, and leaving with positive memories on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568.This show is brought to you by.Introducing TCLX, the newest segment from The Construction Life—where
#624 The art and skill of surface finishing with Enrico Del Frate of Bell'Italia
Enrico tells us about the Italian origins of decorative finishes, the evolution of materials and bringing the art to Canada. We talk about seamless stone finishes, polishing challenges, lime vs acrylic marble, consistent inconsistency, and replicating stone and concrete on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Enrico Del Frate of Bell'Italia on Instagram @BellitaliaWalls. Reach out at BellitaliaAccentWalls@gmail.com and 647-869-0615. Sign up for Bell'Italia's upcoming Academy and l
#623 New TNT show - Training construction leaders with Marianick Pichon of Schulich ExecEd.
We talk about unqualified promotions producing bad leaders and what good training looks like. We also discuss how construction is changing, from the things leaders focus on to the rising importance of mental health. Learn how empathy is a critical thinking tool on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Marianick Pichon of Schulich ExecEd at ExecEd.Schulich.YorkU.ca and on LinkedIn at Marianick Pichon. Reach out at MPichon@Schulich.YorkU.ca. This show is brought to you byWhether you’
#622 When clients don't care about art, skill and trade of paint with Steven Brum of Just Painting Co.
We talk about getting clients to understand the work behind the price, and being compassionate to clients without settling for a lower paycheck. We also discuss types of paint, dark tones, fear of risk, paint fume protection, and faulty paints on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Steven Brum of Just Painting Co at JustPaintingCo.ca and @JPaintCo. Reach out at JustPaintingCo@gmail.com. This show is brought to you by T.A.P. – Tradespeople Alliance ProgramAre you ready to take you
#621 Teresa Greco Building Joy Pat talks about putting personal life in front of the construction life
Returning to family with Teresa Greco on Building Joy. We talk to Pat about the consequences of overwork, missing important moments, and sacrificing loved ones to help clients that don't care on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at
#620 Dealing with Divorce and self-awareness with Antonio Di Santo on the latest TNT show.
Jonathan co-hosts this latest TNT show where Antonio tells us about losing his kids, learning to let go, dating in your 50s, and becoming self-aware. We also discuss what divorce does to children, men too focused on finance, waking up into fitness, early morning run clarity, and inspiring others to improve on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Antonio Di Santo on Instagram @ImADisanto. Find Jonathan Cinelli at JonathanCinelli.com and @JonathanCinelli. Reach out at JC@JonathanCin
#619 Teresa Greco - Building Joy Tammeron of Inner Lights Academy TV about finding truths
Why we do what we do with with Teresa Greco on Building Joy. We talk to Tammeron of Inner Lights Academy TV about the unseen forces that effect our actions, and finding truths on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstr
#618 Feeling the flooring experience with manufactures, installs & clients Antonio Troiani of Floorzilla
We talk about the white oak black hole, underrated wood species, advancements in vinyl, individualizing a home, and the pros and cons of character on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Antonio Troiani of Floorzilla at Floorzilla.ca and @floor.zilla. Reach out at 647-671-9871 and Floorzillas@rogers.com. This show is brought to you by When you choose Ravineview Construction, you’re choosing a team that understands the importance of your home. Let us help you create a space where y
#617 Teresa Greco New TCL Series Building Joy with call in guest Mark dealing with divorce
Learning to love silence with Teresa Greco on Building Joy. We talk to Mark about learning from the past, planning for the future, and living in the present on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If
#616 Brought up HVAC hard with Marc, Prab and Luke of Parc Mechanical
We talk about issues with new trades like phone distractions, chasing the paycheck, leaving too soon, and expecting too much. We also discuss commercial vs residential HVAC, getting people to pay for quality, bearing the cost of green mandates, lack of unit longevity, bandaid solutions, and dealing with emergencies on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Marc Samperi, Prab Kalsi and Luke Dennis of Parc Mechanical at ParcMechanical.com and @Parc_Mechanical. Reach out at Info@ParcMe
#615 Standing up for your value with Tony Alderete of Alderete Construction
Tony tells us about coming to Canada during the pandemic, being taken advantage of for being an immigrant, and finding work in hard times. We share advice for how to avoid being taken advantage of from learning to say no to creating genuine relationships with your employees on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Tony Alderete of Alderete Construction at AldereteConstruction.com and @Alderete.Construction. Reach out at Alderete.Construction44@gmail.com and 705-539-1725. Stay con
#614 Teresa Greco / Building Joy with call in guest Daniel Bax surviving a motorcycle collision.
We talk to Daniel Bax of The Life of Your Choice about refusing to accept impossibility and turning challenges into opportunities. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@theconstruction
#613 Tackling salt problems in our water supply Les Purcell of O'Rourke Electric & Ontario Pump Supply
Les tells us about the overuse of salt in water filtration systems, how it's is killing our lakes, and changing how we think about clean water. We discuss salt-free water treatment, teaching plumbers how to make a difference, profit intoxication, using social media for good education, and illogical logic on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Les Purcell of O'Rourke Electric and Ontario Pump Supply at ORourkeElectric.com. Reach out at Info@ORourkeElectric.com and 705-746-5232. Th
#612 Creating spaces for kids and adults to play with Emily Dragoman of Movement Rooms Inc.
Emily tells us about the problems with traditional play rooms, making rooms that grow with the child, combining adult function with kid fun, ensuring clients use their spaces and giving children what they need to succeed in life. We talk about overprotective parents, reminding adults to be playful, fitting play into every budget, and fixing our internal worlds on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Emily Dragoman of Movement Rooms Inc. at MovementRooms.com and @MovementRooms. Rea
#611 The Death of the Canadian Dream of buying a home with Paul Rocha of Mortgage Scout
Paul shares what's really happening with Canadian rates and the housing market. He tells us about principle resident taxes, officials only caring about being reelected, record low birth rates, lacking financial literacy, and tips for getting started financially. We share how Canada's future is in renting on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Paul Rocha of Mortgage Scout on PaulJRocha.com and MortgageBriefs.com. Reach out at 416-432-7662. This show is brought to you by. ALT Labou
#610 Tapping into your true self with Teresa Greco on another Building Joy show
Today on Building Joy we talk to Tyrone about finding peace away from the city and taking big risks to prioritize happiness, and we talk to Christina about creating happiness as a couple and reconnecting with childhood joy. Learn to find joy in the moment on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416-553-8568. Stay connected with The Construction
#609 Teens in the trades, working foundation waterproofing with Antonio, Shaan and Alex from AquaStop
We talk about the first day on the job, working hard young so you can rest when you're old, managing work/life balance, relationships for the younger generation, and changing perspectives of construction on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Antonio Pereira, Shaan Sahi and Alex Maffei of AquaStop Waterproofing at AquaStopWaterproofing.ca and @Aqua.Stop.Reach out at Antonio@AquaStopWaterproofing.ca, AquaStopWaterproof@gmail.com and 647-631-4144. Stay connected with The Construc
#608 Sending European tradespeople abroad with Samuel Schneider of Journeyman.
Samuel tells us about how he makes construction attractive by providing working experiences abroad. We talk about preparing trades for cultural differences, trade specializations across countries, maintaining company culture with foreign workers, and how international trades can inspire local trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. For trades, find Journeyman at Journeyman.io and @Journeyman.io.For companies, find Journeyman at JourneymanStaff.com and @Journeyman_Staff.Reach out
#607 Dead paint trends and "co-petition" with Scott Fitch of Fitch Painting
We talk about the value of a colour consultant, what "Good, Better, Best" paints really are, issues with Colour of the Year, understanding collaboration in construction, and making good relationships with competition. He also shares the truth about glorification of the 80s and the constant pressure on new entrepreneurs on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Scott Fitch of Fitch Painting at FitchPainting.com and @FitchPainting. Reach out at Scott@FitchPainting.com and 705-627-4453
#606 Tips for new trades entering the industry with Larry La Gamba of Trade Links Consulting
We talk about issues with surface level motivations for joining trades, helping trade school graduates, why money isn't a good goal, finding a trade that suits your strengths, and changing the construction industry for the better on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Larry La Gamba of Trade Links Consulting at TradeLinksConsulting.ca and @TradeLinksConsulting. Reach out at Larry@TradeLinksConsulting.ca and 905-220-3097. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by text
#605 Turning talent and tech into quality with Charles Magalhaes of The Finish Carpenter
We talk about Brazilian tool brands, eliminating tripping hazards, battery life, MDF vs poplar, learning different types of doors, getting jigs for reverting and arch vault issues. We also discuss why it's important to push employees to learn new things and what happens when trades go solo too soon on episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Charles Magalhaes of The Finish Carpenter at TheFinishCarpenter.ca and @The_Finish_Carpenter. Reach out at hello@TheFinishCarpenter.ca and 416-825-933
#604 Choosing happiness every day with Teresa Greco on the latest episode of Building Joy
On this episode of Building Joy, the new TCL series about finding your happiness on and off the job site, we talk to Dawn about protecting your peace and dealing with the great overwhelm, and we talk to Josee about being an empty nester and reframing retirement. Remember the value of talking to someone with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com and 416
#603 Firefighting and plumbing up north with Joe Debruge of Morrow's Plumbing and Heating
Joe tells us about septic tank smells, lake water pumps, rural vs city plumbers, rattlesnakes, working on wildland fires, and issues with the new certification requirements for firefighters. He also tells us about his experience with the Sheridan plumbing program on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Joe Debruge at @ jdebruge and Morrow's Plumbing and Heating at MorrowsPlumbing.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing h
#602 Real marketing in the construction industry with Eddie Brenes of Toolbox Marketing
Eddy teaches us about the complexity of digital marketing and gives us tips for creating a long-haul brand. Learn about building an online presence, using social media data collection to your benefit, issues with balloting posts, what your can do with marketing data, red flags for hiring marketing people, and telling a story with your posts on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Eddie Brenes of Toolbox Marketing at ToolboxMarketing.ca and @ToolboxMarketingAgency. Reach out at Inf
#601 Being in the people business with Kyle Springer of 2x2 Construction
We talk about long term thinking, building relationships, how subs can set themselves apart, fiting what the builder wants, issues with inspectors, getting around neighbour objections and multi-generational vs rental uses of new units on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Kyle Springer of 2x2 Construction at 2x2Construction.ca and @2x2Construction. Reach out at 647-425-0292. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at m
#600 Celebrating Portuguese construction tradespeople and business owners on the 600th episode of TCL
Joined by Steve Sampaio, Andrew Padre Cura, Gary Mares, Fabio Andrade, and Mario Cortinhas, we talk about dream projects, industry issues, economic slowdown, immigration and commercialization in the Azores, Portuguese traditions. We finish off this episode with rapid fire Q&A on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Gary Mares of Mares Carpentry @MaresCarpentry. Reach out at MaresCarpentry@gmail.com and 416-418-6444.Find Fabio Andrade of FNA Custom Woodworking @Fabio.Andrade51.
#599 Always pushing forward on your business with Ben Nasarri of Tee Thrones
Ben tells us about learning about western clothing during war times and starting a printing business in Canada. We talk about managing frustration, having no option to quit, dealing with challenging clients, preparing for rejection, and being thankful for hard times. We also dissect Western vs Eastern perceptions of the world on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Tee Thrones will be handling all of The Construction Life merchandise and we are now open for anyone interested in purchas
#598 Correcting the overall view of the industry about where the work is with Ryan Borkawski
The Exterior Specialist. Ryan breaks down statistics from the last 12 years to help us understand trends in the industry and how to position yourself efficiently in the market. We cover single dwelling vs multi dwelling trends, the Covid Bump, what places are growing the fastest, population needs and why permits take so long on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=4610007601&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.1&pickMembers%5B1%5D=2.1&
#597 Realistic toolbox of nutrition with Kim Doyle of Brant Nutrition
Kim teaches us about building a toolbox for getting through life, enforcing food breaks, adding healthy options rather than restricting diets, and convenience foods. Learn to ignore the scale and focus on feeling good with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Kim Doyle of Brant Nutrition at BrantNutrition.com and @BrantNutrition. Reach out at 519-771-0774. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionl
#596 Realizing what's important with Building Joy the new TCL series with Teresa Greco
Teresa Greco joins us on this call-in show as we unpack how people are finding happiness. We talk to Anita about taking responsibility for our happiness, creating boundaries, making me-time, and unpacking how childhood effects adulthood. We talk to Sarah about slowing down, letting go of alcohol, decluttering spaces, situations and thoughts, and setting boundaries with family. And finally we talk to Paul about being grateful of opportunities, the joy of simplicity, and letting go of distractions
#595 Finding hope in hard times on the latest TNT / The New Tough with Jonathan Cinelli
We talk about the truth of the home/work relationship, lost community in the industry, helping out your fellow trades, disconnecting from social media distraction, and focusing on positivity. We're planning for the good despite the negative on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Jonathan at JonathanCinelli.com and @JonathanCinelli. Reach out at JC@JonathanCinelli.com and 416-717-4139. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing
#594 Uncovering lost money & putting it towards your business Erica of Schooley Mitchell Nick of Revalate
Erica Giuggio of Schooley Mitchell and Nick Bartella of Revalate teach us about hidden expenses in credit transactions, fuel costs, vehicle tracking, waste management, shipping fees, tech and subscriptions. We discuss how to track cash without injury, what credit and software products to avoid, understanding credit scores, and streamlining without cutting what makes your company attractive on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Erika Giuggio of Schooley Mitchell at SchooleyMitche
#593 Dealing with cheaters and learning to feel with Anja Rose Tyrrell, love, sex & relationship counsellor
We talk about the reconnecting men and women, being genuinely known, responding vs reacting, understanding why people cheat, responding to cheating as a friend, and letting yourself feel on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Anja Rose Tyrrell on Instagram @IAmAnjaRose, on Facebook at Anja Rose Tyrrell, and at Stan.Store/IAmAnjaRose. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have som
#592 Unpacking the modular future of construction with Sabrina Fiorellino of Fero International
Sabrina tells us about buying Ellis Don's modular plant, how building modular differs from traditional, dealing with strict transport regulations, how modular inspections work, the speed of modular production, and the recyclability of modular. We discuss how modular helps sustainability in construction and is more inviting for female trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Sabrina Fiorellino of Fero International at FeroIntl.com, on Instagram @FeroInternational, and on Link
#591 Satisfaction from an ugly job with Matt Pietrzyk of Wetness Protection
We talk about the dangers in leaving failing foundations unattended, creating neglect and complacency, catching problems before they get big, polyurethane foundation repair, homes being built too fast, problem solving satisfaction, box store vs supplier pricing, and products that shouldn't be available to DIYers on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Matt Pietrzyk of Wetness Protection at wetnessprotection.ca and @wetness_protection. Reach out at 519-577-0687 and wetnessprotectio
#590 Surviving a rigged financial system with John W. McGuire of Wealth Eazy
We celebrate John's book launch with the story of his father and by teaching lessons you won't find in schools. We talk about paying tax on the seed not the harvest, building retirement cashflow, Canadians running US businesses, what has to happen to fix the economy, and not leaving money to the kids on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find John W. McGuire's new book Wealth Without Wall Street on Amazon and Indigo. Find more at JohnWMcguire.com and @John.W.McGuire. Stay connected w
#589 Heavy equipment renting with Camille and Phil of Edge1 Equipment Rentals.
Camille and Phil tell us about leadership in a male-dominated industry, changes in communication, matching services to client needs, prioritizing safety, and deciding what to buy. We also discuss covid's effect on brands, issues with changing to battery, and teaching kids that construction is an option on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Camille Jagdeo and Phil da Costa of Edge1 Equipment Rentals at Edge1.ca and @Edge1Equipment. Reach out at 1-800-216-6663, Camille@Edge1.ca, a
#588 Building Joy, a call-in podcast for Trades seeking a brighter, more fulfilling life on & off the job site!
Welcome to the first episode of Building Joy, the live call-in podcast series for those seeking a brighter, more fulfilling life on and off the job site! Together with Teresa Greco, a certified happiness life coach and founder of Steps to Happiness Coaching, we lay the foundation for a happier, more satisfying life. In each episode, we delve into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by construction workers in pursuit of happiness. From long hours and physical exertion to the camaraderi
#587 Building a painting business with Justin and Mark of 519 Painters.
Justin and Mark tell us about doorknocking competitions, summer vs winter work, faulty paints, screening new employees, caring for tools, stolen vans and deck staining on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Justin Georgopoulos and Mark Shelley of 519 Painters at 519Painters.com and @519Painters. Reach out at 519-686-3870 and Info@519Painters.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com.
#586 Leaving clients better than you found them with James Kenneth of The Door Supply
James tells us about teach clients hire to avoid being taken advantage of by upselling and poor products. We discuss removing sales people, strange doors, finding your clients, overvaluing convenience, cash jobs, and the hard times mindset on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find James Kenneth of The Door Supply at TheDoorSupply.com and @TheDoorSupplyOfficial Reach out at Build@theDoorSupply.comStay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or ema
#585 The truth about brain injuries with Mind Forward Brain Injury Services
Joined by Ashley Budd, Hunter Saggar, Andrea Ure and Mike Redgers, we discuss the prevalence of brain injuries, establishing touch points with patients, the importance of helmets, how age effects recovery, neuroplasticity and maintaining brain health on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Mind Forward Brain Injury Services at MindForward.org and @MindForwardBIS. Reach out at Info@MindForward.org. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737
#584 The truth of cyber safety with Robert Falzon of Check Point Software Technologies
Robert teaches us the dangers of technology and how it's used against us for profit. We talk about what we can do to protect ourselves from the poorly regulated technology that surrounds us on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Robert Falzon of Check Point Software Technologies at CheckPoint.com and on LinkedIn. Reach out at Robert@Falzon.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If
#583 Toronto infrastructure developments with Charles G. Crans of Geo-Structural Project Services.
Charles tells us about the Union Station revitalization, solutions to Toronto's traffic problems, unnecessary restrictions, lack of cooperation between government agencies, and possible tunneling beneath the harbour. Learn how infrastructure is forging ahead on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out to Charles Crans of Charles G. Crans Geo-Structural Project Services at CGCrans@outlook.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or
#582 Out-of-the-box reno details with Karl Wawrzyniak of @Renos_by_Karl
We talk about making function beautiful, heating unconventional surfaces, boring safety in shaker, and renovating for children. We also discuss finding your crew, backing your word, lack of safety in comfort and understanding what going on your own entails on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Karl on Instagram @Renos_by_Karl. Reach out at 416-558-4499 and RenosbyKarl@yahoo.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him a
#581 Getting paid in commercial high-rise construction with David Sierra of RCS Insulation
David tells us about struggling against a builder that doesn't want to pay and Manny lays out what a trade has to do to get paid without getting legal involved. Don't let them win by giving up on your money with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find David of RCS Insulation at RCSInsulation.ca and @RCSInsulation. Reach out at 416-731-4235 and Contact@RCSInsulation.ca. Also check out Takara Imports; Importing quality Japanese work clothes for North American tradespeople. Stay conn
#580 Making children in need smile with Mike Valchuk of Building Dreams Contracting
Mike tells us about his life changing experience volunteer building in Mexico through Baja Bound. We also discuss the value of honesty, being a good loser, finding the best of every brand, running a relationship business, designing a smart kitchen, and hiding surprises for future renovators on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Mike Valchuk of Building Dreams Contracting at BuildingDreamsInc.ca and @BuildingDreamsConstracting. Reach out at Mike@BuildingDreamsInc.ca. Find Baja Bo
#579 Getting into the tradesperson’s longevity mindset with Dr. Luigi Nalli of PinPoint Health
Luigi teaches us how to combat repetitive action injuries, the necessity of varied movements, what to do about low back pain, preventing future issues, how to protect joints, and treating physical problems physically. He breaks down the simple steps for longevity on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Dr. Luigi Nalli on Instagram @Dr.LouNalli and reach out at LNalli@PinPointHealth.ca. Find PinPoint Health at PinPointHealth.ca and @PinPoint_Health. Reach out at 416-744-7900 and In
#578 Affordable housing for the aging population with Ian Jones of BGI Group and The Joy Concept
Gianluca Pascale of The Constructor's Guild joins in this conversation with Ian who walks us though The Joy Concept's proposal for building affordable rental housing through compassionate capitalism. We discuss issues with the government's focus on reelection, gatekeeping costs for building in Canada, and changing the NIMBY mindset on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Ian Jones of BGI Group and The Joy Concept at BGIGroup.ca, MyJoyLiving.com and on LinkedIn at Ian Jones MRICS.
#577 Building infrastructure and economic struggles with Jason Farris of Glenmore Custom Homes.
Jason tells us about what goes into a substation, becoming just a number, what highrise cancellations mean for the industry, cost of living consequences, and constant price increases. We also discuss online marketing scams, and substance abuse on the jobsite on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Jason Farris of Glenmore Custom Homes on Instagram @GlenmoreCustomHomes. Reach out at 647-332-5516 and Jason.Farris@GlenmoreCustomHomes.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life P
#576 Too impatient to succeed with AJ Cappuccitti thoughts on trades today, AC Custom Reno
We talk about shiny object syndrome, learning delayed gratification, why old trades struggle to get off the tools, when to stay an employee, and understanding that ROI doesn't always mean money. We also talk about how to let clients hire their own trades while protecting yourself, and the future of visionary and integrator partnerships on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find AJ Cappuccitti of AC Custom Reno at ACCustom.ca and @ACCustomRenoInc. Stay connected with The Constructio
#575 Escaping track building prison with Daniel da Costa of Sons of Carpentry
Daniel tells us about working long hours doing the same thing over and over and trying to do good work on a speed motivated jobsite. We also discuss the myth of natural talent, educating clients, how to use Pinterest better, dealing with hires that don't care, and leaning how to make each tool work best on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Daniel da Costa of Sons of Carpentry at SonsofCarpentry.ca and @SonsofCarpentry. Reach out at SonsofCarpentry@gmail.com. Stay connected wi
#574 Different perspectives in woodworking with Mike Huber, James Goerzen, Jamie Robert, & Gavin Gaudreault
We talk about the mentorship landscape, being openminded about new methods, learning from each project, and building with other trades in mind. We also discuss understanding your market and balancing being an artist and running a business on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out to Mike Huber of Mike Huber Works at hubermiker@gmail.com and @hubermachine. Find James Goerzen at Conestoga. Reach out to Jamie Roberts of Jamie Roberts Custom Woodworking at jrobertscustomwoodworking
#573 Starting sustainability conversations with Aron Jones of Big Dog Construction
We talk about the push towards electric, needing to build smaller, rushing for affordable housing, multi-family resistance, teaching sustainablity to the trades, and the issues with minimum code. We also discuss the perfect wall assembly and reducing expectations to build quality on a budget with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Aron Jones of Big Dog Construction on Instagram @BigDogConstruction.GM. Reach out at BigDogConstruction@live.ca. Stay connected with The Constructio
#572 From woodworking school into the industry with Professor Trevor Hibbs and former students
From woodworking school into the industry with Professor Trevor Hibbs and former students Mitch, Nathan and Saleh. They tell us about coming from different backgrounds, going through the Conestoga program, and making capstone projects. We also discuss fighting mass-produced products, learning to let go of projects, mixed material creativity, and clients not appreciating skill on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out to Trevor Hibbs of Conestoga College at thibbs@conestogac.on.
#571 Helping apprentices get through the trade with Pat Davidson and his apprentice Matt Hough
We talk about the schoolyard perception of the trades, taking a chance on an apprentice, teaching why, starting at the bottom, and paying it back to the industry. Remember that knowledge goes further than money with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Davidson's Electrical at DavidsonsElectrical.ca and @Davidsons_Electrical. Reach out at Info@DavidsonsElectrical.ca and 416-859-1159. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing h
#570 Guide on the side training with Matt and Brandon of Community Builders
They tell us about building student confidence, creating hands-on learning experiences, teaching good spending practices, and getting the best out of every student. Find out what they're doing to help with the labour and affordable housing shortage on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Community Builders at CommunityBuilders.co and @CommunityBuilders.co. Reach out at info@CommunityBuilders.co. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 o
#569 Reconnecting to life through woodworking with Paul Lentinello The Keen Woodworker
Paul tells us about creating without planning, turning mistakes into art, finding variety in wood, and being unable to let some pieces go. We also discuss shou sugi ban, epoxy, the construction community, anti-social Toronto, and finding the person that likes your art on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Paul Lentinello on Instagram @the_keen_woodworker. Reach out PaulLentinello@gmail.com and 647-983-5670. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at
#568 Tear downs versus renovations with Dima and Artur of D&A GTA Custom Framing
We discuss century homes being torn down and why it's better to build homes that serve people than force them to accept the old. We also talk about learning from inspections, framing vs concrete, repairing tools, escaping the labor shortage, and dealing with overengineering on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find D&A GTA Custom Framing at @DAGTA_Framing. Reach out at DAGTAFraming@gmail.com. Reach Dima at 416-716-1053 and Artur at 647-299-4210. Stay connected with The Constru
#567 Mental resilience with the growth mindset on The New Tough. Jonathan, Marc, Gianluca & Manny
The panel discuss fixed mindsets killing creativity, being forced into a survival mindset, learning to be disciplined, and how to operate with a growth mindset. Find your why with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Jonathan Cinelli of People First Leadership at JonathanCinelli.com and @JonathanCinelli. Reach out at JC@JonathanCinelli.com and 416-717-4139. Find Marc Fraser of Craigmhor Construction at Craigmhor.ca and @Craigmhor_Construction. Reach out at Marc@Craigmhor.ca and 64
#566 Misconceptions about plumbing with 4th year David Cedrone
We talk about misleading plumbing stigmas, grey water reuse, the importance of a water softener, advice for maintaining pipes, and understanding why clogs happen. We also discuss repetitive jobs in unions, the value of being well rounded, the small world of the trades, and the drive to learn as much as possible on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find David Cedrone on Instagram @Daves.Drains. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or e
#565 From clown car to successful company with Alec and Trevor of Anchor Construction
We talk about building on lakes, dealing with poor power situations, auction trucks, product price increases, and wood vs composite decking on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Anchor Construction at AnchorConstruction.ca and @AnchorConstruction. Reach out at 289-826-3044 and Info@AnchorConstruction.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the
#564 Issues with construction influencers with Bob Baker of Baker Plumbing
“You can’t control real tradespeople.” Manny and Bob tear apart social media influencers pretending to be tradespeople, selling out and lying to their audience. Learn to be a real influencer on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Baker Plumbing at BakerPlumbing.ca and @BakerPLBG. Reach out at 403-800-3007 and BakerPLBG@gmail.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have some
#563 Diving deep into the labour shortage with Ryan Borkowski of The Exterior Specialist
Ryan shares lots of information on the why, when and how of the labour shortage, along with why construction isn't attractive and what we can do about it. We talk about tools and tips that increases efficiency to reduce the burden of the shrinking labour pool on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find The Exterior Specialist at TheExteriorSpecialist.ca and @TheExteriorSpecialist. Reach out at 416-931-0973 and Info@TheExteriorSpecialist.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life
#562 Paying for quality, not production with Carlos and Chris of Pinante Construction
Chris and Carlos tell us about slowing down and learning the skills to work faster. We talk about dealing with poor workers, gauging the vetting period, learning new underpinning techniques, managing difficult jobs and weeding out bad apples as a homeowner on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Pinante Construction at PinanteConstruction.com and @PinanteConstruction.GTA. Reach out at Info@PinanteConstruction.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Man
#561 HVAC education with the Stott HVAC Systems Team, Installers, Service, and Operations
They tell us about water tanks, air returns, misunderstanding preventative maintenance, mechanical room issues, heated driveways, and filter differences. Learn about the path of least resistance on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Stott HVAC Systems at StottHVACSystems.ca and @Stott_HVAC_Systems.Reach out to JR at JR@StottHVACSystems.ca and SupremeAirflowHC@hotmail.com.Reach out to Jay at Jay@StottHVACSystems.ca.Reach out to George at George@StottHVACSystems.caReach out to Benn
#560 Let’s talk the business of Tradespeople and not the Skills with Mike DiMartino – Mikey’s Back
Mike and Manny talk about avoiding losses, construction influencers, modern tools undervaluing skill, accent lighting overkill, retirement, and taking care of your health on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Mike DiMartino of Veracity Group at @Mike_DiMartino1978, @VGroupInc, and VeracityGroup.ca. Reach out at M.DiMartino@VeracityGroup.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If y
#559 Megan Weston-Jesso of Water Plumber Girl talks Water Treatment and real-world issues
Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@theconstructionlife.com to schedule a time to join us in studio. Are you interested in the latest trends in building, renovation, home improvement, real estate, architecture, design, engineering, contracting, trades, and DIY? Look no further! Our construction podcast and social media content cover a w
#558 Matt Botelho of Botelho The Plumber running a one plumber business these days
Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@theconstructionlife.com to schedule a time to join us in studio. Are you interested in the latest trends in building, renovation, home improvement, real estate, architecture, design, engineering, contracting, trades, and DIY? Look no further! Our construction podcast and social media content cover a w
#557 Tyler Stott of Stott HVAC talking service and maintenance opportunities for the industry
Find Tyler Stott of Stott HVAC Systems at StottHVACSystems.ca and @Stott_HVAC_Systems. Reach out at Tyler@StottHVACSystems.ca.
#556 Toronto's below grade expert, Martin Halliwell of Footprint Engineering Inc. In With The Old
“The rate of evaporation exceeds the rate of leakage”. Martin walks us through the big players of the pre-2000s, and the technological advancements that we have made and should make below grade. We discuss Eglinton crosstown issues, overengineering, Toronto terrain, Martin's patents, rebar issues and reducing the waterproofing footprint on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Footprint Engineering Inc at FootprintEngineering.ca and Martin Halliwell on LinkedIn. Reach out at 519-2
#555 Preparing for the rainy days in construction with Mark Romeo of Romeo Mechanical
Preparing for the rainy days with Mark Romeo of Romeo Mechanical at CMPX 2024. Romeo tells us about working in commercial, the different rules for different industries, expanding into service, how technology is changing the industry, finding the competitive price point, and curating social media for hiring and networking on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Romeo Mechanical at RomeoMechanical.com and @RomeoMechanical. Reach out at Info@RomeoMechanical.com. Check out Dahl Valve
#554 Getting all the information up front with Sam the Plumber about the 3 important details from clients
Getting all the information up front with Sam the Plumber at CMPX 2024. He tells us about the 3 important details that he asks for from clients to save him future headaches. We discuss issues with off shore products, finding upstanding manufacturers, new creature comfort tech requirements, the joy of being paid quickly and the importance of hiring the right trade on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Sam the Plumber at SamthePlumber.ca and @SamthePlumberOakville. Reach out at in
#553 Advice for new trades struggling to get a foot in the door with Elie Yaacoub of The Plumbing Expert
Advice for new trades struggling to get a foot in the door with Elie Yaacoub of The Plumbing Expert at CMPX 2024. We talk about building skills for better employment chances, lack of government support, and missing commitment in apprentices. We also discuss the basics of customer relations, construction slowing down, lacking pushes for Canadian tech, and the disappearance of good faith on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find The Plumbing Expert at ThePlumbingExpert.com and @The_P
#552 Reconstructing Notre Dame with French carpenter Brendan Goux, from Paris France
Reconstructing Notre Dame with French carpenter Brendan Goux. Brendan shares the extent of Notre Dame's fire damage, the precision of the replication efforts, the interesting material details and the stressful installations. He also tells us about carpentry school in France, teaching new carpenters, helping people find their passion in carpentry, and travelling to learn about carpentry from different places on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Brendan on Instagram, YouTube and
#551 Sharing listener stories on this first call-in episode of The New Tough, Gianluca, Angelo, Jonathan
Sharing listener stories on this first call-in episode of The New Tough. We discuss neurodivergence in construction, lacking empathy, self-censoring, change in different sizes companies, and the scarcity mindset. We break down the danger of construction's Faustian deals and the challenge of getting comfortable higher ups to change for the betterment of the industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Thank you to Carys, Jon and Alexander for sharing your stories!Check out the "BPD
#550 Collaboration in the small world of the trades with Brandon Khan of Modern Water Solutions
Collaboration in the small world of the trades with Brandon Khan of Modern Water Solutions at CMPX 2024. Brandon tells us about in-home water treatment, changes in the younger generation, understanding patience, marketing in construction, issues with influencers, and maintaining health on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Modern Water Solutions at ModernWaterSolutions.ca and @ModernWaterSolutions. Check out Dahl Valve at DahlValve.com and @DahlValveMan on Instagram. Reach out o
#549 Improving skill development in the trades with Aaron Boland of Expert Plumbing and Drains
Improving skill development in the trades with Aaron Boland of Expert Plumbing and Drains at CMPX 2024. He tells us about helping his employees with retirement, planning out profit-share RSP contributions, and dealing with uneducated trades performing poor installs. We also discuss the fail rates in trades schools, first come first serve education, and why we need more money to go into keeping people in the trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Expert Plumbing and Drains
#548 Getting well rounded experience in the trade with Johnny Tobiasz of Brento Plumbing
Getting well rounded experience in the trade with Johnny Tobiasz of Brento Plumbing and Mechanical Inc at CMPX 2024. We talk about excitement about learning new tech, dealing with different pipe materials, managing client-bought fixtures, and finding good people in today's labour pool. We also discuss whether radiant heat is worth the cost and how we can convince young people about the benefits of thre trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Bento Plumbing and Mechanical In
#547 TCL Roundtable Understanding the Ministry of Labour with ex-inspectors and the years of being on our jobsites
Understanding the Ministry of Labour with ex-inspectors. John Savoia brings in Kevin Brown, Vince Lacolino and Phillip Ferreira to talk about inspector discretion, underreported injuries, vulnerable workers, balancing production and safety, and the issues with our current deterrent system. Is safety getting better? Find out on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find John Savoia of RSG International at John Savoia on Linkedin.Find Kevin Brown of Cobalt Safety at CobaltSafety.ca and Sup
#546 Pushing the limits of architecture and design with Joel Tanner of SMPL Design Studio
Joel tells us about bettering his business, only doing custom work, learning from overdesign, cultivating relationships, and managing cost expectations. The market is changing on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find smpl Design Studio at smplDesignStudio.com and @smplDesignStudio. Reach out at 905-529-7675 and Contact@smplDesignStudio.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife
#545 Social media made him a better plumber, with Hunter Douglas of HD Plumbers
Hunter tells us about learning from the online plumbing community and becoming a plumbing influencer. We also discuss tool theft, issues with "environmental" marketing schemes, dealing with shitty clients, and US vs Canadian plumbing on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find HD Plumbers at HDPlumbers.com and @HDPlumbers. Reach out at 951-545-1679 and HD.Plumbers5225@gmail.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing hi
#544 Making budgeting easy with SynkedUP's Weston Zimmerman.
Weston walks us through how SynkedUP breaks down every aspect of your business to understand real expenses and profitability. We discuss tracking ignored costs, producing wish list budgets, the danger of outdated budgets, implementing software and avoiding reverting to old ways on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Try out the SynkedUP.com budgeting tools for free today at https://synkedup.com/get-the-budgeting-tool/ Get a budgeting consultation with a
#543 Dealing with labourers in a labour shortage with Luke Obrzut of Transform Masonry Group Inc.
Luke tells us about managing poor work ethics, training people with skills from other countries, earned patience, and the difference between a bricklayer and a mason. We discuss keeping tools from relatives, nicknames of the trades and what the hardest trade is on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Transform Masonry Group Inc at TMasonG.com and @TransformMasonryGroup. Reach out at Luke.TMG@hotmail.com. Rules, compliance, regulations - these are all super critical thing
#542 HVAC Roundtable with Marcio Martins of Redmond Distributing, Bill Ashton, Tyler Stott & Aaron Bond
Marcio of Redmond Distributing, Bill of Ashton Heating and Cooling, Tyler of Stott HVAC Systems and Aaron of Yes Plumbing and Heating, we discuss mentorship, rebate issues, pros and cons of heat pumps, degasification, building the best systems, maintenance, and investing in your employees. Tune in to find out what most people don't know about HVAC on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Redmond Distributing at CMPX on Thurs, March 21 at the Pint attached to the conventio
#541 Misconceptions about happiness with Teresa Greco of Steps to Happiness Coaching
Teresa tells us about being conditioned to search for external happiness and what we can do to connect with ourselves and find true happiness. We discuss learning to be present, dealing with unsupportive social circles, the loneliness pandemic, the prevalence of mental health issues, and finding happiness at the end of life on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Teresa Greco at TeresaGreco.ca and @TeresaGreco_StepstoHappiness. Reach out at StepstoTrueHappiness@gmail.com.&nbs
#540 Turn the tables on TCL as Manny gets interviewed on this show by Weston Zimmerman
SynkedUP's Weston Zimmerman interviews Manny for his The Cost of Doing Business podcast. Weston asks Manny some direct construction questions about how he got started and how he handled things through his construction career. Try out SynkedUP's budgeting tools for free today at SynkedUP.com. Get a budgeting consultation with a SynkedUP expert looking over your shoulder to help you optimize your company's budget for profit. For free! If you love what you see, you can use the TCL di
#539 Living in and renovating an old home with young apprentice Brayden Churchill
Brayden shares what it’s like being a carpentry apprentice, maintaining historical looks on heritage buildings, dealing with unforeseen issues, and old vs new building practices. We also discuss facing unfamiliar tasks, the dirty trades stigma, preparing an exit plan, and trade school changes on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Brayden Churchill on Instagram @BraydenChurchill and on LinkedIn at Brayden Churchill. Also check out Covenant Construction at CovenantConstr
#538 Learning to love hard work with Eric Burke of Burke's Brick Work.
We talk about being a better mentor than our mentors, rebuilding old features, destructive freeze-thaw cycles, poor repairs, and the changing industry focus on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Burke's Brick Work at BurkesBrickWork.com and @Burkes_Brick_Work. Reach out at 289-200-8290 and BurkesBrickWork@gmail.com. Also check out Burkie's Turkeys on Facebook, helping people in need and going into it’s third year. Thank You Eric for starting something so amazing.
#537 Facing aging and end of life with Alberto Rocha, Selena Paglia, and Jonathan Cinelli.
Alberto Rocha, Selena Paglia, and Jonathan Cinelli tell us about the realities of growing old in hyper-independent North America and what we can do to make aging easier. We discuss sustaining abilities, pressure on the family, how to ask for help, and handling difficult end of life conversations on this episode of TCL - The New Tough. Find Selena Paglia at Opulife.ca and @OpuLife.ca. Reach out at 647-400-1074 and Selena@Opulife.ca. Find Alberto Rocha at PremierPhysiotherapy.com and @Pr
#536 Accidental success in woodworking with Mike Huber of @hubermachine.
Mike tells us about changing careers, competing with commercialism, making one-off items, and working in a constantly changing environment. We also discuss issues with trades, dangerous wood treatments, and creative custom ideas on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Mike @HuberMachine on Instagram. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something
#535 Building in uncertain fiscal times with Mike Fairles of Praxis Building Group
Mike and Manny talk about false information about pricing, company rebranding, and avoiding raising property tax. We also discuss transformable living spaces, modern mechanical rooms and growing awareness of healthy homes and habits on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Find Praxis Building Group at PraxisBuild.ca and @PraxisBuild. Reach out at 905-580-MIKE (6453) and Info@PraxisBuild.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416
#534 Reconnecting with lost family heritage with Devin Meireles, author of The Portuguese Immigrant.
We talk about losing connection with where the family is from, understanding the struggles of our ancestors, and recognizing the opportunity to learn family stories. Tune in for a conversation everyone can relate to on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Devin at LusoLoonie.ca and @LusoLoonie. Also check out his books, The Portuguese Immigrant and Finding Madeira on Amazon. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or email
#533 Woodworking & connecting kids to trades with Chris McKaskell, Heather Cummings & Sarah Blackler
Trade school programs and connecting kids to the trades with Chris McKaskell, Heather Cummings and Sarah Blackler of Covenant Construction and Millennium Construction and Design Inc. We talk about getting kids into design and craft, finding respectful workplaces, and getting doers and thinkers to understand each other. We also discuss residential vs commercial woodworking, involving clients in the process, and standing up for your value. Find out what scope creep is on this episode of The Constr
#532 Shaping the next generation of plumbers with Robert Schrader of Central Technical School.
Robert tells us about combatting parents' biases, preparing students for apprenticeship, connecting students to industry and learning new things from young trades. Shop class never ended on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out to Robert at Robert.Schrader@TDSB.on.ca. CMPX – Canada’s largest HVACR and plumbing tradeshow – is just around the corner. It’s happening in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, from March 20th to 22nd, 2024 an
#531 Developing thermally modified wood products for North Americans with Thermory USA
Kevin, Brendan and Jordan join us to talk about diverting from tropical hardwoods, introducing new products, and bringing a factory to North America. We also discuss saunas, grade standards, installation, innovation and dealing with change-resistant trades and imitators on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Thermory at ThermoryUSA.com and @ThermoryUSA. Reach out at Support@ThermoryUSA.com.Check out Russin at Russin.com and @RussinLumberCorp. Reach out at Sales@Russin.com.And
#530 CCE Live to YouTube Innovative Strategies in Masonry Construction Business Tyler & Eddie TMC Masonry
Tyler Cabral and Eduardo Brenes from TMC Masonry to explore their innovative approaches and experiences in the masonry construction industry. From brand recommendations to modifying machinery, Tyler and Eduardo share valuable insights into their strategies for success. The conversation kicks off with a discussion on brand recommendations and the importance of choosing the right tools and materials for masonry projects. Tyler and Eduardo delve into their experiences with modifying machinery
#529 CCE Live to YouTube Concrete Foundations with Innovative Techniques with Ryan & Scott from DGR
@dgrconcreteforming Scott Chambers and Ryan Godin from DGR Concrete Forming to explore their innovative approach to concrete construction and the use of Insulated Concrete Forms (ICF). Join us as we delve into their unique insights and experiences in revolutionizing the industry. Scott and Ryan kick off the discussion by introducing the concept of nonstick boots and the importance of finding the right fit for the team. They share their journey of transitioning from traditional concrete form
#528 CCE Live to YouTube Building a People-First Culture in the Industry with Dan & Josh Hi-Tech Concrete Cutting
We sit down with Josh Ruiters and Dan St. Onge from Hi-Tech Concrete Cutting to explore their innovative approach to building a people-first culture in the construction industry. Join us as we delve into their strategies for maintaining a skilled workforce, reducing turnover, and creating a workplace where employees can thrive. Josh and Dan kick off the discussion by sharing their insights into adopting an employee-centric approach in a union environment. They emphasize the importance of of
#527 CCE Live to YouTube Concrete Pumping with CanCrete and Pump Operating with Scott Sutherland
The dynamic world of concrete pumping with special guests Scott Sutherland and Eric Dunker from CanCrete. Join us as we explore their innovative approach to concrete pumping, engaging the next generation, and fostering a safer and more efficient industry. Canadian Concrete Pumping on YouTubeInfo@CanCrete.ca on IG @cancrete_equipment Scott and Eric kick off the conversation by sharing their experiences at the Concrete Pump Rodeo and trade shows, highlighting the excitement and cam
#526 CCE Live to YouTube Concrete Grinding with HTG North America with Guillermo Rincones
Check out HTG North America at HTGNorthAmerica.com and @HTGNorthAmericaReach out at 514-531-1729 and Info@HTGNorthAmerica.com. Also check them out Feb 14-15 at the Canadian Concrete Expo Hall 3 Booth 3201. Guillermo from HTG North America is back, where we delve into the innovative world of concrete grinding. Join us as we explore the latest advancements in equipment, trade show experiences, and the future of concrete grinding technology. Guillermo shares insights i
#525 CCE Live to YouTube Mastering Waterproofing with Aqua Stop and Antonio back on the show
@aqua.stopAquastopwaterproof.gmail.com We dive into the world of waterproofing with our special guest Antonio from Aqua Stop. Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs of ensuring watertight basements and structures, and learn valuable lessons from years of experience in the industry. As spring approaches, Antonio shares insights into the common problems that arise during this season and the importance of proactive waterproofing solutions. He emphasizes the yearly lessons learn
#524 CCE Live to YouTube Revolutionizing Measurement Tools with Plott Inc with Matt and Pierre
We welcome special guests Matt Culrera and Pierre Gerosa from Plott Inc, a company at the forefront of innovation in measurement tools for the construction industry. Join us as we explore their groundbreaking products and how they're transforming the way we measure and design on the job site. Matt and Pierre kick off the conversation by introducing Plott Inc's revolutionary measuring wheel, a tool designed to address common pain points encountered on job sites. They delve into the developme
#523 CCE Live to YouTube CCE - Canadian Concrete Expo Recap with Stu and Jon again on the show
Check out CCE at CanadianConcreteExpo.com to find all the details and sign up.We're thrilled to have Stu and Jon join us for an exclusive recap of the Canadian Concrete Expo (CCE). Get ready as we dive into the highlights, challenges, and unique experiences of this year's expo. Stu and Jon, seasoned veterans of the construction industry, provide invaluable insights into the CCE, starting with a wrap-up of day one. They share firsthand accounts of the stressful yet exhilarating set
#522 CCE Live to YouTube Tech Adoption in Construction with Nick and Agostino from Revelate
Check them out at Revalate.com, @revalate.inc on Instagram, and Revalate Inc. on Facebook and LinkedIn. Reach out at Info@Revalate.com.Come meet them at the Canadian Concrete Expo (CCE) on Feb 14-15, 2024.https://form.typeform.com/to/Yj9u2rgt Link to get a discount.We're joined by Nick and Agostino from Revelate, a pioneering platform aimed at revolutionizing technology adoption in the construction industry. Join us as we delve into the challenges and opportunities of embracing te
#521 CCE Live to YouTube Streamlining Construction Subcontracting Corey Shelson Ian Haase from Appello
We're joined by Corey Shelson and Ian Haase from Appello, creators of a groundbreaking program aimed at revolutionizing subcontractor management. Join us as we delve into the innovative features of Appello and its potential to reshape the construction landscape. Corey and Ian bring a wealth of experience and insights to the table, representing Appello, a pioneering platform designed to streamline subcontractor operations. Throughout the episode, they shed light on the pressing challenges fa
#520 CCE Live to YouTube Innovating Waterproofing: A Conversation with Kevin Negle and Vince Chiu of Elastochem
Check out Elastochem at Elastochem.com and @Elastochem. Reach out at 1 877-787-2436 and Info@Elastochem.com.We delve into the realm of innovation and waterproofing solutions with our esteemed guests, Kevin Negle and Vince Chiu from Elastochem. Join us as we explore the evolution of waterproofing technologies and the challenges of introducing innovation in a traditionally change-resistant industry. Kevin and Vince bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the table, repres
#519 CCE Live to YouTube Unveiling the Urban Landscape: Insights from Edward Skira of Urban Toronto
Welcome to "The Construction Life," where we unravel the intricacies of urban development with our esteemed guest, Edward Skira, founder of Urban Toronto. Join us as we delve into the dynamic world of urban planning and architecture, exploring the evolution of Southern Ontario's urban landscape. Edward Skira brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, having dedicated years to tracking developments across the region through Urban Toronto. Throughout the episode, Edward provide
#518 CCE Live to YouTube Revolutionizing Construction Efficiency with Arda Ozum from Bolt Rail
We dive deep into the innovative solutions shaping the construction industry. Today, we are joined by Arda Ozum, representing Bolt Rail, a trailblazing company at the forefront of revolutionizing construction efficiency. Arda Ozum, a key figure at Bolt Rail, shares insights into the company's journey towards international expansion, highlighting their mission to bridge efficiency deficits prevalent in construction practices. With Bolt Rail's groundbreaking approach, Arda discusses how they
#517 CCE Live to YouTube Digging into Phil: Revolutionizing the Dirt Marketplace with Bryan and Joey
Join us for an exclusive live episode of CCE (Construction Conversations and Education) on YouTube, where we uncover the groundbreaking innovations of Phil, the revolutionary app reshaping the dirt marketplace. Hosted by Bryan, and featuring special guest Joey De Athe from Soil Cycle Environmental, this episode promises to unveil the transformative potential of Phil.As we go live from the #517 CCE channel, Bryan and Joey from Soil Cycle Environmental take center stage to explore the profound imp
#516 CCE Live to YouTube Certified Concrete Pump Operator CCPO
Ammar and Sara are here to shed a lot of light on CCPO.For more information, visit BCCSA at BCCSA.ca and CCPO at CCPO.ca, or contact them at 1-877-860-3675 and on IG @bccsabesafe Don't forget to visit their booth (Booth 1879, Hall 1) at the Canadian Concrete Expo and attend their session on Wednesday, February 14th, at 1:30 pm in Room B, where you can learn about registering for the Certified Concrete Pump Operator (CCPO) program. Use VIP code CCE564 for complimentary access to the show.&nb
#515 Enter the world of concrete cutting with Hi-Tech. With Dan St. Onge, Travis, Scott and Scott.
The team join us to talk about wire cutting, core drilling and the ins and outs of running an unofficial trade company. We discuss never working alone, letting young trades progress, equipment maintenance, reducing hard manual labour, and dealing with slurry and silica. Tune in to hear about some interesting jobs on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Hi-Tech Concrete Cutting at HiTechCutting.ca and @HiTechConcreteCutting. Reach out at 905-838-2020 and Info@HiTechCutting.ca.&
#514 Building in harsh Yukon winters with Ryan Buchanan of Buchanan Carpentry
Ryan tells us about being flown across the country, spending months working in the dark, and not being treated with empathy. We also discuss learning to price, building too fast, inspections, good and bad tools and real TV build mentors on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Buchanan Carpentry at GetBuchanan.com and @BuchananCarpentry. Reach out at Ryan@GetBuchanan.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing h
#513 Elevating your concrete grinding game with HTG North America
Jonathan Laforest and Guillermo Rincones tell us about surface prep, shaving concrete, machine sizes, hard vs soft concrete, and electrical draw. We discuss the value of a good vacuum, creating a dust-free environment, ensuring buyers are comfortable with their tools, and remote-controlled machines on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out HTG North America at HTGNorthAmerica.com and @HTGNorthAmericaReach out at 514-531-1729 and Info@HTGNorthAmerica.com. Also che
#512 Let's talk solutions for creating change with The New Tough. Jonathan, Angelo, Gianluca & Coralee Beatty
An open talk about barriers to getting help, where the macho mentality comes from and what incentives there are for industry leaders to change things. We are the builders of change in the industry; tune in to learn how to listen and ask the right questions. Dolce far niente – or the sweetness of doing nothingFind Jonathan Cinelli at JonathanCinelli.com and @JonathanCinelli on Instagram. Reach out over email at JC@JonathanCinelli.com 416-717-4139.Find Ange
#511 16 years & just getting started with TMC Masonry LTD. Listen & learn from Tyler Cabral & Eddie Brenes
Tyler Cabral and Eddie Brenes join us to talk about creating content in an attention-based world, the value of showcasing company culture, ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed, and challenging the younger generation's idea of blue-collar work. Tune in for tips and tricks from these enthusiastic masons on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out TMC Masonry LTD. at TMCMasonry.ca and @TMC.Masonry. Reach out at 519-716-1486 and TMCMasonryLTD@gmail.com. Sta
#510 Building better than code using innovative products with Elastochem
Rocky and Joel join us to talk about under-slab foam insulation, technical support, exterior open-cell foam, and spray-application waterproofing membranes. We also discuss passive survivability, U and R value, radon soil gas mitigation systems, challenges with code implementation, and intensive training on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Elastochem at Elastochem.com and @Elastochem. Reach out at 1 877-787-2436 and Info@Elastochem.com.Be sure to check out Elastochem at CCE
#509 Setting a national standard for safety with Mike and Ammar of BCCSA
The British Columbia Construction Safety Alliance (BCCSA) has a wealth of valuable insights to share. They are here to discuss promoting safety within the industry, making safety practices easily accessible, addressing safety concerns with changes, and regulating concrete pump operations. Join us on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast to learn how BCCSA is making significant safety improvements across Canada. For more information, visit BCCSA at BCCSA.ca and CCPO at CCPO.ca, or co
#508 Longer days and health benefits with Patrick Snow of Strictly Skylights
We discuss how daylight improves your mental health and why skylights are so expensive but well worth the cost of the unit and a proper installation. He tells us about installation, rain sensors, security, and the dangers of DIY on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Strictly Skylights Canada on Google. Reach out at 905-981-5488 and StrictlySkylights@yahoo.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at mann
#507 Your life is worth more than your paycheck. John Savoia of RSG International talks about safety
Breaking unsafe habits, and the impact of an on-site fatality. He breaks down the collaborative effort of safety in construction and how to teach safety in a way that sticks. Stand up for your safety with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find John at John Savoia on LinkedIn and check out RSG International at RSGInt.com.https://payhip.com/PraesidiumSafety for training and use promo code - TCL15 to get 15% off ConnecteamAs constructors we know safety is crucial at all times! But,
#506 The future of labour and tech in the industry with Electrician Nico Labbe
We talk about losing apprentices, poor work quality, people not caring about their health, and the lack of long-term thinking in builders. We also discuss opportunities in the trades, making residential spaces from unused office spaces, mentorship, and help for people who want to start in the trades on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Nico at @NicoLabbe_ on Instagram. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or ema
#505 Cars and heat pump controversy with Orest Omeliukh of Blackrock HVAC
We talk about the truth about rebates, why the government is against wood fireplaces, Toronto's lacking energy infrastructure, and building HVAC systems that save energy in existing homes. We're waging a war against bulkheads and defying customer vehicle expectations on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Blackrock HVAC at BRHVAC.ca and @BRHVAC. Reach out at ask@BRHVAC.ca.Also check out FilterLand.ca for a convenient filter replacement subscription service. Stay connecte
#504 Facing the fear of paperwork with Elizaveta Taylor of Beyond Books Solutions
Elizaveta teaches us about tracking financials, setting up programs, finding the right bookkeeper, taking advantage of opportunities, planning, dealing with losses, and focusing on growth. Hear how she's turned small companies into success stories on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Find Elizaveta Taylor at Beyondbookssolutions.com @ConstructionAccountant on Instagram, Elizaveta Taylor on LinkedIn and Beyond Book Solutions on YouTube. Stay connected with The Constru
#503 Connecting students with employers through a new trade college with Dan Guest of Trade Smart College
Dan tells us about solving the industry's biggest challenge and dealing with productive conflict as he established Trades Smart College. He walks us through the program and linking forward-thinking employers with young people educated in personal development, apprenticeship success, being a good employee, and future opportunities in the trade. We're making change on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check Trade Smart College out at TradeSmartCollege.com and @TradeSmartCollege.&
#502 Everyone told them to leave the trades. Rami and Sam from Blue Sky Property Services
Rami and Sam talk about starting a business in high school, learning as they go, and buying a bigger company against all odds. We discuss why they got into the trades instead of following the rest of their generation on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Blue Sky Property Services at BlueSkyPropertyServices.ca. Reach out at 289-799-9979 and Info@BlueSkyPropertyServices.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him
#501 Big players of Canadian Concrete Expo talk about the future of the industry
In the studio with Carl of White Cap Canada, Stuart of CCE, Kimberly of Procore Technolgies, and Eric of CanCrete, we discuss how tech is changing construction, combatting the labour shortage, what's new at CCE and the importance of bringing in students. For all that and more, tune in to this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out CCE at CanadianConcreteExpo.com to find all the details and sign up.Check out Procore Technologies at Procore.com and @ProcoreTech. Visit them at booth num
#500th show extravaganza. 25 great plumbers, 25 great questions, 25 great answers, The Guests take Manny’s seat.
This is a show you're not going to want to miss. 500th episode plumbing networking event hosted by Manny @tcl_theconstructionlife and Dahl Valve and we are having a blast!! The only construction podcast to reach 500 shows and for good reason. Cheers to 500 more shows and great conversations about the construction industry and the people that love what they do. Such an awesome event to be part of!! List of guests on the show this time around. @dahlvalveman@dahlvalve @paperboy.plumber @samthep
#499 Changing life paths Canada to Barbados with Evghenii Dombrovschi of Upper Level Finishes and Wealth Genius.
Evghenii walks us through his winding career path, learning sales from going door to door, running a business to support his family, working hard and breaking legs all to end up leaving it behind to move to Barbados. Hear how this tradesperson is managing the big move on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Evghenii at @upperlevelfinishes and reach out at Upperlevelfinishes@gmail.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emaili
#498 Building a strong brand and business with Or Segev of Patch Dudes.
Or tells us about learning from failure, jumping on opportunity, working on SEO, establishing step-by-step systems, creating a good client experience, and using social media well. Tune in to hear how this smart business plans to grow on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Patch Dudes at PatchDudes.com and @Patch.Dudes. Reach out at 647-549-0299 and OrSegev@PatchDudes.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at man
#497 Eating like a wild animal and working as hard in the trades with Jordan Jobling the Carnivore Tradie.
We talk about fasting, cleansing, whole food diets, cold plunges, finding healthy meat sources, and fighting the medical business. We're changing the diet of the tradesperson on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Jordan on Instagram @CarnivoreTradie. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@theconstructionlife.com to sch
#496 Healthy smart homes for life-improvement with Andrew Valyear of Uplynk Smart Home.
Andrew talks about using tech to benefit a healthy life, from giving you extra minutes to spend with family, to syncing your lights with your circadian rhythm. He also tells us about tech failsafes, deterring thieves, speakers, home theatres, multipurpose rooms, TV systems, and bringing in home automation too late in a build on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Uplynk at Uplynk.ca and @UplynkSmartHome. Reach out at 289-240-0600 and Andrew@Uplynk.caRules, compliance, regulat
#495 From trades to sales and back with Josh Ruiters from Hi-Tech Concrete Cutting.
Josh tells us the tricks he learned from corporate sales and why he left to sell concrete cutting jobs. We talk about cool jobs, x-raying buildings, and keeping employees in an employee's market. We end discussing changes we can make to get more people into the industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Hi-Tech Concrete Cutting at https://www.hitechconcretecutting.com/ and @HiTechConcreteCutting. Reach out at 647-335-6511 and Josh@HiTechCutting.ca.Any business, especial
#494 Getting through the darkness of entrepreneurship with Tom Moffat and Brandon Love
Listen to the hosts of The Invested Entrepreneur Podcast, discuss financial literacy and how it is so low in Canada, they educate us on growing our finances, from investing out of province to dealing with losses to leaving Canada. Learn how you can avoid running out of money on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out The Invested Entrepreneur Podcast and @Invested.Entrepreneur. Reach out at 647-773-2656 and Experts@NorthshoreGroup.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life P
#493 The next generation of lawn irrigation with Brandon Happeney of HydroGreen Irrigation Inc.
Brandon tells us about installing heads in high-traffic areas, dealing with damage during spring maintenance, calculating for even precipitation rate, and installing sensors, wifi control and early warning systems. We also talk about sponsoring employee training, learning from employees, and supporting the team on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out HydroGreen Irrigation Inc. at HydroGreen.ca and @HydroGreen.ca. Reach out at 705-716-8316 and Office@HydroGreen.ca. Stay conne
#492 Getting a true 90° from prefabricated drywall with Andre and Steve of Groove Industries
Andre and Steve walk us through their blind boxes, C-caps, returns, hat details, and so much more. They tell us how prefabricated drywall saves time and money, minimizes risk and waste, and reduces the health hazard of dust. Tune in and see the benefits of innovation in the construction industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Groove Industries at GrooveIND.com and @GrooveIND. Reach out at Orders@GrooveIND.com, Steve@GrooveIND.com and AndreJ@GrooveIND.com, and at 416-
#491 From personal trainer to handyman with Luke Durward of Heavy Duty Homes.
We talk about progress photos, trade teachers, safety, company culture, and signs of a good builder. We wrap up sharing cool projects and weird discoveries on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Luke @VaughanHandyman and reach out at Luke@HeavyDutyHomes.com.Check out Heavy Duty Homes at HeavyDutyHomes.com and @HeavyDutyHomesInc. Reach out to Phil at Heavy@HeavyDutyHomes.com.Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at m
#490 Discovering what's possible with food with chef Imrun Texeira of Wanderlust
Imrun tells us about finding hidden gem restaurants in the GTA, the essentials of a kitchen, the value of fresh herbs and spices, sacrificing taste for presentation, and food in media. Stick around for some great GTA restaurant recommendations on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Imrun Texeira at ImrunTexeira.ca and @Imrun.Texeira. Reach out at TexeiraImrun@gmail.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at man
#489 Colour complications and client preconceptions with Scott Fitch of Fitch Painting
Scott tells us about building his career to fit the life he wants, managing people, combatting loneliness, and paint formula preferences. Tune in for a delightfully positive show on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Fitch Painting at Fitch Painting on Facebook and @FitchPainting. Reach out at 705-627-4453 and Scott@FitchPainting.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you
#488 Healthy coping mechanisms and uniting the industry on TNT with Jonathan, Angelo and Gianluca
We open up the show with shocking mental health statistics and discuss approaching people with curiosity, finding what's important to you, brain dumping, problematic masculine norms, and the line between executives and labourers. Manny came to play devil's advocate on this episode of The New Tough. On November 30th, 2023 – 9-8-8 – a suicide hotline launched across Canada. The $158.4-million project is funded and overseen by the public health agency and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental
#487 Filling potholes with something that lasts with Matt Kinson of Da-Lee Pavement Products.
Matt tells us about permanent cold asphalt, from the effect of the aggregate to the difference from cold patch. We talk about selling through demonstration, the history of Da-Lee and the world of difference between sales in southern and northern Ontario. Tune in to hear all about road maintenance on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Da-Lee Pavement Products at DaLeeGroup.com and @Da-Lee_Pavement_Products_ on Instagram. Reach out at 905-975-0556 and Matt@DaleeGroup.com.As co
#486 Escaping “Onterrible” with Luke Straus. Luke tells us about selling his business and moving to Alberta to start again
Escaping Onterrible with Luke Straus. Luke tells us about selling his business and moving to Alberta to start again. He walks us through the process of starting a business in Alberta after years of work in Ontario, from workforce mindsets to tax savings to making connections. Tune in to hear why so many people from Ontario are leaving on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out West X Earthworks at @WestXEarthworx. Reach out at 780-690-5863 and Luke@WestXInc.ca. Stay connected w
#485 Smart storage solutions with Patrick Johnson of Your Closet
Smart storage solutions with Patrick Johnson of Your Closet. We discuss maximizing space and creating function to fit any area. We go over long hang, double hang, doors, built-ins, hampers, show towers, mirrors, benches, and lighting. Tune in to hear Manny test Patrick on building in difficult spaces on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Your Closet at YourCloset.ca and @YourCloset.ca. Reach out at 647-478-8908 and Info@yourCloset.ca. Stay connected with The Construction L
#484 Getting greener in urban environments with Rhoda DeJonge of Vineland and Ivan Fredette of Safetree
Getting greener in urban environments with Rhoda DeJonge and Ivan Fredette. We talk about how trees benefit public health, the challenges of urban tree planting, the lack of funding for urban forests, and how replanting wastes money. We also discuss native plants, issues with sidewalks, and soil restoration. Find out why today's lumber sucks on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Vineland Research and Innovation at VinelandResearch.com and @VinelandResearch. Reach out at Inf
#483 Dealing with resistance from the city with Stefan Budisavljevic of Trem Reno
Dealing with resistance from the city with Stefan Budisavljevic of Trem Reno. Stefen joins us to share the challenges he's facing building a garden suite in Toronto. We discuss the common sense solution and how to convince the city. Learn the power of "Is this an unreasonable request?" on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Trem Reno at TremReno.ca and @Tremendous.Renovations. Reach out at Stefan@TremReno.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Man
#482 Selling creative hardscaping with Rocco D'Angelo and Nick Soukhaniouk of NRX Landscaping Inc
Selling creative hardscaping with Rocco D'Angelo and Nick Soukhaniouk of NRX Landscaping Inc. They tell us about creative designs, German technology, getting rid of water, landscape lighting, European hardscape inspiration, and dealing with challenges. Hear how they throw in free elements so they can post them on social media on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out NRX Landscaping Inc. at NRXLandscaping.com and @NRX_Landscaping. Reach out at 647-622-1486 and Info@NRXLandscapi
#481 Prepared to do anything for money, Prajwal Shah tells us his story of making a life in Canada
Prepared to do anything for money, Prajwal Shah tells us his story of making a life in Canada. He shares working for cash, being mistreated by employers, gaining confidence in English, learning management and marketing, and starting his own business. Hear the lessons of a new immigrant on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Niagara Landscaping, Lawn-care and Cleaning at TheNLLC.ca and @TheNLLC.ca on Instagram. Reach out at 705-465-8787 and Info@TheNLLC.ca.Any business, especi
#480 Don't get screwed over by injury, John Durbano is back to teach us how to take time off without going broke
Don't get screwed over by injury, John Durbano is back to teach us how to take time off without going broke. John tells us about disability insurance vs WSIB vs critical illness, covering children, restructuring debt, finding lost money and estate planning. We also discuss why Canada is financially unattractive, the importance of teaching financial literacy, and the benefits of holding companies. Tune in for tips to protect yourself and accelerate your money on this episode of The Construction L
#479 Trades and real estate duo Andrew and Toula Prete join us to talk about community, work and parenting
Trades and real estate duo Andrew and Toula Prete join us to talk about community, work and parenting. We talk about tips for affording a home, parenting in this economy, how to start as a young trade, make-me-smile moments, homegrown and homemade food, and so much more on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Sold by Toula @SoldbyToula on Instagram. Reach out at 416-879-6861 and Toula.Realtor@gmail.com.Check out @Carpenter_on_Site on Instagram. Reach out at 647-207-7738 and C
#478 Quality cottage country design with Alex Foreshew of Foreshew Design Associates
Quality cottage country design with Alex Foreshew of Foreshew Design Associates. Alex joins us to talk about seasonal declarations, functional design, risk-averse Canadians, multi-building properties, timeless designs and dealing with bedrock. He also walks us through his client process, favoured materials, innovative processes and the origins of the "cottage smell" on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Foreshew Design Associates at ForeshewDA.com and @Foreshaw_DA on Instag
#477 What's causing the labour shortage? With David Mill of Scelta & Keith Young of Young Electrical Services
What's causing the labour shortage? We discuss that and more with David Mill of Scelta and Keith Young of Young Electrical Services. From the blue-collar stigma to apprenticeship roadblocks to lacking construction influencers, we figure out how to combat the factors pushing people out of the industry, with mentorship, market analysis, and making construction cool on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out David at Scelta.app and @Scelta.app on Instagram. Reach out over email at
#476 Simplifying finances with Lauren Furtado of Unconventional CFO Services
Simplifying finances with Lauren Furtado of Unconventional CFO Services. She teaches us what to look for in an accountant, what to bring to an accountant, what opportunities small business owners are missing, and what financial numbers they should be paying attention to. She also tells us about creating efficiencies, CRA payment plans, write-off limits and moving companies overseas. This episode of The Construction Life Podcast ends on a personal note about mental health, addiction, and suicide.
#475 From running a $100,000 company as a student to building the biggest window cleaning company in Ontario
From running a $100,000 company as a student to building the biggest window cleaning company in Ontario, Dan Givon of Shine Windows and The Deck People shares his story. He tells us about working 120-hour weeks in his first year of university, pioneering the window cleaning model, and moving to Toronto to focus on business. We discuss door knocking, reoccurring clients, franchising, deck stains and gutter guards on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Shine Windows and The Dec
#474 Lot’s of Tiling talk with Frank and Stephen from Frank's Flooring
Tiling talk with Frank and Stephen from Frank's Flooring. They join us to talk about backsplashes, waterproofing, condo bathrooms, natural stone, tiling ceilings, drains, benches and more. Tune in and hear about new and fading tiling products and trends on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Frank's Flooring at Franksflooring.ca and @franksflooring on Instagram.Reach out to Frank over the phone at 416-722-2507 or over email at Frank@Franksflooring.ca.Reach out to Stephen ov
#400 Mikey's back for his first video show! Uncensored, high-energy conversation about anything and everything!
Mikey's back for his first video show! Get ready for this uncensored, high-energy conversation about anything and everything! Tune in for new trades, shit clients, taking deposits, handling losses, getting old, bad drivers, coloring hair, visiting Turkey, and so much more on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. And stay till the end for an exciting reveal! Check out Mike DiMartino on IG @Mike_Dimartino Check out Dahl Valve at DahlValve.com and @DahlValveMan on Instagram. Reach out over
#473 Young masons putting quality on track builds, Antonio Trakas and Kevin Wu of A.T. Brick and Stone
Young masons putting quality on track builds, Antonio Trakas and Kevin Wu of A.T. Brick and Stone join us to talk about changing the landscape of a dying trade. They tell us about egotistical masons, nonsense pricing, brick shortages, and misunderstanding the work attached to the wage. We also discuss creating a good teaching culture and paying employees based on value on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out A.T. Brick and Stone @AT_BrickandStone on Instagram. Reach out over
#472 Mastering the young man's game of snow removal, Stefano Narducci shares his business practices
Mastering the young man's game of snow removal, Stefano Narducci joins us to share his business practices. He tells us about capitalizing on opportunity, establishing a foolproof business model, marketing on social media, and running the show each season. Tune in to hear from a smart young entrepreneur on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Northern Snow at NorthernSnow.ca and @NorthernSnow.Inc on Instagram. Reach out over the phone at 705-992-8222 and over email at Stefano@
#471 Talking woodworking with The English Carpenter. Paul Collins discusses projects, cedar vs composite, & more
Talking woodworking with The English Carpenter. Paul Collins joins us to discuss interesting projects, cedar vs composite, employee communication, working in the city and sports and construction. Join us for a high-energy carpentry and framing show on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out The English Carpenter at TheEnglishCarpenter.com and @The_English_Carpenter on Instagram. Reach out over the phone at 647-269-3140 and over email at Info@TheEnglishCarpenter.Any business, espe
#470 Learn cooperation in business without losing individuality from Michael Devellano his new book “Form Your Own Pack”
Learn cooperation in business without losing individuality from Michael Devellano. He tells us about Japan's business model of cooperation and teaches how forming business packs can amplify creativity, bring opportunity, and protect against failure. We also discuss smarter networking, using tech to our advantage, Canadian business culture, and solving the labour shortage by making trades cool on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Michael Devellano's books on Amazon, Automat
#469 Scelta is making custom apps for tradespeople struggling with digital implementation by David Mill
This company is making custom apps for tradespeople struggling with digital implementation. David Mill of Scelta joins us with Keith Young of Young Electrical Services to talk about how Scelta is saving tradespeople money, managing their time, building their confidence, and helping them look good to clients. David walks us through what they do to combat the pain points of your company and match your paper processes with familiar digital ones. Learn how you can raise your company's efficiency on
#468 Homeless to Entrepreneur, Chris Carpenter of Carpenter and Co. talks carpentry, addiction & helping people
From sleeping on the street to running a successful business, Chris Carpenter of Carpenter and Co. joins us to talk about finish carpentry and helping people get a hold of their lives. He tells us about figuring out challenging projects, trusting your employees, getting into mentorship and writing a book. Hear about a lost man's success story on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Carpenter and Co at CarpenterCo.ca and @Carpenterand_Co on Instagram. Reach out over the phone
#467 Flooded basements and fragile gas lines, Antonio Pereira of AquaStop Waterproofing talk digging in dirt
Flooded basements and fragile gas lines, Antonio Pereira of AquaStop Waterproofing is here to talk about all that and more. We discuss protecting foundations, preparing for what can go wrong, getting through the winter, bandaid fixes, poor installs and issues with sump pumps on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out AquaStop Waterproofing at AquaStopWaterproof.com and @Aqua.Stop on Instagram. Reach out over the phone at 647-631-4144 and over email at AquaStopWaterproof@gmail.co
#466 These employees are pampered, & there's value in that. Aaron, Jay, Meg & Dakota of Expert Plumbing & Drains
These employees are pampered, and there's value in that. Aaron, Jay, Meg and Dakota from Expert Plumbing and Drains join us to talk about investing in your employees and the back end. They walk us through what they do to maximize efficiency and make Expert a good place to work, from matching union benefits to providing life training. We also discuss paper trails, press versus solder, client-bought parts, and the fear of firing clients on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out E
#465 Firing all his employees was the best thing he did for his health. Bob Baker of Baker Plumbing speaks the truth
Firing all his employees was the best thing he did for his health. Bob Baker of Baker Plumbing joins us to talk about why he downsized and why getting off the tools isn't for everyone. We discuss escaping the chase, dealing with hate, getting wisdom from bad decisions, and doing plumbing magic. Hear how Bob learned to love his job again on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Baker Plumbing at Baker.ca and @BakerPLBG on Instagram. Reach out over the phone at 403-800-3007 and o
#464 Teacher to Tradesperson, Michael Ariganello, AMJ Custom Renovations talks the quick road to success
From teacher to tradesperson, Michael Ariganello from AMJ Custom Renovations joins us to talk about issues with the quick road to success mindset. He tells us about teaching new trades that want to jump right into management and how DIY is causing people to underestimate construction. We also discuss offering free PPE with tool purchases, putting a catwalk in the rafters, installing elevators four aging in place, and dealing with lead generation platforms on this episode of The Construction Life
#463 TNT - We all have issues, let's talk about them. Joined by Angelo Suntres and Gianluca Pascale
We all have issues, let's talk about it. Joined by Angelo Suntres and Gianluca Pascale, we talk about preventing suicide and recognizing the signs of crisis in our fellow trades. We need to change the way we think about vulnerability and it starts with you. Checking in with each other is The New Tough.Our guests on this episode of TNTAngelo Suntres of the Human Side of Construction. Find him @HumanSideofConstruction on Instagram and reach out over email at Angelo@HSoC.onehttps://www.linkedin.com
#462 The Good, Bad and Ugly parts of the construction industry with Tony Gatti of Gatti Brothers
Tony Gatti of Gatti Brothers joins us to talk about the worst parts of the industry. We discuss missing trades, government failures, greenwashing, fly-by-night trades, and clients with too much information. Tune in for tips and tricks from an established builder on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast Check out Gatti Brothers at GattiBrothers.com and @Gatti_Brothers on Instagram. Reach out over email at Tony@GattiBrothers.com. Maximize Your Construction Success with Connecteam! In the w
#461 An apprenticeship roundtable talking about resources and support for employers to train new trades
Join us for this apprenticeship roundtable where we're talking about resources and support for employers to train new trades. We talk about the challenge of maintaining the business while training, the barriers to entry, and the mindset of the upcoming generation. Ashley, Daniel, Julia, and Aaron teach us ways of managing these obstacles and getting help for your business while helping the industry. Check out the Career Launcher Apprenticeships Program at CareerLauncher.ca/Apprenticeships and re
#460 You're spending too much money and time hauling dirt but the 'Phil' app will change that.
The Phil app founders; Mike, Matt, and Bryan join us to talk about their free material marketplace and tracking software that eliminates the need to "know a guy" to move earth. Marrying real construction experience with the tech world, Phil saves money, time and the environment, while being constantly updated with new features, all for a fraction of the cost of doing it by hand. Tune in to be as shocked as Manny about an app that truly cares about the industry on this episode of The Construction
#459 Making building science beautiful with Greg Labbé of the Toronto Metropolitan University
Greg Labbé from TMU joins us to talk about making building science beautiful. He tells us about the system part of the air barrier, the benefits of triple pane windows, the value of having blower door equipment, and how to convince clients. We also discuss European building, passive homes in the prairies, dealing with old buildings, and future-proofing. Learn to make your home feel better on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out at GLabbe@TorontoMU.ca Supercharge Your Construc
#458 You're wearing the wrong boots on site but Cliff Spooner of Red Wing Shoes London Ontario can help
You're wearing the wrong boots on site but Cliff Spooner of Red Wing Shoes can help. Cliff tells us about wide sizes, arch support and the joy of insoles, as well as the traditional leather working processes used to make Red Wing Shoes. Don't sacrifice your body to save a buck, get boots that will protect your feet and and keep you comfortable with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Cliff and Red Wing Shoes at Stores.RedWingShoes.com/london-on or @RWSSLondon on Instagram. R
#457 We're talking about mindset and overwork on and off the jobsite with another episode of TNT
On this episode of TNT, we're talking about mindset and overwork with Jonathan Cinelli, and Agostino Mastro and Nick Bartella of Revalate. We discuss using work as a distraction, fear of vulnerability, toxic stress, saying no, time audits and clearing the noise. Try something new; take an hour a week for yourself and see the benefits now. Our guests on this episode of TNT Find Jonathan Cinelli at JonathanCinelli.com and @JonathanCinelli on Instagram. Reach out over email at JC@JonathanCinelli.co
#456 High quality wood siding with Grant Cowx of Fraser Wooding Siding – Colours, Installs and everything in between
Grant Cowx of Fraser Wood Siding joins us to talk about quality wood siding. He walks us through the variety of profiles, trims, and colours they offer as well as their systems. Lisa Roussel from manufacturing patches in to share how they manage their different products, and what goes in to creating custom profiles. We also discuss limiting problems, warranty and environmental efforts on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Fraser Wood Siding at FraserWoodSiding.com and on In
#455 Trees are not constructions enemy & Ivan Fredette of Safe Tree educates us and clients – Truth about Trees
Ivan Fredette of Safe Tree joins us to talk about caring for trees. He shares insider knowledge companies don't want you to know about why trees die, the truth regarding roots, and what you can do to keep your outdoor spaces flourishing. We're getting our heads out of our grass on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Safe Tree at SafeTree.ca and on Instagram at @SafeTreeltd. Reach out over the phone at 289-650-1775 or send them an email at Info@SafeTree.ca. Stay connected wi
#454 Full-service designs and renovations with Marco Manazzone and Sonya Gilmour of Zzone Homes Inc.
Marco Manazzone and Sonya Gilmour of Zzone Homes Inc. join us to talk about fill service renovations. We discuss designer pay processes, realism in reno shows, the pros and cons of open concept, colour temperature and paint, and lots of design opinions. Check out a great designer and GC duo on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Zzone Homes at ZzoneHomes.ca and @ZzoneHomesInc on Instagram. Reach out over the phone at 905-906-9152 or over email to Marco at Marco@ZzoneHomes.ca
#453 Labour Shortage & what Alex Thibault of Alt Labour Solutions has come up with to keep trades working
Alex Thibault of Alt Labour Solutions joins us to talk about combatting the labour shortage and keeping trades working. Also joined by David Anderson of Nexus Mechanical and Kevin Marques of Clear Space, they tell us about limiting the time that trades are at home by subbing out workers to jobsites that need them. We discuss working with union rules, making up for missing replacements for retirees, helping employees and employers, and combatting the fear of sharing. Check out a new way to deal w
#452 Renovate your home with passion and let social media come along for the ride with @JoshAllen_Builds
Josh Allen of @JoshAllen_Builds joins us to talk about gaining a following by renovating his home. He tells us about changing his mindset to construction, loving learning, using scraps, smart building details, and trying new things. Catch his contagious tenacity on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Josh on Instagram @JoshAllen_Builds and reach out over email at Josh.A.Allen513@gmail.com. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or
#451 A 17-year-old with a crew of 9, Charlie Kerrigan of V.I.L Landscaping joins us and share his business
A 17-year-old with a crew of 9, Charlie Kerrigan of V.I.L Landscaping joins us. He tells us about starting off with a bike trailer, being driven to get to the next step, focusing on sales, and avoiding ignorance debt. We discuss challenges in landscaping, establishing systems, driving and plans on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out V.I.L Landscaping at VILLandscaping.net and on Instagram @VIL_Landscaping. Reach out over the phone at 365-228-1010 and over email at Charlie@VI
#450 One-stop shop construction with Scott, Sarra, Kelsey and Patrick of CCS Engineering and Construction
Scott, Sarra, Kelsey and Patrick of CCS Engineering and Construction join us to talk about one-stop shop construction. They tell us about the tight-knit CCS dynamic, collaborations between designer, engineer, and builder, creating efficient dental offices, connecting additions, ADUs and new trends. Tune in to the CCS family on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out CCS Engineering and Construction at CCSEngCon.com and on Instagram @CCSEngCon. Reach out over the phone at 226-499
#449 From immigrant site super to owning the company, Zeki Mert of Van Horne Construction Limited shares his story
Zeki Mert of Van Horne Construction Limited joins us to talk about taking over a big construction company as an immigrant. He shares his story of coming to Canada knowing nothing and working and learning to start businesses before taking over Van Horne. He tells us about being the first in the office and the last to leave, visiting the job site, striving for quality, the future of Van Horne, and his view on money. We discuss the lack of work ethic of Canadians, the value of taking risks, having
#448 Building for clients and dealing with regulations in cottage country with Jesse and Brendan of Northmen Builders
Jesse and Brendan of Northmen Builders join us to talk about clients and regulations in cottage country. We discuss presenting new ideas to clients, researching details for future builds, poor quality materials, the pros and cons of digital permitting, and hiding mechanical in timber framing. Stay to the end to find out their unfortunate almost-name on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check out Northmen Builders on their website NorthmenBuilders.ca and on Instagram at @Northmen.Buil
#447 TCL Roundtable! Tile setters talking training new trades, dealing with materials and trends, and the tiling standards
This podcast episode has been sponsored by Klassen Bronze Limited, –Authorize Canadian and US Wholesale Distributor of Peygran Heavy-Duty, High-Performance Tile Leveling Systems and Installation Tools.Choosing to buy outstanding and beautiful tiles also requires buying an exceptional tile leveling system. For installation-free hassles, and an exceptional leveled finish, choose Peygran, imitated, never duplicated.Welcome to another TCL Roundtable! This time we've got tilers in talking about train
#446 Building condos in Toronto the right way with Stuart Wilson of Alterra
Stuart Wilson of Alterra joins us to talk about building condos in Toronto. He tells us about what processes and challenges are involved in changing the city skyline, from scoping out potential areas to making choices that respect neighbours. We discuss maintaining a structure's heritage, hoarding, balancing cost with architectural beauty, and trying to give back to the city with affordable housing. We end off with Alterra's future buildings on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Check
#445 Jim Caruk joins us on our first episode of In With The Old to talk about connecting with clients
Jim Caruk joins us on our first episode of In With The Old to talk about connecting with clients. He tells us about the opportunities he's gained through his relationships and why younger trades miss out by using technology. We also discuss backcharging, generational differences, social media's influence, and dealing with local enforcement. Tune in to gain great insight from Jim's decades of experience. The iGUIDE Camera system has revolutionized how CCS Engineering manages projects, shaving da
#444 Rob Johnston of iGUIDE, Carl and Patrick of CCS talk about saving time on documentation & measurements
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we are joined by Rob Johnston from Planitar, the makers of iGUIDE and his customers Carl and Patrick from CCS Engineering. We discuss how the iGUIDE Camera system has revolutionized how CCS Engineering manages projects, shaving days off project timelines. From eliminating manual measurements and photos to virtual walkthroughs of projects at every stage, learn how iGUIDE will save you time and money on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast
#443 Charlie Fitzgibbon of Edinburgh Construction joins us to talk about Scottish building
Charlie Fitzgibbon of Edinburgh Construction joins us to talk about Scottish building. He tells us about vetting employees, lack of communication from local authorities, UK trends, sustainability efforts, alternative ways of adding value, and the healthiness of a home. Tune in for a challenging building story on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Edinburgh Construction at EdinburghConstruction.com and on Instagram @EdinburghConstruction. Reach out over the phone at 0131 202
#442 Welcome to another TNT show with Jonathan. This time we're talking about ego in construction
Welcome to another TNT show with Jonathan. This time we're talking about ego. The effects of ego, what makes ego, when to have ego, and how to deal with ego. We're blowing up all that and more with this TNT! Check out Jonathan's book on ego, Kick Your Ego Aside and Put People First by Jonathan A Cinelli, on Amazon. Find Jonathan at JonathanCinelli.com and on Instagram @JonathanCinelli. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@th
#441 Aren Bahia joins us to talk about changing mindsets and doing good to feel good to be a better human
Aren Bahia joins us to talk about changing mindsets and doing good to feel good. He tells us his story of leaving the drug trade to pursue true happiness and learning accountability from rock bottom. He teaches us the importance of hard times, being proud of how you handle things, how to escape golden handcuffs and when you need a full reset. Aren tells us exactly how to break down our goals into practical steps on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Aren Bahia at ArenBahia.
#440 Pete, Erica and Cicily of Zepps Gear join us to talk about making safety comfortable
Pete, Erica and Cicily of Zepps Gear join us to talk about making safety comfortable. Pete tells us about the accident that sparked the idea and the innovation that came from it. They break down testing the jacket, protecting the harness, getting the product to the people, integrating additional features, and getting on Dragon's Den. We believe that safety shouldn't be expensive on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppli
#439 Peyton Maddox of Mud Mixer joins us to talk about efficient concrete mixing
Peyton Maddox of Mud Mixer joins us to talk about efficient concrete mixing. He tells us about the Mud Mixer and how it can automate concrete mixing so you can focus on the job. Save your body with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppliers, reconnect with industry contacts, get hands on with the latest equipment, and take advantage of exclusive show offers. Level up your concrete game by attending Conference Session, Li
#438 Felipe of Versa Homes and Josh of Engage Building Products talk about accepting change and adapting for success
Felipe of Versa Homes and Josh of Engage Building Products join us to talk about accepting change and adapting for success. They share key information about making use of technology, vetting employees, sticking to your word, going after the right clients, and the value of hiring a good accountant. Felipe teaches us not to take sweeping for granted on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. This show is brought to you by Connecteamhttps://connecteam.cc/3DvnSVh Check out Connecteam at www.c
#437 Harp Khukh of Corestone Law joins us to talk about construction law and many issues associated
Harp Khukh of Corestone Law joins us to talk about construction law. He tells us about where trades go wrong, the importance of establishing clear communication quickly, preventative law, and how to avoid phonebook contracts. Learn how to protect yourself while avoiding large law fees on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. This show is brought to you by Connecteam Rules, compliance, regulations - these are all super critical things! We use tools that require high safety standards, we
#436 Elie of The Plumbing Expert joins us to talk about trade issues with Ontario and future planning
Elie of The Plumbing Expert joins us to talk about trade issues with Ontario. We discuss license limits, trying to make money in the city, where our taxes go, and understanding the value of mistakes. We also discuss homeowners being ignorant about house maintenance and luxury bathroom costs on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. This show is brought to you by Connecteam Any business, especially construction, requires us to know what’s going on at all times. But, how can we be in the h
#435 Kyle Venne of Kaven Homes joins us to talk about avoiding client issues by getting into spec builds
Kyle Venne of Kaven Homes joins us to talk about avoiding client issues by getting into spec builds. He tells us how he avoided the worst of the pandemic, why he has company meetings on Fridays, and why he documents all his conversations. We also discuss opportunities outside of Ontario, clients misunderstanding green, and the issue with construction loans on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppliers, reconnect with ind
#434 Jonathan Running of Running Cables joins us to talk about the forgotten trade of network cabling
Jonathan Running of Running Cables joins us to talk about the forgotten trade of network cabling. He tells us about future-proofing buildings, misunderstandings about fibre, health effects of signals, what blocks wifi, and the lack of regulation in the data comm industry. We end off a discussion about business time management that everyone can learn from on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppliers, reconnect with indus
#433 Justin Sherry of Justin Sherry Design Studio joins us to talk about designing homes and lowering expectations
Justin Sherry of Justin Sherry Design Studio joins us to talk about designing homes and lowering expectations. We discuss a variety of housing elements, maintenance-free homes, upset with sustainability, pre-fab future, and dealing with college of Google clients. Find out how pizzazz is ruining design on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. This show is brought to you by Connecteam Any business, especially construction, requires us to know what’s going on at all times. But, how can we
#432 Nick and Agostino of Revalate join us to talk about shifting the mindset of your business
Nick and Agostino of Revalate join us to talk about shifting the mindset of your business. They tell us about the importance of aligning expectations and creating cohesion in a business, and they teach us how to accomplish it. Take the time to remember why you started in the construction industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Revalate? Check them out at Revalate.com, @revalate.inc on Instagram, and Revalate Inc. on Facebook and LinkedIn. Reach out at Info@Revala
#431 TCL Podcast's 10th Roundtable! tradeswoman's experience with the plumbing industry
Welcome to The Construction Life Podcast's 10th Roundtable! We're talking about the tradeswoman's experience with the plumbing industry. Joined by Laura, Megan, Marie-Anne, and Danielle, tune in to hear about education suggestions, hazard protection, and promoting the trade on social media. Check out Dahl Valve at DahlValve.com and @DahlValveMan on Instagram. Reach out over email at sales@DahlValve.com and customerservice@DahlValve.com. Check out our guests! Find Laura @MyPlumbingAdventure on In
#430 Stuart and Jon of the Canadian Concrete Expo join us to talk about running a concrete show
Stuart and Jon of the Canadian Concrete Expo join us to talk about running a concrete show. They tell us about changes in the attendees, the polarizing opinion of students, dealing with bad weather and the pandemic, and the education the show provides. We go behind the scenes of running one of the most fun parts of the industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppliers, reconnect with industry contacts, get hands on
#429 Fred Garceau joins us again to talk about upgrading your carpentry with stereotomy
Canadian Concrete Expo is the ideal environment to source new suppliers, reconnect with industry contacts, get hands on with the latest equipment, and take advantage of exclusive show offers. Level up your concrete game by attending Conference Session, Live Demos and Stage Presentations that allow you the chance to experience the latest tech, equipment, and industry advances. With over 350 national and international exhibitors and 8000 attendees on 300,000 sqft of show floor, CCE is the place to
#428 Jonathan Cinelli joins us again to talk about disconnecting from digital and being present
Jonathan Cinelli joins us again to talk about disconnecting from digital and being present. We discuss social cleanses and establishing boundaries with your notifications. We share stories of connecting with fellow tradespeople and reaching out when in dark times. This episode of The Construction Life reminds us that no one regrets focusing on family. Listen up, If you love top line products and are interested in a dealer opportunity, you're gonna want to hear this! I recently installed a Box
#427 Chase Gallagher of CMG Landscaping joins us to talk about business and landscaping
Chase Gallagher of CMG Landscaping joins us to talk about business and landscaping. He tells us about starting his business at 12 and learning as he grew. We also talk about modern versus natural stone aesthetics, lawn advice, and the world of social media and podcasting on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Connecteam What I’ve learned over the past years is that when we’re using technology it highly improves our everyday operations both in our personal life and in our business - es
#426 Saskia, & the Expresso Time Crew join us to talk about falling into construction and the Belgium ways
This show is brought to you by Blaklader Blaklader Workwear is a leading manufacturer of functional, durable and sustainable workwear. Since 1959 They’ve been combining innovative, quality fabrics with highly skilled manufacturing to produce garments that are DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR WORK IN THE TRADES. Their clothes are the perfect combination of comfort, durability and style to help you look more professional and do your job more efficiently. Visit Blaklader.com/en/tcl or Blaklader.ca/en/tcl to
#425 Realtor Stephanie De Souza joins us to talk about the future of interest rates and residential living
Realtor Stephanie De Souza joins us to talk about the future of interest rates and residential living. We discuss the current state of the market, Canada's conservative lending, the disappearance of single-income living, people lacking patience and foresight, and the root of all evil, entitlement. Stephanie offers advice for first-time buyers and a positive but realistic outlook on the next 5 years on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Stephanie De Souza and Associates?
#424 David and Karrie Fraser of Bunkie Life join us to talk about business growth and the future of homes
David and Karrie Fraser of Bunkie Life join us to talk about business growth and the future of home square-footage. They tell us about their DIY Lego kit bunkie that lets homeowners experience the joy of building something by hand. We discuss customization, doing business in Canada, Dragon's Den and idea thieves. Stand up to the local government mafia with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Reach out to Bunkie Life to join their list of reputable contractors and get ready to enjoy a
#423 Ryan Ralph of Pliteq joins us to talk about sound mitigation products, no such thing as soundproof
Ryan Ralph of Pliteq joins us to talk about sound mitigation products, no such thing as soundproof. He tells us about recycling tires, problematic Canadian regulations, and mass misinformation. He walks us through sound transfer and the many benefits of Pliteq products. The data speaks for itself on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Pliteq? Check out Pliteq.com and @Pliteq on Instagram. Reach out to Ryan over email at R2@pliteq.com and over the phone at 416-471-3091.Re
#422 Rob Canizares of Maple Overhead Garage Doors joins us to talk garage doors and security
Rob Canizares of Maple Overhead Garage Doors joins us to talk garage doors and security. He tells us about trends, glass, custom doors, powder-coated tracks, and the dreaded beige keypad. We also discuss maintenance, undercutting in the garage door industry, and balancing convenience with security on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Maple Overhead Garage Doors? Check out their website MapleGarageDoors.com and their Instagram @MapleDoors. Reach out over the phone at 90
#421 Shawn Lowry from Ontario Bollards joins us to talk about preventing vehicle thefts & construction opportunities
Listen up, If you love top line products and are interested in a dealer opportunity, you're gonna want to hear this! I recently installed a Box Gobbler wall insert from MB Sentinel on the garage wall adjacent to my front porch, to make a secure locker for my package deliveries. Let me tell you the user experience is pure freedom. Also, I can now make returns right from my home now and don’t have to be there! Even knowing what it was suppose to do from the get go, It still made me smile when I ex
#420 Catriona of Dahl Valve joins us to talk about Canadian manufacturing
Catriona of Dahl Valve joins us to talk about Canadian manufacturing. We discuss Dahl's mom-and-pop mentality, remembering the end user, skilled manufacturing, robotics, and the value of a career in manufacturing. Learn about the human component of manufacturing on the episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Dahl Valve? Check them out at their website, DahlValve.com, on Instagram @DahlValve and @DahlValveMan, or reach out to Catriona at .Reach out to Thomas over Instagram @Dahl
#419 Nicky Cullen joins us to talk about dealing with stress, anxiety and breath work
This show is brought to you by Connecteam.As constructors we know safety is crucial at all times!But, having team members not follow, or even worse know, safety protocols is just one thing that can cause us stress and anxiety in the workplace.So how can we deal better with this and all the other challenges we face daily - such as having to call the entire team just to make sure jobs get done in a safe manner, or update team members -one by one- that there is a training they need to complete rega
#418 Brian Sexsmith of Let Brian Do It joins us to talk about adding value to the industry
Brian Sexsmith of Let Brian Do It joins us to talk about adding value to the industry. We discuss smart business expenses, the value of cost analysis, resources for tradespeople, and the importance of shadowing before big projects. Remember to be honest about your abilities with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Let Brian Do It? Check them out at LetBrianDoIt.ca and Let Brian Do It on Facebook. Reach out over the phone at 416-528-7747 or over email at BrianSexsmith@gma
#417 Seaf Alshannaq from Eternal Green Landscaping talks about landscaping and ambitious business plans
Are you looking to connect with key decision-makers and influencers within Toronto’s built environment? Join more than 10,000 attendees, including Deloitte, RioCan, Broccolini, Ledcor, EllisDon, Multipliex, Colliers and more, at The Buildings Show, taking place November 30 – December 1. Across three days, The Buildings Show features countless networking opportunities like Hard Hat Happy Hour, educational sessions covering the topics that matter most to you – how to run an effective business, hig
#416 Tom Reber of The Contractor Fight joins us to talk about owning your crap and fixing the money
Are you looking to connect with key decision-makers and influencers within Toronto’s built environment? Join more than 10,000 attendees, including Deloitte, RioCan, Broccolini, Ledcor, EllisDon, Multipliex, Colliers and more, at The Buildings Show, taking place November 30 – December 1. Across three days, The Buildings Show features countless networking opportunities like Hard Hat Happy Hour, educational sessions covering the topics that matter most to you – how to run an effective business, hig
#415 Wealth Advisor John Durbano joins us to talk about being your own bank and financial balance
Wealth Advisor John Durbano joins us to talk about doubling your money.He tells us about the biggest money mistakes, what to look for in investments, reducing taxes, protecting against creditors, and using your corporations to your benefit. Learn his fool-proof 50/30/20 rule and start using the systems of the 1% on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out John Durbano at JohnDurbano.com and @John.w.mcguire on Instagram.Be sure to give his podcast a listen at Wealth Eazy on Spotif
#414 Welcome to The New Tough, a new series on TCL, challenging the typical tough, by acknowledging the person behind the trade
Welcome to The New Tough, the brand new shows on The Construction Life Podcast, challenging the typical tough, masculine tradesperson by acknowledging the person behind the trade. Today we talk about dealing with stress, learning to let go, and leading by example.The takeaway of the day is: gym time is better than jail time. Co Hosted by Jonathan at JonathanCinelli.com, and @JonathanCinelli on Instagram. Reach out over email at JC@JonathanCinelli.com and over the phone at 416-717-4139. Be sure t
#413 TCL Podcast's 9th Roundtable! We're talking electrical, apprentices and Workwear from Blaklader
This show is brought to you by Blakader Blaklader Workwear is a leading manufacturer of functional, durable and sustainable workwear. Since 1959 They’ve been combining innovative, quality fabrics with highly skilled manufacturing to produce garments that are DESIGNED AND BUILT FOR WORK IN THE TRADES. Their clothes are the perfect combination of comfort, durability and style to help you look more professional and do your job more efficiently. Visit Blaklader.com/en/tcl or Blaklader.ca/en/tcl to l
#412 TCL Podcast's 8th Roundtable! We're talking with General Contractors again about clients and industry issues.
Check out Work N Wear at worknwear.ca and @worknwear1975 on Instagram. This week only, stop by all 3 Work N Wear locations near you and enjoy (the sale, 50% off Snickers or something?) Customer Appreciation Week September 20-25, 2023 Toronto, Whitby, Markham 3 locations of savings. Welcome to The Construction Life Podcast's 8th Roundtable! We're talking clients and industry issues. Joined by Jon of MacNeil Construction, Justin of Justin Sherry Design Studio, Jon of 11 North Construction, and Mat
#411 Life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about the purpose of your life
Life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about the purpose of life. She teaches us how to find our purpose and avoid falling into the trap of pleasing others. We discuss finding our passions, the dangers of complacency, and inspiring others through authenticity. Learn how to work towards your purpose on this final part of Mandy's series on The Construction Life Podcast. For more from Mandy, visit her website at MandyJRoss.com or follow her on social media at @MandyJRoss. You can also reach o
#410 TCL Podcast's 7th Roundtable! Talking windows and installation brough to you by Panes Windows
Seeking top-tier windows? Look no further. Panes Window Manufacturing is the ultimate choice for custom builders, contractors, and homeowners. Visit www.panes.com now to experience the pinnacle of quality and customization. Get your instant custom quote today. Elevate excellence with us. Plus, enjoy nationwide shipping across Canada and the US. David and Phill of Panes Windows Manufacturing, Jason of Keystone Contractors, and Joe of JR Windows and Doors, tune in to learn the ins and outs of wind
#409 Dan Fridmar of Fridmar Professional Corporation joins us to talk about construction law
This show is brought to you by MB SentinalListen up, If you love top line products and are interested in a dealer opportunity, you're gonna want to hear this! I recently installed a Box Gobbler wall insert from MB Sentinel on the garage wall adjacent to my front porch, to make a secure locker for my package deliveries. Let me tell you the user experience is pure freedom. Also, I can now make returns right from my home now and don’t have to be there! Even knowing what it was suppose to do fr
#408 Rob Rosati from RA Rosati Drywall Inc. joins us to talk about drywall safety and flying planes
Rob Rosati from RA Rosati Drywall Inc. joins us to talk about drywall safety and flying planes. We discuss cleanliness, the easiest and hardest trades, breathing and hearing health, getting a pilot license, planes and motorcycles, ice baths, and exercising. Remember your health with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in RA Rosati Drywall Inc.? Check them out at RosatiDrywall.com and @RosatiDrywall on Instagram, or reach out at 647-218-1168 and over email at RosatiDrywall@h
#407 Welcome to TCL Podcast's 6th Roundtable! We're talking General Contractor tips, tricks, and community
This show is brought to you by Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier.This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business
#406 Seif El-Sahly of Newfore Inc. joins us to talk about renovating in Hamilton, Garage Dwellings and HGTV
This show is brought to you by Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier.This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business
#405 Bryant Isaacs of Target Combined Services shares advice for tradespeople looking to go on their own
This show is brought to you by Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier.This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business
#404 Emerson of Bredin Brothers joins us to talk about growing a young business a million dollars in sales
This show is brought to you by Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier.This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business
#403 Life & Love Coach Giovanni Talks relationships at different ages and societal expectations
Life and Love Coach Giovanni joins us to talk about relationships at different ages and societal expectations. He tells us about the 6 human needs, why people cheat, deciding your non-negotiables, and why you shouldn't marry in your 20s. We also discuss nonverbal communication, sleeping with too many people, the power of friends and family, and waking hypnosis. Learn to be yourself on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Giovanni? Check out his website, InspireYourselfLC.
#402 Welcome to TCL Podcast's 5th Roundtable! We're talking spray foam insulation with Elastochem
Welcome to The Construction Life Podcast's 5th Roundtable! We're talking spray foam insulation and maintenance. Brought to you by @elastochem Joined by Muhammad and Emma from Foamit, Simone from Bask Pro Inc., and Geoff from Reitzel Insulation, tune in to learn the highs and lows of spray foaming. Check out Elastochem at www.elastochem.com or call them at 1 877 787-2436 Check out our guests!Simone Marsden of Bask Pro Inc. at @Bask.pro.inc on Instagram, over email at Sam@BaskInsulation.com, or ov
#401 Jonathan Cinelli joins us to talk about putting people first and checking in
Jonathan Cinelli joins us to talk about putting people first and checking in. He tells us about the problem with dismissing people's pain, the opportunity presented by "I'm done" moments, and the power of creating psychological safety. We also discuss recognizing the people who support you, communicating without armouring up, and how to have tough conversations. Learn to foster a great environment on and off the job site on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Jonathan Ci
#399 The Brother Bears Painting joins us to talk about new business and painting
Calvin and Cam Kane from Brother Bears Painting is our guests today on The Construction Life Podcast. Join us as we talk about starting a new business and the art of painting. They shares their experiences of trying out various trades, working with family, and navigating the challenges of the first year of business. We also discuss Marrakesh paint, accent walls, paint colors, and "the painters uniform." Tune in to this episode and learn from a young tradesperson making his way in the industry.To
#398 Mo from MS7 Construction joins us to talk about kitchens and making connections
Mo from MS7 Construction joins us to talk about kitchens and making connections. He tells us about being motivated by failure, business priority lists, high-end kitchens, home automation, professional installations, and issues with suppliers. We also share our opinions on current kitchen trends and warn tradespeople of the dangers of filling out permits incorrectly. Learn about making your home home-y on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in MS7 Construction? Check them ou
#397 Mac, Zach, Garrett and Taylor from Sustainment Construction join us to discuss cottage country building
Mac, Zach, Garrett and Taylor from Sustainment Construction join us to discuss cottage country building. They tell us about their planning process, dealing with change orders, communicating with clients, Zip System issues, OYAP experiences and competing with big businesses. We also discuss challenges with designers, making relationships with manufacturers, and finding employees with online platforms. Hear about the wonders and horrors of working in scenic places on this episode of The Constructi
#396 TCL RoundTable – Generators and Electrical Infrastructure / Kohler and Effect Electric Ltd
This Roundtable is brought to you by Kohler Home Generators and Effect Electric LTD.Introducing the new air cooled 26RCA! The quietest, the most powerful, and exceptionally durable generator with 109 amps max power on liquid propane. Equipped with the first to market low oil shutoff switch. Kohler is also the first to offer custom colour options allowing you to blend in or stand out with bolder colours and camouflage options.They provide high-quality power. Protecting your electronics from the
#395 Coach Salayeh Self joins us to talk about living in the present and loving yourself
This show is brough to you by Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier.This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business m
#394 Mark Nesbitt from Nesbitt Training joins us to talk about leadership and working with people
Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier. This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business meets compliance - just to n
#393 TCL RoundTable - ICF and Concrete Forming 4 Concrete Trades talking the industry
IsoMatrixx Located in Southwestern Ontario, IsoMatrixx Building Products provides quality insulated concrete forming products and support to customers across Ontario as well as internationally. Since 2001, IsoMatrixx Building Products has been a leading supplier of ICF and accompanying products to Ontario's construction industry. specializing in Amvic ICF products as well as all of the necessary accompanying materials such as Insuldeck, Fab-form’s fast foot products, MST’s fiberglass rebar, brac
#392 Chris Magwood from Builders for Climate Action joins us to talk about natural material buildings and carbon footprint
Connecteam Using digital platforms in our industry - especially among the young folks - is becoming more common - because it improves efficiency, prevents mistakes and overall makes our lives as contractors easier. This is why we’ve partnered with Connecteam, a platform built to manage, train and communicate with your team! Connecteam’s desktop version gives managers a live overview of the business - to track work hours, create schedules, and make sure the business meets compliance - just to n
#391 Ron Nussbaum of Builder Coms joins us to talk about communication in construction
Ron Nussbaum of Builder Coms joins us to talk about communication in construction. He tells us about the lack of tech for improving communication, tech companies making the industry jaded, ending the secretive nature of the industry, and getting feedback from two tradespeople. We also share tips for young contractors getting into the industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Builder Coms? Check them out on their website BuilderComs.com, or on Instagram @BuilderComs
#390 Ian Cheadle of Dayton Hardwood Co. joins us to talk about integrity and hardwood
Ian Cheadle of Dayton Hardwood Co. joins us to talk about integrity and hardwood. We discuss the benefits of working alone, poor industry standards, responsible building, and educating clients. He also tells us about resanding floors, hardwood maintenance, proper use of engineered wood and prefinished flooring, and making a floor that lasts. Carve your own path with this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Dayton Hardwood Co? Check out their website at DaytonHardwoodCo.com, t
#389 Chris from Hardwork Canada joins us to discuss orchestrated division and government corruption
Chris joins us to discuss orchestrated division and government corruption. We discuss Twitter, free speech, manipulation, bank collapses, internet blackouts, government-created division, and danger in cities. The government doesn't want you to watch this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast by texting Manny at 416 433-5737 or emailing him at manny@theconstructionlife.com. If you have something to contribute to the podcast, email info@thecons
#388 Marc from Craigmhor Construction joins us to talk about homeownership and WSIB
Marc from Craigmhor Construction joins us to talk about homeownership and WSIB. We discuss the stagnant labour force, the importance of cost analysis, the inevitability of renting, inflation, mortgages, and why the industry would be better off without WSIB. We remind you to be careful what you post on social media on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Marc? Check out Craigmhor Construction on Instagram @Craigmhor_Construction. Zensurance Imagine this: you're working on
#387 Simon Pozneris from Canadian Choice Windows & Doors joins us to talk about windows and doors
Simon Pozneris from Canadian Choice Windows & Doors joins us to talk about windows and doors. We discuss modern trends, COVID wait times, the benefits of triple glass, installation options, and how big doors and windows can be. He also shares tips about fogging windows and glass maintenance on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Canadian Choice Windows & Doors? Check out their website at WindowsCanada.com or on Instagram @Canadian_Choice, or send Simon an email a
#386 High School Co-Op Advisor Jodi Churney joins us to talk about pathways for kids interested in trades
High School Co-Op Advisor Jodi Churney joins us to talk about pathways for kids interested in trades. We discuss using the benefits of starting in a trade, the trades that are attractive to students, how social media makes work look fun, OYAP and helping kids translate hobby experience into marketable skills. Jodi also gives tradespeople tips about being open-minded to kids and gives kids tips on what to focus on after high school. Remember to reach out to your local co-op advisor with this epis
#385 Gavin Coyle of Coyle Group joins us to talk about the business of safety
Gavin Coyle of Coyle Group joins us to talk about the business of safety. We discuss making safety accessible from any price point, issues starting from procurement, respect between tradespeople and safety officials, and safety rehearsals. Remember the power of collaboration on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Coyle Group? Check out their website at Coyle-Group.com or Gavin-Coyle.com, on Instagram @GavinCoyle10, or on YouTube at The Safety CEO, or reach out via email
#384 Roofer Girl Samanntha De Coteau joins us to talk about social media empowerment and the Summit Sisters
You don’t get any more Canadian than hockey, double-doubles, and extreme climates. At Ventilation Maximum, they know it all.Their roofing ventilation solutions are designed to withstand the variety of weather conditions found across our vast, beautiful country. From the stormy and heavy snowfalls of the East to the dry and damp conditions of the West, they’ve got you covered. Discover their diverse line of ventilation products designed to be as robust as Canadians. Combine that with their per
#383 Tim Sprague from Pound 4 Pound joins us to talk about framing and forming in high-end BC
FastFoot by Fab-Form With the madness of lumber over the last 3 years, dramatic costs and uneven ground, shit excavators can get away with murder. Just let Fastfoot by Fab-Form in or out on your screed boards. It acts as a capillary break, preventing moisture from getting into the home through the footing and it allows tradespeople to form any depth of footing with just 2x4's. Don’t forget about all time saved in just the simple act of moving forms around site, cutting, stripping and disposal.
#382 Life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about spirituality and manifestation
Life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about spirituality and manifestation. She teaches us how visualizing what we want can make us more open to opportunities to make it happen. We also discuss how to stop entertaining negative thoughts and ignore triggers that direct you away from your goals. Learn how to master your mind and your life on this fifth part of Mandy's series on The Construction Life Podcast. For more from Mandy, visit her website at MandyJRoss.com or follow her on social me
#381 Eric and Ronald of ERS Masonry join us to talk about training co-op students and the bricklaying business.
ZENSURANCE Hey general contractors, renovation experts, and construction professionals: Protecting your business should be a top priority. Your clients require you to have liability insurance as a condition of the contracts you sign. By having construction liability insurance, you not only fulfill those requirements but also demonstrate professionalism, reliability, and a commitment to your clients' protection. It's a win-win situation for your business. Construction liability insurance is vital
#380 Agnes and Leanne from NextGen Women join us to talk about creating the hub for making change in the industry
Agnes and Leanne from NextGen Women join us to talk about creating the hub for making change in the industry. They tell us about the steps NextGen Women is taking to create a mentorship program and resource library to help men and women in the industry. We discuss training for mentors, making accessible events, keeping the personal element in matching mentors and mentees, and bridging the gaps between generations on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Interested in NextGen Women? Hey g
#379 TCL RoundTable – Deck Builders - 3 Deck Builders Converse on the deck Industry and Beyond
Welcome to The Construction Life Roundtable. The season of deck use is upon us so we're picking the brains of deck builders. Find out about all things decks. Tradespeople and clients alike can learn a thing or two from these industry professionals. Check out Techno Metal Posts at technometalpost.com or on Instagram @technometalpost. Also, check out our Roundtable Guests:Find Adam of Royal Innovation at RoyalInnovation.ca or send them an email at Info@RoyalInnovation.ca.Find Scott of Sauve Constr
#378 Adrian Schwantz of CRC Contracting joins us to talk about bones to pick in the ICF industry
Adrian Schwantz of CRC Contracting joins us to talk about bones to pick in the ICF industry. He shares horror stories about uneducated and clueless tradespeople, arrogant trainers, and greedy suppliers. Remember you're only as good as your current job on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in CRC Contracting? Check them out on Instagram @C.R.C_Contracting. Hey general contractors, renovation experts, and construction professionals: Protecting your business should be a top p
#377 Chris Carrine from Blaklader joins us to talk about functional workwear
Chris Carrine from Blaklader joins us to talk about functional workwear. We break down the North American stigma against workwear and discuss combining durability and comfort, how good workwear can affect your health and increase efficiency. Listen in for maintenance tips, sneak peeks into new Blaklader lines, and general industry discussion on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Blaklader? Check them out at Blaklader.com or in Instagram @BlakladerNA, or get in touch wit
#376 Thomas of Dahl Valve Limited joins us to talk about the history of Dahl
Thomas of Dahl Valve Limited joins us to talk about the history of a Dahl. He tells us about how his father picked up a dying company and made it successful in Canada, and how he learned perseverance through it. He shows off historical Dahl products, sales pitches and order forms. Thomas shares Dahl's values, from what they mean by lifetime warranty to why they don't use automated customer service on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Check out Dahl Valve Limited at DahlValve.com or
#375 Darren Sloane of All Temperature Thermal Insulation joins us to talk about insulating mechanical components
Darren Sloane of All Temperature Thermal Insulation joins us to talk about insulating mechanical components. He shares insights into a lesser-known industry that increases human comfort and machine longevity. We discuss the difference insulation makes, shortcuts, tech and AI possibilities and industry opportunities on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in All Temperature Thermal Insulation? Check them out at AllTempInsulations.com, All Temperature Thermal Insulations on Fa
#374 Evan of Evan's Workshop joins us as a 15-year-old carpenter with 5 years in the business
Evan of Evan's Workshop joins us as a 15-year-old carpenter. Evan tells about starting a business at 10, being underestimated, working with exotics, epoxy pours, writing articles for magazines, and doing projects for charity. Check out this awesome kid on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Evan's Workshop? Check him out on his website EvansWorkshop.ca and on Instagram @Evans_Workshop, or send him an email at EvansWorkshop@icloud.com. Stay connected with The Constructio
#373 Relationship councillor Samantha Manovski joins us to talk about maintaining relationships and why people leave
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, relationship counselor Samantha Manovski joins us to discuss maintaining healthy relationships and reasons why people leave them. From offering presence to taking space, Samantha offers practical advice on how to connect intimately and when it's time to walk away. We delve into topics such as resentment, complacency, communication, healing broken hearts, and modern-day chivalry.For more relationship advice, check out WanderingLove.com.au and the
#372 Nina Deeb joins us to talk about corruption in government, housing bills being passed and the housing market
Join us in this eye-opening episode of The Construction Life Podcast as we welcome Nina Deeb, an expert in government corruption and housing matters. Nina sheds light on critical topics such as Tarion and the abuses within not-for-profit organizations. She discusses the implications of interest rate fines, the lack of accountability, conflicts of interest, and actions that hinder our access to rights. Through her insights, Nina emphasizes the importance of raising our voices against injustice.To
#371 TCL RoundTable – Plumbers - 4 Plumbing Professionals Converse on the Plumbing Industry and Beyond
Welcome to the inaugural episode of The Construction Life Roundtable, brought to you by Dahl Valves Limited. In this engaging discussion, we delve into the world of plumbing with industry experts. Gain invaluable wisdom on everything related to plumbing, building codes, decades of knowledge, and the ins and outs of running a successful business. From expansion and hiring to training and retirement, our diverse panel covers it all.Our roundtable sessions aim to foster a sense of community among l
#370 Ashley Van'tFoort of Colleges and Institutes Canada joins us to talk about how small to medium businesses can get up to $10,000 for hiring apprentices
Ashley Van'tFoort from Colleges and Institutes Canada joins us to talk about how small to medium businesses can receive up to $10,000 for hiring apprentices. On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, she provides valuable information about this opportunity, including the straightforward application process, provided training, and steps to take if the apprentice doesn't fit the business. We also discuss the challenges of apprenticeship stigma and low employee retention rates, as well as w
#369 Sarah Steele from Arriscraft-Canada Brick joins us to talk about stone, brick and promoting the masonry trade
Sarah Steele from Arriscraft-Canada Brick joins us on The Construction Life Podcast to talk about the latest trends and techniques in stone and brick masonry. She shares insights on the brick-making process, fade-resistant pigments, and how to maintain bricks for decades. We also discuss the labour shortage, where to find information on the industry, and the importance of promoting skilled trades. Tune in to learn more about this rewarding trade.Interested in Arriscraft-Canada Brick? Check out t
#368 Gavin MacRae of GJ MacRae Foundation Repair joins us to talk about taking care of your foundation
Gavin MacRae from GJ MacRae Foundation Repair discusses foundation care in this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. He shares insights into poor-quality foundations in the Greater Toronto Area, building practices in the 20th century, soil test databases, and the importance of hand digging. Gavin also reveals GJ MacRae's waterproofing technique. Discover how to minimize water damage to your foundation with Gavin's expert advice.To learn more about GJ MacRae Foundation Repair, visit their we
#367 Krish of Mahakaal Builders joins us to talk about succeeding in the construction industry as a new immigrant
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we chat with Krish from Mahakaal Builders about his experience succeeding in the construction industry as a new immigrant. Krish shares his story of how he entered the industry, started his business, and dealt with jealous ex-employers. We also discuss the challenges of working with frustrating clients, the importance of preparation, and the treatment of tradespeople in India.Don't miss out on valuable insights and advice from Krish as he shares his ex
#366 Jessie Balint-Szpak of Szpak Roofing joins us to talk about loving roofing
Tune in to The Construction Life Podcast as we sit down with Jessie Balint-Szpak of Szpak Roofing to talk about her love for roofing. Jessie shares her experience starting with cedar and breaking down stereotypes and vulgarity in the roofing industry. We also discuss her feature in the newspaper and her work on an all-women crew.Catch Jessie's contagious positivity as she shares her insights and passion for the roofing trade. If you're interested in learning more about Szpak Roofing, connect wit
#365 Larry La Gamba talks about the Georgetown Skilled Trades Mentorship Group and what he's doing to get kids into the skilled trades
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we welcome Larry La Gamba back to discuss the Georgetown Skilled Trades Mentorship Group and his efforts to inspire young people to pursue careers in the trades. Larry shares his insights on the challenges facing the skilled trades, including poor marketing and government failings, and emphasizes the importance of tradespeople taking an active role in promoting the trades to the younger generation.Discover the options available for kids to get involved
#364 Arda Ozum and Mel Jarecki from Boltrail join us to talk about the time-saving product to perfectly set anchor bolts every time
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we speak with Arda Ozum and Mel Jarecki from Boltrail about their innovative product that saves time and effort in setting anchor bolts perfectly every time. Arda shares the story behind the idea and how the product works, including the first prototypes ever made. We also dive into the patent process and how this Canadian product has been received in the international market.Discover a better way to price your projects and build more efficiently with B
#363 Dante White of Oppuous joins us to talk about tech with a human touch to help tradespeople save time
Dante White of Oppuous joins us to talk about tech with a human touch to help tradespeople save time. Dante tells us about making personalized tech packages, using technology to its fullest potential, AI applications in construction, and maintaining the human element. Giving tradespeople more time is the most important thing on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Oppuous? Check them out on their website Oppuous.com, or all over social media @Oppuous, or reach out to Dant
#362 Nick Hill and Dan Foch from The Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast talk about real estate opportunities for tradespeople
Nick Hill and Dan Foch from The Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast join us to talk about real estate opportunities for tradespeople. They give tradespeople advice about making multiple streams of income, how to invest with a cash income, opportunities in industrial properties, middle housing, venture take back and multiplexes. Learn how to make smart real estate investments on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in The Canadian Real Estate Investor Podcast? Check Nick o
#361 Anna Rossiter returns to talk to us about injustice in the construction industry Part II
Anna Rossiter returns to talk to us about injustice in the industry. We share horror stories of ignored injuries, planned collapses, negligent builders, misused farmland, and payed-off safety workers. Learn about the people who are speaking up on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Anna? Check her out all over social media at Answers with Anna. Stay connected with The Construction Life Podcast:Text Manny at 416 433-5737 or email him at manny@theconstructionlife.comIf yo
#360 Our first non-English podcast Mher Keoushkerian of Triple M Electric hosts The Construction Life in Armenian with Nerses from Big City Realty
Մհերը կը հարցնէ Ներսեսին հիմակվա եւ ապագայ ‘Րիլ ըսդէիդ՝ ի մասին, երբ գնել, Որտեղ գնել ապահով պահելու համար կարիքները Mher Asking Nerses in Armenian about current and future real estate market, investment strategies in real estate during recession, when to buy, some ideas for newcomers when to buy or what to buy (preconstruction or condo or a house), safe approach to not lose your life savings, how to play the long game rather than in and out. On IG @bigcityrealty info@bigcityreqalty.ca www.bigci
#359 The Best Damn Roofer Joshua Bigger in the studio to talk roofing, politics, convoy, freedom and more
Explicit Content on this show so if you are easily offended then don't bother listening to this show or any of our showsJoshua Bigger The Best Damn Roofer is here to speak his mind, Mr Freedom doesn't hold back nor do I want to make him. Joshua has a lot to say about construction, roofing, tradespeople, the next generation, woke culture, politics, convoy and so much more. Fasten your toolbelt on this one. Thank you brother for speaking the truth.Reach out to Joshua IG @best.damn.roofer Twitter @
#358 Brian Cooke of Aerobarrier Canada Inc. talks about air leakage and building cost-effective, comfortable homes
Brian Cooke, an expert from Aerobarrier Canada Inc., joins us on The Construction Life Podcast to discuss the importance of air sealing and creating cost-effective, comfortable homes. We explore the issue of air leakage, why it's not included in building codes, and how focusing on airtightness can benefit tradespeople. Brian shares insights on using pressure to seal unknown holes and the true cost of improving home energy efficiency. Discover how you can make your home more comfortable and effic
#357 Mathias Williams of Matt Beth Construction joins us to talk about working under pressure and teaching employees’ future skills
In this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, Mathias of Matt Beth Construction joins us to discuss specialized building rescues, working with ex-employees, commercial construction's pros and cons, and clients' recommended problem budgets. We also talk about the importance of teaching employees money management and having a low tolerance for nonsense. Listen to Mathias' insights on how to revolutionize commercial pay structures.Interested in Matt Beth Construction? Visit their website at Mat
#356 Pat Moore of the Professional School of Practical Stereotomy talks about the skill of 3D cutting and avoiding dependence on tools
Tune in to The Construction Life Podcast for an enlightening conversation with Pat Moore, founder of the Professional School of Practical Stereotomy. Pat shares his expertise in the ancient skill of stereotomy, including the art of 3D cutting and the importance of preserving cultural architecture. He also warns against overvaluing productivity and becoming too dependent on tools.Discover the fascinating world of stereotomy and see its amazing potential on this episode of the podcast.Interested i
#355 Dan Guest from Guest Plumbing and HVAC joins us to share some inspirational thinking to elevate your business
Join us for an inspiring episode of The Construction Life Podcast, where Dan Guest from Guest Plumbing and HVAC shares his positive insights on business growth. Dan talks about his personal journey through the owner-operator phase and offers valuable tips on connecting with green tradespeople. He also discusses the importance of learning from your data and how failure and fear can lead to growth. Don't miss out on Dan's infinite business model!Interested in learning more about Guest Plumbing and
#354 Joseph of JD Design and Build joins us to talk about tools and union experience
Joseph of JD Design and Build joins us to talk about tools and union experience. Joseph tells us how he vets clients and his construction bone to pick with greedy workers. We discuss working in the public sector, unfair layoffs, building to fail, batteries, tool brand appliances and much more on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in JD Design and Build? Check them out on their website, JDBuildingGroup.com, or their Instagram, @JDDesignandBuild, or send them an email at JDB
#353 Brittany Murphy of One Thing Marketing joins us to talk about marketing in the construction industry
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, Brittany Murphy from One Thing Marketing shares her insights on effective marketing strategies for the construction industry. She discusses the importance of proactive client outreach and offers tips on how to optimize your website, track client sources, gather testimonials, and manage negative reviews. Brittany emphasizes the significance of making clients feel comfortable and valued throughout their experience. Tune in to gain valuable marketin
#352 Chris Nawrot of Richardson Electrical Services talks about constant ESA changes and industrial & residential electrical
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we chat with Chris Nawrot, an expert from Richardson Electrical Services, about the latest changes from ESA and industrial and residential electrical works. Chris, who has extensive experience in drafting for mines before joining his dad in electrical, shares valuable insights on journeyman and master tests, arc vaults and strobe alarms, plug-in appliances, and the risks of homeowners doing their own electrical work. We also discuss low voltage issues
#351 Mental Health with life cheerleader Mandy Ross
Tune in to The Construction Life Podcast as we chat with Mandy Ross, a life cheerleader, about mental health and ways to take control of our mind. Mandy shares valuable insights on how to access free resources, aside from therapy, to improve our mental health. We also discuss the importance of sleep, the impact of food on mood, overcoming shame from vulnerability, and the benefits of connecting with nature. Don't miss out on this episode where you can learn how to take ownership of your health.T
#350 Jamal Hoges of AG Drywall and Finishing joins us to talk about American vs Canadian drywall
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we talk to Jamal Hoges, founder of AG Drywall and Finishing, about the differences between American and Canadian drywall. Jamal shares his journey of transitioning from photography to the trades, driven by his passion for the industry. We dive into the challenges faced by the drywall industry in the US, including a shortage of supplies, underpaid and rushed drywallers, and explore different materials, techniques, and tools used in the trade. We also di
#349 Larry La Gamba of Pool Buoy Leak Detection talks about mentoring elementary school kids and pool maintenance
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we speak with Larry La Gamba, founder of Pool Buoy Leak Detection, about his passion for mentoring elementary school kids and the importance of pool maintenance. Larry shares his personal story of being shamed by his family for pursuing a career in trades and his goal of helping kids get out of toxic environments by introducing them to the trades. He walks us through his expertise in pool liners, water chemistry, and the differences between sonic and u
#348 Shawn Ramsden of Brollys Dad Construction joins us to talk about drywall, podcasts, and liars in the industry
Tune in to The Construction Life Podcast as we chat with Shawn Ramsden, founder of Brollys Dad Construction, about his expertise in drywall installation, podcasting, and his take on honesty in the construction industry. We delve into topics such as level 5 drywall finishing, bucket and box mud techniques, innovative products, the value of teaching failure, and the difference between finite and infinite business plans. Wrapping up the show, we discuss the importance of taking care of your body i
#347 Greg Murphy of The Builder Project joins us to talk about getting kids into trades and building sustainably
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we speak with Greg Murphy, co-founder of The Builder Project, about how to encourage more kids to pursue a career in trades and the importance of building sustainably. Greg shares his insights on The Builder Project's initiatives to introduce trade skills to school students and the challenges they face in convincing clients to build for the future. We discuss the benefits of buying local, making passive building knowledge accessible, and the importance
#346 Moez Zaman of Barbudo Construction Inc. talks about young workers, track framers and mindsets
In this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we are joined by Moez Zaman, a construction expert from Barbudo Construction Inc. who shares his insights on young workers, track framers, and mindsets in the construction industry. We delve into the challenges of training inexperienced workers, the importance of working with integrity, and the differences in priorities between track framers and custom framers. We also discuss the benefits of learning to build from century homes and share some va
#345 Entrepreneur and motivational speaker Roland Cochrun joins us to talk about running a successful business
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we're joined by Roland Cochrun, an entrepreneur and motivational speaker who shares his insights on running a successful business. Roland talks about how to assess where your business is currently at, and provides steps to find motivation and drive. We discuss the importance of hiring leadership, building personal brands, overcoming failures, and optimizing employee workflows. Listen in to learn about Roland's journey building his businesses and
#344 Raff of Platinum Contractors joins us to talk about drywall and mouldings
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we chat with Raff of Platinum Contractors about the world of drywall and moulding. Raff shares his expertise on topics such as hand trowel versus box finish, creating drywall feature walls, and movie theatre soundproofing. He also discusses the prevalence of DIYers and the disappearing art of plaster crown moulding. Plus, hear some of Raff's horror stories from the job site, including caulked corners and drywall baseboards. Don't miss his insight
#343 Austin of Koalaty Construction joins us to talk about perspective and carpentry
In this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we sit down with Austin of Koalaty Construction to discuss carpentry and the importance of perspective in the industry. Austin shares his experiences teaching apprentices the business side of construction and the challenges of working with low-quality wood. We also delve into the benefits of working with clients on passive building projects, net zero renovations, and energy efficiency incentives. Don't miss Austin's story of singing reggae in a s
#342 Muhammed Ali Bashev of Foamit Inc. joins us to talk about spray foam
Join us as we sit down with Muhammed Ali Bashev of Foamit Inc. to learn all about spray foam insulation. In this episode, we discuss the inner workings of spray foam equipment, the difference between smooth and rough foam, and the many benefits of spray foam for waterproofing, soundproofing, and pest control. Mohammed also shares some important safety tips and shares his thoughts on the role of education in the construction industry.Get in touch with Foamit Inc. by visiting their website, Foamit
#341 Aron Jones of Big Dog Construction joins us to talk about rural construction and carpentry
Looking for expert insights on rural construction and carpentry? Join us as we chat with Aron Jones of Big Dog Construction. In this episode, we discuss the benefits of smaller crews, the problem-solving skills that are often missing in urban environments, the importance of advocates for trades-interested kids, and the trend of building to fail. Aron also shares his insights on the differences between carpenters, rough carpenters, and finish carpenters. Don’t forget August 26th is the 3rd annua
#340 Roger Winter of K. Winter Sanitation Inc. joins us to talk about portable toilets
Learn about the laws, luxuries, and costs of portable toilets with Roger Winter of K. Winter Sanitation Inc. on The Construction Life Podcast. Find out what to do when you drop something in a toilet, what the blue stuff really is, and where the waste goes. Get comfortable on your jobsite with K. Winter Sanitation Inc. - check out their website at Winsan.on.ca, follow them on Instagram and Facebook @KWintersToilets, or email them at Winsan@Winsan.on.ca. Stay connected with The Construction Life P
#339 Whitney Hill of SnapADU joins us to talk about accessory dwelling units and how they run their specialized business
Whitney Hill of SnapADU joins us to talk about accessory dwelling units and how they run their specialized business. Whitney tells us about the accessory dwelling market, how they build them and what they can cost. She then goes into how they market via content production and the issue with expanding their highly specific business model outside of California. We also touch on finding labour, vetting clients, and the future of the ADU industry on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Int
#338, Mandy Ross is back, life cheerleader & relationship expert, joins us to talk about love and relationships.
The Construction Life Podcast is your go-to source for insight, advice, and expert interviews in the construction industry. In this episode, Mandy Ross, life cheerleader and relationship expert, joins us to talk about love and relationships.Mandy shares her wisdom on the belief that people are replaceable, the fear of losing freedoms, growing together versus growing apart, and how to know when to end things. She and Manny also debate the differences between men and women, discussing compatibilit
#337 Anthony and Joseph Mozzone of Festa Group Contracting Inc. join us to talk about young trades
Anthony and Joseph Mozzone of Festa Group Contracting Inc. join us to talk about young trades in the construction industry. We discuss the passion missing from the new generation of tradespeople, the trend of buying new tools instead of repairing them, and how to make money building homes. They share their experience with offering bonuses to employees for arriving on time, as well as the use of innovative engineering techniques for concrete pours in highrise buildings. Tune in to this episode of
#336 Basement Renovations and Legal Basement Apartments with Ryan and Maneeb of Assured Basements
In this episode, we welcome Ryan and Maneeb of Assured Basements to discuss the often-overlooked space of basement renovations and legal basement apartments. They share their insights on how to convince clients to value basement spaces, the true cost of a basement renovation, and how to address issues such as concrete pours, heat loss, and soundproofing.Ryan and Maneeb also share their thoughts on dealing with ignorant clients and tradespeople who take advantage of them, and the importance of en
#335 Stone Repairs with Chris Attia of Dr. Granite and Marble
In this episode, we welcome Chris Attia, owner of Dr. Granite and Marble, to talk about stone repairs and the challenges he faces in the industry. Chris shares his expertise on common problems with stone surfaces, how to care for your stone, and the differences between various materials such as porcelain, natural stone, and onyx.Chris also discusses the tricks he has learned over the years, including leathering and polishing techniques, the importance of the color of your razor blade, and the di
#334 Women and Young People in Construction and Framing with Brittany Farrow of BMFarrow Construction and Girls Can Frame
In this episode, we welcome Brittany Farrow, owner of BMFarrow Construction and founder of Girls Can Frame, to talk about the challenges and opportunities for women and young people in the construction and framing industry. Brittany shares her experiences getting into the trades through a high school co-op program and the work she has done to advocate for the trades in schools.She also discusses her decision to become a teacher for green tradespeople and the challenges she sees with her generati
#333 Issues in the Construction Industry with Greg and Justin Janizak from Generation Construction and Fine Homes Ltd.
In this episode, we welcome Greg and Justin Janizak, owners of Generation Construction and Fine Homes Ltd., to discuss some of the issues facing the construction industry. We touch on the challenges of harassment and lack of incentives in unions, as well as the negative impact of Bill C23 on the industry. We also discuss the pros and cons of social media for construction companies and the importance of saying no when clients ask for samples.Greg and Justin also share their thoughts on the value
#332 Trade School Issues and Generators with Carlo di Renzo of Effect Electric Ltd.
In this episode, we welcome Carlo di Renzo, owner of Effect Electric Ltd., to discuss trade school issues and generators. Carlo shares his thoughts on union politics, the lack of basic knowledge among apprentices, and the challenges of getting an apprenticeship.We also hear about the differences between Kohler and Generac generators, the impact of electric vehicles on the power grid, and the power consumption in a typical home. Carlo also talks about the function of arc vaults and surge protecto
#331 Anna Rossitter of Answers with Anna joins us to talk about corruption in construction
On this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we talk to Anna Rossitter of Answers with Anna about the corruption in construction. Anna shares her personal experience in commercial construction, including stories of companies cutting corners, lack of safety, faulty drawings, failing product installations, apprentice abuses, and media cover-ups. Listen in as Anna encourages tradespeople to speak up about corrupt practices in the industry. To learn more about Anna and her work, visit her websi
#330 Fireplaces with Alex MacDonald of Bakwoods Fireplace and Heating
In this episode, we are joined by Alex MacDonald, owner of Bakwoods Fireplace and Heating, to talk about all things fireplaces. Alex shares his knowledge on different types and brands of fireplaces, as well as proper venting and regulations. He also discusses the importance of choosing the right wood to burn in wood-burning fireplaces and how to care for chimneys.We also debate the latest fireplace trends, including linear fireplaces, brass fireplaces, and blue flames, and discuss the pros and c
#329 Demolition and Creating an Enjoyable Jobsite with Patrick McCormack of Demo for Your Reno Inc.
In this episode, we welcome Patrick McCormack, owner of Demo for Your Reno Inc., to talk about the ins and outs of demolition and creating an enjoyable jobsite. Patrick shares his strategies for avoiding musculoskeletal injuries, properly packing a bin, and cleaning as you demo. He also discusses the value of bringing massage therapists to the jobsite and the importance of providing immigrants with Canadian experience.Patrick also touches on the challenges of recycling and repurposing materials
#328 Rebuilding a 200-Year-Old Home in Greece with 2 Guys in Greece Greg and Christos share their story
In this episode, we are joined by Greg and Christos of 2 Guys in Greece to talk about their experience rebuilding a 200-year-old home in Greece. They share the challenges they faced, including purchasing the property and having the house deemed archeological, as well as the difficulties of moving machines and materials up a mountain. We also hear about the old techniques and tradespeople they worked with, as well as the required energy efficiency updates for the home.In addition to discussing th
#327 Vito Scavetta of Scavetta Renovation & Design Inc. on Business Choices in Construction
In this episode, we welcome Vito Scavetta, owner of Scavetta Renovation & Design Inc., to talk about the business choices he has made to make his construction company successful. Vito shares his strategies for managing tight schedules, building lasting relationships with clients and subs, and choosing referral and repeat clients. We also discuss the importance of showing pride in your work through trade swag and booking projects up to two years in advance. Vito also shares his thoughts on th
#326 Understanding Helmet and Safety with Max Strandwitz of Mips Protection
In this episode, Max Strandwitz of Mips Protection talks about the importance of helmet and safety in the construction industry. He explains the differences between sports helmets and hard hats, the impact of an impact on a helmet, and how to choose the right helmet. He also shares the testing process for Mips Protection helmets, their focus on improving helmet safety, and the different priorities of Americans and Europeans. Tune in to learn more about how to stay safe on the job.Links:Check out
#325 Angelo Suntres of the Human Side of Construction about the importance of mindset in the industry
Join us on The Construction Life Podcast as we speak with Angelo Suntres of the Human Side of Construction about the importance of mindset in the industry. Angelo shares his insights on the challenges of marketing construction, the value of teaching new trades practical skills, and the importance of considering the end users of the buildings being constructed. We also discuss the importance of positivity on the jobsite and the impact it can have on the success of a project. Don't miss this thoug
#324 Boosting Productivity and Organization with Technology with Jas Saraw of Procore
In this episode, Jas Saraw of Procore talks about how technology can improve productivity and organization in the construction industry. He discusses the process of introducing tradespeople to digital innovation and the advanced features of Procore, including carbon emissions tracking. The show also covers Procore's partnerships with associations to diversify the trades and with high school and postsecondary institutions to educate young people about innovation in the industry. Tune in to learn
#323 Epoxy Garage Floors with Michael Crawford and Youjin Seo of Dream Garage Inc.
In this episode, Michael Crawford and Youjin Seo of Dream Garage Inc. share their expertise on epoxy garage floors. They discuss their process for installing and maintaining these floors, including the cost, necessary maintenance, and lifespan. They also compare epoxy and polyaspartic resin and share the different patterns and trends that can be achieved with resin, such as flakes and marbling. Tune in to learn how to transform your garage space or hear about Manny's tiffany obsession.Links:Chec
#322 Client Communication and Business Mentorship with Dillon LaPointe from Bildco Contracting
In this episode, Dillon LaPointe from Bildco Contracting discusses the importance of effective client communication and shares his experience being mentored in business by a renowned businessman. He shares the lessons he learned about managing time, employees, and anxiety, as well as the value of cleanliness. Dillon also compares commercial and residential construction in terms of pay, clientele, and opportunity. The show ends with a discussion on tool loyalty and golf.Links:Check out Bildco Con
#321 Moving from Commercial to Residential Electrical with Matt McCarthy of M&J Electric Inc.
In this episode, Matt McCarthy of M&J Electric Inc. shares his experience transitioning from commercial to residential electrical work. He talks about starting in the trades at a young age, the pros and cons of running a solo versus partnered business, and his thoughts on nonsensical electrical safety rules and dealing with hydro companies. Matt also shares his insights on the latest technology in custom residential projects, Toronto's outdated infrastructure, and the dangers of hiring cheap
#320 Innovation and Solution-Oriented Products with Chris Dall of LP Building Solutions
In this episode, Chris Dall, Project Manager at LP Building Solutions, talks about innovation and the company's solution-oriented products. He discusses the adoption time for new products, LP's product pillars, and the role of charismatic product developers. Chris also shares his grandfather's building choices and how a tornado experience influenced his views on his forever home. The show ends with a discussion on how the Covid-19 pandemic has changed our understanding of the purpose of a room.L
#319 Discipline, Trades Business, and Teaching Apprentices with Sean Cillis of Sean Cillis Renovations
In this episode, Sean Cillis of Sean Cillis Renovations talks about how he applies his martial arts training to his work in the construction industry. He shares how he is streamlining his business through learning from business books and discusses his approach to hiring new employees. Sean also shares his thoughts on tools, flooring materials, and getting kids to advocate for themselves.Links:Follow Sean Cillis Renovations on Instagram: @SeanCillisRenovationsContact Sean Cillis Renovations: info
#318 Managing Sub-Trades and Clients with Tim Khalimov of Ravineview Construction
In this episode, Tim Khalimov of Ravineview Construction shares his insights on managing sub-trades and clients in the construction industry. He discusses his selection process for sub-trades, how he handles delays, and his thoughts on contractors who give the industry a bad reputation. We also talk about taking design risks in cottage construction, uncredited trades in social media posts, and learning from engineers. Tim reminds us all to make time for our families.Links:Check out Ravineview Co
#317 A Year of Loses and Lessons with Taha from Crew Men Group
Here we are, the last show of 2022, we have been fortunate enough to record 141 new shows and we posted 109 shows. Expect those numbers to increase for 2023. For our last show we have a very special episode, and this one show will tug at your hearts, it was a difficult one to record and I had no idea what Taha was going to share. There are many lessons in this one show, and I thank Taha for strength to open up like this. In this special episode, Taha Hussain from Crewmen Group joins us to ta
#316 Brett Kelly of MOSO North America joins us to talk about bamboo as a building material
Bamboo as a Building Material with Brett Kelly of MOSO North America"In this episode, Brett Kelly of MOSO North America joins us to discuss the benefits of using bamboo as a building material.Brett talks about MOSO's partnership with GRAD and the impressive work they've done with bamboo, including in airports.Learn about the advantages of bamboo over lumber and see examples of MOSO's creative work with this fascinating material.If you're interested in MOSO and their products, check out their web
#315 Life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about constructing our best lives in 2023
Constructing Our Best Lives in 2023 with Mandy Ross"In this episode, life cheerleader Mandy Ross joins us to talk about how to construct our best lives in 2023.Mandy shares tips on how to raise our standards, prioritize ourselves, and take inventory of our lives.She also discusses the importance of having a positive outlook and returning to our inner child, as well as how to stop ourselves from quitting.This is the first part in a series with Mandy on The Construction Life Podcast.You can find o
#314 Sebino Bove of Tile Install Plus Inc. Talks tiling and learning from the old man
All About Tiling with Sebino Bove of Tile Install Plus Inc."In this episode, Sebino Bove of Tile Install Plus Inc. joins us to discuss all things tiling.The show starts with a discussion about the lack of knowledge among renovation actors and the influx of "tilers" when clips became available.Sebino shares his thoughts on various products, including liners, epoxy, and dustless mortar. He also tells a story about tiling Olympic-sized pools.We talk about the TTMAC certification process and the rol
#313 Surg & Peter of Home Star Roofing talk about the difficulty of roofing & teaching apprentices
Roofing with Surg and Peter of Home Star Roofing"In this episode, Surg and Peter of Home Star Roofing join us to talk about the challenges and intricacies of roofing.They discuss different types of roofs and why there can be such a wide range of prices offered by different companies.The show also touches on the importance of avoiding overexertion and the age-old question of why there isn't an inspection for roofs.Hear from some young but knowledgeable roofers on this episode of The Construction
#312 Serge Lappaire of Complete Home Services & Aaron Vehkala Sales Rep talk construction relationships
Gripes with the Construction Industry with Aaron Vehkala and Surge Lappaire"In this episode, Aaron Vehkala of Futurescapes Landscaping and Surge of Complete Home Services join us to talk about the frustrations and challenges of working in the construction industry.Topics of discussion include the prevalence of cheap jobs for rentals, "fuck it" tradespeople, and the pressure to present well on social media.We also cover the worst parts of working in this industry and how we keep our passion alive
#311 Stacey Altayebi of Tri-County Brick joins us to talk about brick and masonry as a distributor
Brick and Masonry with Stacey Altayebi of Tri-County Brick"In this episode, Stacey Altayebi of Tri-County Brick joins us to talk about her experience as a distributor of brick and masonry products.Stacey shares her perspective as a woman in a male-dominated industry and discusses what motivates her to work long hours.We also delve into the history of brick, the current portland cement shortage, and our thoughts on painting brick and the use of seams in limestone sills.If you're interested in Tri
#310 Kim Piller of Sandler Sales Training joins us to talk about having business conversations
Business Conversations with Kim Piller of Sandler Sales Training"In this episode, we welcome Kim Piller of Sandler Sales Training to talk about the art of having effective business conversations.Kim shares his insights on questioning techniques, making connections with clients, and the pros and cons of selling to people.He also discusses the persistence and understanding required to win over new clients, and offers some tips for Manny on his own prospects.Tune in to learn about a lesser-known sa
#309 Jeff Kutas of MB Sentinel joins us to talk about package theft and his parcel safe product
In this episode of The Construction Life Podcast, we are joined by Jeff Kutas of MB Sentinel to discuss package theft and the parcel safe product offered by his company. Jeff shares his experience of losing a brick-and-mortar retail business to the rise of online shopping, and how this inspired him to develop a solution for the increasing issue of package theft.We delve into the features of the MB Sentinel parcel safe, including its mounting options, power sources, size, colour options, customiz
#308 Andrew Prete of Carpenter on Site Inc. and Gabriel DiVito of Zinnia Place Trim Carpenter talk about trim carpentry
Andrew Prete of Carpenter on Site Inc. and Gabriel DiVito of Zinnia Place Trim Carpenter join us to talk about trim carpentry. We discuss how trim carpenters are underpaid, the short lists of builders they gather to deal with that, and apprenticeship lessons. This show is comprehensive on the ins and outs of trim carpentry, with how to cut sharp corners, poplar versus MDF, tools, glues, rounds and custom jig making. Learn about the trade that hides the mistakes of other trades on this episode of
#307 Jarret of Pacific Wild General Contracting Services and his wife Candace join us to talk about horror clients and being married to a tradesperson
Jarret of Pacific Wild General Contracting Services and his wife Candace join us to talk about horror clients and being married to a tradesperson. Jarret shares stories about the bad clients he's had to deal with, and Candace tells us about how bringing work home can affect the family. We also discuss clients threatening bad social media posts, boasting about the cheapest reno, Candace's impressive father. If you're interested in the construction industry or just want to hear us complain about d
#306 Brian DesChamps of DC Improvements talks about politicians, shitty tradespeople, and the industry at large
Brian DesChamps of DC Improvements joins us to talk about politicians, shitty tradespeople, and the industry at large. We discuss the issue with clients choosing the cheapest options, business owners not being accountable for their poor quality tradespeople, and learning hard lessons. Brian has lots of stories about the lessons he's learned, and he introduces the product he's come up with to help teach people about the trades. The show also touches on the hard subject of why someone would want t
#305 Dave Settlemyer of LS Underground joins us to talk about outdoor living spaces and decks
Dave Settlemyer of LS Underground joins us to talk about outdoor living spaces and decks. He talks about working outdoors, issues with supplies, lumber shrinkage, and trends. He shares how he uses 3D modelling to show his designs to his clients, and what his designs might cost a client. The show wraps up talking about building details like fasteners, joists, pedestals, and new lighting tech. Hear about how Dave runs his award-winning business on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Int
#304 Simon Breslar and Azam Khan of Trax Codes join us to discuss their Trax app, the google for building codes
Simon Breslar and Azam Khan of Trax Codes join us to discuss their Trax app, the google for building codes. Gone are the days of carrying around massive books of code. Simon and Azam tell us about how Trax Codes helps builders and inspectors alike search through provincial and national building codes easily. They talk about their plans for future features and show us exactly how Trax Codes works. Be sure to watch this episode of The Construction Life Podcast on video! Interested in Trax Codes? C
#303 Coralee Beatty of Thrive HQ talks about coaching women in the industry and how to build a better business
Coralee Beatty of Thrive HQ joins us to talk about coaching women in the industry and how to build a better business. We discuss business coaching and the differences between men and women in the industry. Coralee offers helpful tips on everything from setting end goals to being vulnerable to learning from difficult situations. Come hear how to build yourself as well as your business on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Thrive HQ? Check out their website, ThriveHQ.ca,
#302 Hans Eich joins us to talk about building better, not faster. We open up the show with Bill 23's issues and how rushed jobs create low-quality homes
Hans Eich joins us to talk about building better, not faster. We open up the show with Bill 23's issues and how rushed jobs create low-quality homes. Hans explains how we have to slow down to change the industry's problem with quality. He advocates for prefabrication and education on green building, to build passive homes at the same cost. Get educated on the issues with Canadian construction on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Hans? Send him an email at Hans@HansEich
#301 Luke Hansen of CompanyCam joins us to talk about visual communication and their app
Luke Hansen of CompanyCam joins us to talk about visual communication and their app, CompanyCam. Luke walks us through how the app came into being, the importance of organization, and how valuable job site photos can be. He discusses making tech for tradespeople, and what they did to make an easy-to-use app. Manny asks Luke the questions tradespeople are asking about his product, so tune into this episode of The Construction Life Podcast to find out if you should try out CompanyCam. Interested i
#300 Gary from @marescarpentry and Carrie from @mysticalca talk about something that has affected so many of us: cancer
On this 300th episode of the Construction Life Podcast, Gary from @marescarpentry and Carrie from @mysticalca talk about something that has affected so many of us: cancer. Come listen to their story of hardship and perseverance, going from having 6 months to live, to beating all odds and getting the chance to have a family. Thank you for sharing such a personal story and thank you to everyone that has made TCL the one construction show to share real stories. Connecting with The Construction Life
#299 Monique of AMA Roofing Supplies joins us to talk about running a mom-and-pop and staffing issues
Monique of AMA Roofing Supplies joins us to talk about running a mom-and-pop and staffing issues. She tells us how both shingles and tradespeople have changed over the decades, for better and worse. We also cover recession concerns and just how much prices have increased. Monique also explains her gripes with insurance making it too hard to hire drivers, and shares an interesting tidbit about homeowners buying and installing their own metal roofs. Tune into this episode of The Construction Life
#298 Richard Eipl of RETile & Finishes joins us to talk tiling, welding and more
Richard Eipl of RETile & Finishes joins us to talk tiling. To start, Richard talks to us about his past in welding and the health risks that made him leave. Richard has some strong opinions about everything from clips to thin-set to blades to grout. For everything you need to know about climatizing tile, working on century homes, thin-set setting temperature, tiling on ceilings, priming and epoxy, tune into this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in RETile & Finishes? C
#297 Clint Young of Fieldstone General Contracting talks about subcontractors, pricing & tiling
Clint Young of Fieldstone General Contracting joins us to talk about subcontractors, pricing and tiling. We discuss how tradespeople can balance rising material prices with making a profit without selling themselves out of a job. That leads to Clint's three-strike rule with subcontractors and the importance of building relationships. We also get into tiling gripes, and educating clients about materials. Tune into another great episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Fieldstone Ge
#296 David Paraguirre of the Mexican Carpenter talks carpentry, construction & passion
David Paraguirre of the Mexican Carpenter joins us to talk about carpentry, construction and passion. He has a lot to say about many aspects of the industry, including whether tradespeople make enough money, whether they will be able to charge more due to the labour shortage, and whether the construction stigma is changing in younger people. We also talk about family, language and being passionate about what you do. Learn how not to undersell yourself on this episode of The Construction Life Pod
#295 Agnes of NextGen Professional talks women in construction & getting people into the trades
Agnes of NextGen Professional joins us to talk about women in construction and getting people into the trades. She tells us about what NextGen does to connect clients to employers and train "paper" skills, just how bad the labour shortage really is, and the importance of recognizing the skills immigrants bring to the workforce. After banging her head against the wall with the government, Agnes describes her new direction of partnering with organizations to make programs for elementary and high s
#294 Ken Morgan of Kenneth Morgan Group talks an inspirational conversation about building up from the bottom
Ken Morgan of Kenneth Morgan Group joins us for an inspirational conversation about building up from the bottom. He explains his story of starting as a street kid and working hard through adversity. He believes in chasing passion, not money, and in two years he now has over 60 employees in a handful of companies. Learn from a man whose mindset makes sure he always gets paid on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Kenneth Morgan Group? Check out their website, KennethMorga
#293 Jason and Wendy of 780 Handyman Grand Prairie talk about construction in Alberta & small town handyman services
Jason and Wendy of 780 Handyman Grand Prairie join us to talk about construction in Alberta and small town handyman services. After giving an unintentional economic advertisement about booming Grand Prairie, they tell us about being a franchise and the lesson they learned about the importance of marketing. Jason and Wendy share what they love about their business, the historical finds they’ve uncovered from the walls of homes, and the joy they can bring to their client’s faces, just by helping t
#292 Adnan Zabian of ACAD Modular talks modular and the many projects he has going on
Adnan Zabian of ACAD Modular joins us to talk modular. He tells us about the kinds of clients interested in modular building, including a brief description of how severances work in Toronto, and how tradespeople can get into modular construction. Over the show, he shares models and drawings from the projects he's working on, giving us an idea of the kinds of things that are possible with the modular movement. If you've ever considered a shipping container home or you're looking for the future of
#291 Nuno from Luso Roofing and Sutton Group Security Realty joins us to talk roofing and real estate.
Nuno from Luso Roofing and Sutton Group Security Realty joins us to talk roofing and real estate. He tells us about why he and his dad hand-nail all their roofs, and about the importance of quality in roofing. We then break into a discussion about the current real estate climate, including advice about planning for the future. The last third of the show jumps back into roofing, with a conversation about different vent types, skylights, and the materials and tools he uses. Hear all about one of t
#290 Luca Bucci, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders Association, talks about Bill 23 & government interference with building more homes
Luca Bucci, CEO of the Ontario Home Builders Association, joins us today to talk about Bill 23 and government interference with building more homes. Manny and our listeners have lots of questions for Luca, everything from the labour oversight in the build faster act, to the government cracking down on shady builders, to the issues with the education system. Check out this episode of The Construction Life Podcast for the answers to all your burning political questions. Reach out to Luca Bucci by
#289 Clifford Parker of Pegasus Underpinning and Reno talks about underpinning & construction
Clifford Parker of Pegasus Underpinning and Reno joins us to talk about underpinning. Starting off by discussing the differences Clifford noticed moving from construction in England to construction in Canada, we then break into sharing stories about the neighbours on projects and which soil types make the worst working environment. Clifford tells us about his experience underpinning the Drake, and his difficulties finding new hires that want to work. We wrap up the show reminding everyone about
#288 Neil Freidberg, Building Science Manager at LP Building Solutions, talks building science
Neil Freidberg, Building Science Manager at LP Building Solutions, joins us to talk building science. Neil tells us how to properly retro old buildings for lower energy bills, considering walls, basements, chases, fireplaces, ceilings, bathrooms, and attics. He also extends that information to new construction and discusses LP's building science products. For everything on making an efficient home, tune into this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in LP Building Solutions? Chec
#287 Hayes Nulman of Hayes Nulman Design talks about custom millwork, carpentry & furniture making
Hayes Nulman of Hayes Nulman Design joins us to talk about custom millwork, carpentry and furniture making. He shares how he got started fighting squirrels and being kicked out of his shop, and how that led to the way his business works now. We also talk wood, CCQ, tools and techniques, and working with solid ebony. Interested in Hayes Nulman Design? Check them out on their website HN.design, on Instagram @HayesNulmanDesign, or email them at Info@hn.design. Thank you to everyone who recently pur
#286 Frank, Sam, Tony and Joey of Atlas Kitchens and Bath join us to talk about custom kitchens and cabinetry
Frank, Sam, Tony and Joey of Atlas Kitchens and Bath join us to talk about custom kitchens and cabinetry. After introductions and a quick run-through of the stages a project goes through internally at Atlas, we get into the nitty gritty of cabinet styles, hardware, appliances, materials, and trends, dispersing some stereotypes and sharing some expert opinions. They tell us some of the strangest custom projects they've done as well as what they'd put in their own dream kitchens. For everything yo
#285 Melvin Newman of PataBid discussing estimating in the construction industry, & hope it can be improved
Melvin Newman of PataBid joins us to discuss estimating in the construction industry, and hope it can be improved. He shares how he spotted the gap in the industry and what he made to innovate the estimation process. Learn about a company that listens to the user, and a software that can save you time and money while protecting you from client "misunderstandings" on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Interested in PataBid? Check out their website at PataBid.com, on Instagram @PatabidT
#284 Steve and Royce of 3Way join us to talk about taping & drywall from the last 50 years & a game changer product
Steve and Royce of 3Way join us to talk about taping and drywall. Royce shares how the construction world has changed in the last 50+ years, including the informal introduction of Level 5. We get into why the stereotypes around the drywall industry exist as they do, and Royce and Steve share tons of advice on tools and techniques with visual references to accompany their tips. The second half of the show is devoted to 3Way, their new product to greatly reduce the time and effort spent finishing
#283 Dan Wall from Covenant Construction joins us to talk about tiling and TTMAC certification and more
Dan Wall from Covenant Construction joins us to talk about tiling and TTMAC certification. He shares his experience going from being his own boss to working for someone else, and what made him stay with Covenant over the adjustment period. He tells us about his desire to work with thin panel porcelain slabs and the education required to do it right, before discussing the TTMAC exam and what causes others to fail where he succeeded. The last half of the show goes into how he would build his dream
#282 Pata Chan of Kwaihinian in Hong Kong joins us to talk about construction and design in Hong Kong
Pata Chan of Kwaihinian in Hong Kong joins us to talk about construction in Hong Kong. He starts off by sharing how he got into the industry and quickly shatters the belief around bamboo scaffolding. We then get into the major differences before construction in North America versus Hong Kong: variation orders, the size of projects, the materials and techniques used, the trades themselves, and the shocking facts about pricing, timelines and permits. Pata also tells us about the interesting way he
#281 Casey Grey from The Conscious Builder talks about passive homes & building the business
Casey Grey from The Conscious Builder joins us today to talk about passive homes and building the business. He discusses the values that The Conscious Builder is based on and his experience building a passive house from scratch as a way to show clients the business. He also tells us what government regulations stand in the way of a greener future of homes. Learn about the products and processes used in passive home building, and the money that can be saved by building passive homes on this episo
#280 Doug Taylor of Frontiers Design Build talks about the hurdles Frontiers has been through
Doug Taylor of Frontiers Design Build is here to talk about the hurdles Frontiers has been through, and how they've succeeded, offering advice to other tradespeople on the paper side of business. Doug talks about his difficulty letting go of control and passing off the tools to someone else. He shares the plateaus Frontiers hit and how they moved passed them, as well as their three-step framework for growth. Learn about business organization and high-performance homes on this episode of The Cons
#279 Nuno Pinto and Jordan Mora of Assmbly Inc talk all about high-end lighting and home Intergration
Nuno Pinto and Jordan Mora of Assmbly Inc join us to talk all about high-end lighting and home automation. They share their experiences getting into the business and tell us about their products. We hear how they would light different rooms, and compare voice automation from the Big Three. Learn about the importance of light and how it can effect energy levels on this episode of The Construction Life. Interested in Assmbly Inc? Check them out on Instagram @Assmblyinc or send them an email at inf
#278 Shahzad Qureshi from Pinnacle Real Estate in New York talking real estate business, construction & social media
Shahzad Qureshi from Pinnacle Real Estate in New York joins us today to talk about making it in the real estate business, construction and social media. Starting off with a bone to pick with high-end construction, Shahzad then shares his humble beginnings, paying sweat equity with equity partners and door-knocking for 6 months to get one deal. He also gives us some advice on how to survive the next recession and how to build a sustainable business. The back end of the show breaks into social med
#277 Mike of Mike's Tool Fun talks about commercial electrical jobs and how he got into tool reviewing
Mike of Mike's Tool Fun joins us to talk about commercial electrical jobs and how he got into tool reviewing. He shares some helpful advice for electricians like using foldable canvas garage bins and double-checking your work to take excuses away from inspectors. He also talks about copper versus aluminum wiring and the tools that have made his job that much better. The show wraps up talking about what Mike gained from his previous career in car shows, and some obligatory Star Wars opinions. If
#276 Fred Garceau joins us to talk about Timber, Rough Carpentry and Restoration learning the trade in France and Canada
Fred Garceau joins us to talk about carpentry and restoration. He shares his fascinating experience at the oldest trade school in France and tells us a ton about the French method of stereotomy. He discusses a few of his projects and even brought us some models as examples. Forever learning, Fred is full of advice for carpenters of every age on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Fred? Check him out on Instagram @fredseal_carpentry or send him an email at fredericgarceau
#275 Ben Cowburn from Chase Contracting is here to discuss the BC concrete process and the issue with employees nowadays
Ben Cowburn from Chase Contracting is here to discuss the BC concrete process and the issue with employees nowadays. Learn about BC's high school trade program, fibreglass versus rebar, and building department delays as the battery ticks down on this fascinating conversation as the battery on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. We will schedule another show with Ben and dive deeper into the conversion.Interested in Chase Contracting? Check them out at chasecontractingltd.com or on Ins
#274 Scott Sauve of Sauve Construction joins us to talk about his experience going from Union to independence
Scott Sauve of Sauve Construction joins us to talk about his experience going from Union to independence. He shares how he survived his first slow winter and the mindset he needed to become successful. He also offers valuable advice about work-life balance and the importance of being respectful, with tool and vehicle talk for everyone on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Interested in Sauve Construction? Check out their website sauvecreates.com or email Scott at scott@sauvecreates.co
#273 Kevin Graham and Josh Wells from Tools in the Trades Bootcamp and future tradespeople
Kevin Graham and Josh Wells from Tools in the Trades Bootcamp join us to talk about what they're doing to get people young and old into the trades. We talk all about their program, fighting the stigma around the skilled trades and bridging the gap between the people wanting to work and the employers wanting to hire. Learn from and be inspired by the people educating the next great tradespeople on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast.Interested in Tools in the Trades? Check them out on t
#272 Nasser Deeb joins us to talk about the KBC and StoneTech Canada tradeshows happening October 26-28, 2022
Nasser Deeb joins us to talk about the KBC and StoneTech Canada tradeshows happening October 26-28, 2022. Hear all about the networking potential, the international creativity, and the touch-and-feel quality of tradeshows. Be sure to listen for the code for free parking and admission to the show on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in the KBC and StoneTech Canada tradeshows? Look up the schedule on kbcexpo.com or reach out at info@kbcexpo.com. Check them out on Instagram
#271 Spencer Beaureault Of 813 Leads joins us to talk about digital networking and getting leads
Spencer Beaureault Of 813 Leads joins us to talk about digital networking and getting leads. He gives us advice on gaining marketing confidence, being disciplined and keeping attention. Find out all about the importance of LinkedIn, ad platform comparison, and how to door-knock in the digital age on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in 813 Leads? Check them out on their website 813leads.com, on Instagram @813leads, or send them at email at spencer@813leads.com. Thank you
#270 Steve and Jen of Vintage Ideas LTD. join us to talk about vintage and rustic design trends
Steve and Jen of Vintage Ideas LTD. join us to talk about vintage and rustic design trends. Opening up the show discussing construction on the Azores, they go on to touch on everything from shiplap to epoxy pours to rose gold hardware. Come hear from a pair on the front lines of the design world in this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. Interested in Vintage Ideas LTD.? Check them out on their website at vintageideas.ca or on Instagram @vintageideasltd, or send them an email at steve@vin
#269 Patricio Ramirez of Psquare Inc. is here to talk about fear from comfort and the issue with ego in electricians
Patricio Ramirez of Psquare Inc. is here to talk about fear from comfort and the issue with ego in electricians. He offers all tradespeople, especially electricians, advice on staying humble, accepting help and keeping the right mindset. Pato shares his experience working at a big company for 20 years, as well as the gripping story of what pushed him out of the comfortable place he'd made for himself and into starting his own business. For those curious about the big business side of constructio
#268 Saskia Van Den Berghe joins us all the way from Belgium to talk about women in carpentry and the construction industry
Saskia Van Den Berghe joins us all the way from Belgium to talk about women in carpentry and the construction industry in Belgium. On the show, Manny learns some Flemish words, how trade schools work in Belgium, and how the Belgian government's decision to open the borders to other countries' tradespeople is affecting the Belgian trades. Saskia also shares her devotion to changing the way young people and women think about the trades, and how she's using her platform to do that. She also tells u
#267 Larry Serpa of Key Tile and Key Surfaces joins us again for more detail chats on tile and stone
Larry Serpa of Key Tile Co. joins us from Vancouver to talk tiling. Opening with talking about heavy tiles on plain drywall, we soon jump right into trim versus other edge options, whether designers should be responsible for small details that are usually left to tradespeople, and the problems with listening to show contractors. Larry shares a few great stories with lessons about accountability, accepting blame and the issue with assuming. The show wraps up discussing the aesthetics versus pract
#266 Derick DaCosta of DLC Installations joins us to share his roundabout entrance into the construction industry
Derick DaCosta of DLC Installations joins us to share his roundabout entrance into the construction industry. We discuss trade separation in Hi-Rise projects, missing high school shop classes and the issue with Toronto's infrastructure. After a long conversation about vans versus trucks for tradespeople, Manny and Derick give some advice to clients before spending the back end of the show breaking down tool batteries and tool brand loyalty. Join us for this episode of The Construction Life Podca
#265 Cameron from Custom Development Group on his own and building a solid brand
Cam from Custom Development Group joins us on this episode of The Construction Life Podcast. He talks about starting his business in the depths of the pandemic, and his approach to the learning the trades. We discuss the age old topic of the younger generation versus the older generation of tradespeople, and the evolution of teaching. After a brief conversation about diesel prices and electric cars in Canadian winters, Cam shares his experience renovating his own home as a GC. The back end of th
#264 Ron Nussbaum CEO of NuttNest joins us to discuss communication issues in the construction industry
Ron Nussbaum, CEO of NuttNest, joins us to discuss communication issues in the construction industry. Ron developed NuttNest to fill a void in the industry, and he shares his experience getting it off the ground. He even answers questions about the future of the service, and the show wraps up with a conversation about the origins of the podcast. If you're interested in communication, this is the show for you.Check out NuttNest.com and Ron Nussbaum on all major social media platforms.Thank you to
#263 The Construction Health and Fitness Life Part IV with Dimitri Giankoulas
Part 4To wrap up Coach D from Pure Motivation Fitness's 4 part series, we break down the way our bodies break down as we age. Coach D teaches us about the effects of testosterone and estrogen on the male and female body over the years, as well as the dangers of metabolic syndrome, and the manipulative practices of both doctors and natural path nutritionists.Dimitri and Manny encourage you to share this series with your loved ones, especially those over 35, in hopes that it can give someone the a
#262 The Construction Health and Fitness Life Part III with Dimitri Giankoulas
Part 3On part 3 of Coach D from Pure Motivation Fitness's miniseries, we talk injuries and dangerous, preventable health conditions. Coach D teaches us about posture injuries, obesity and metabolic syndrome, and types of harmful tissues. He also gives pointers on getting over barriers, setting achievable goals, and knowing yourself.Dimitri and Manny encourage you to share this series with your loved ones, especially those over 35, in hopes that it can give someone the advice and encouragement th
#261 The Construction Health and Fitness Life Part II with Dimitri Giankoulas
Part 2On part 2 of Coach D from Pure Motivation Fitness's miniseries, we talk food. Coach D teaches us about the three macronutrients and when to eat them, as well as how to food prep and the cons of fads like intermittent fasting.Dimitri and Manny encourage you to share this series with your loved ones, especially those over 35, in hopes that it can give someone the advice and encouragement they need to start their journey towards healthier living. Interested in Coach D? Check him out on Instag
#260 The Construction Health and Fitness Life Part I with Dimitri Giankoulas
Part 1Coach D from Pure Motivation Fitness joins us for a four-part miniseries on health and fitness, in and out of the construction industry. In this first part, we discuss the basis of exercising, covering everything from the importance of a good support system to proper stretching and breathing techniques.Dimitri and Manny encourage you to share this series with your loved ones, especially those over 35, in hopes that it can give someone the advice and encouragement they need to start their j
#259 Paras Sood iTile Toronto talking all kinds of tile and tile instalations at a very young age
We're talking tiling on today's episode of The Construction Life Podcast with guest Paras Sood from Innovation Tile. Starting off with how he got into tiling as an immigrant Marketing student, Paras shares lots of stories about his experience being a young tiler learning on the job. Now running his own business, Paras has the experience to back up his spirit as he discusses contractors and clients being unwilling to listen to the advice of tilers and the dangers of certain design choices like ce
#258 Jon - MacNeil Construction, Clark - Walkers Custom Frameworks, & Jason - Guest Contracting Inc.
Jon MacNeil of MacNeil Construction, Clark Walker of Walkers Custom Frameworks, and Jason Guest of Guest Contracting Inc. and Tiletime join us all the way from Barrie to talk trucks, television and tools. The conversation starts off with whether they factor the rising gas prices into their quotes and soon transitions into Jon telling us about his experience being a part of a TV reno show. A throughline of this episode is the importance of communication, in dealing with both tradespeople and clie
#257 Mher Kerushkerian of Triple M Electric Talkin Electrical Trades and the industry
Today's episode of The Construction Life Podcast opens with a heartfelt thank you from guest Mher Kerushkerian of Triple M Electric before we get into the nitty gritty of his experience being an immigrant getting into electrical in Canada. He shares his encounters with and opinions on ESA inspectors, homeowners doing their own electrical work, and the electrician’s obligation to fix discovered electrical hazards on a job site regardless of payment. After a compulsory chat about the dirty stereot
#256 Taylor Pagniello from The Therapy Space and Hannah Conover from Compass Construction
Taylor Pagniello from The Therapy Space and Hannah Conover from Compass Construction join Manny and Jason the Keystone Contractor today for a jam-packed episode on gender, therapy, and, of course, construction. Opening with an ever topical discussion on the pandemic's effect on people in therapy, we cover issues with emotional avoidance, the forces stopping men from seeking help, and what to do when people confide in you. Jason has a lot to say about emotional regulation and Manny learns that ha
#255 Heavy Duty Homes Phil Russo is back to discuss expanding into Miami and LA
Heavy Duty Homes’ Phil Russo is back on the show joining Manny and Jason the Keystone Contractor to talk international. We open the show talking about payment installments and Heavy Duty Homes’ fascinating quoting process before moving on to reveal Phil’s plans for the future of the business. After an interesting discussion about the importance of admin, Phil gets into what everyone is curious about, Heavy Duty Homes' expansion into the USA. He compares American and Canadian clients, shares stor
#254 Alex Maggiacamo from Universal Aluminum Products Ltd. Back on the show discussing supply chains
Alex Maggiacamo from Universal Aluminum Products Ltd. joins Manny and Jason the Keystone Contractor on today's episode of The Construction Life. Starting off the show is a talk about supplies, prices and wait times boiling down to Canada's lack of infrastructure. We play politician, discussing what we would change before segueing into a conversation Employment Insurance and other government benefits. After that heavy topic, we talk tools and brand comparisons, share some strong opinions on spray
#253 Matthew Hill from ResCom discussing his Residential and Commercial business
Today's show features guest, Matthew Hill of ResCom Contracting, and a rehashing of a few of the most pertinent issues within the construction world, such as the dwindling interest in the construction industry among the younger generation, and how construction workers struggle with saying no to clients looking to negotiate prices. Matt discusses some of his experiences with ResCom's marketing being mostly through word of mouth and shares the truth about being "Baeumler Approved." Matt also share
#252 AVAS Concepts Electrical Plumbing HVAC and Developments The Gang is all here
We've got a full house on today's episode of The Construction Life Podcast. The AVAS Group is here to talk about their history and the pros of having so many in-house trades. Each member has something to say, from the prevalence of job takeovers to the importance of ventilation systems to "respecting the power" of your generators. Tune in for some incredibly varied conversations, whether you're interested in plumbing, smart homes or any other aspect of the trades you're sure to find something of
#251 Jason from The Keystone Contractor to discuss bullies, building inspectors, clients, and more
Starting off the video podcast era of The Construction Life Podcast, Jason Schywiola from The Keystone Contractor joins us to share his experiences working with egos, attitudes, conmen, and threatening clients. Jason breaks down his opinion on the profitability of cash guys, how he deals with competitive pricing, as well as how ignorance of risk that can drastically change a quote. After a quick discussion about the work ethic of the current generation, Jason wraps up the show by telling us the
#250 Talking Tiny Homes with Bianca Metz of The Giving Tree and Tiny Home Show and Ken Bekendam King Homes Inc. and Legal Second Suites
First up!!!! The Tiny Home Show is August 4-7, 2022, in Ancaster Fairgrounds, Municipal Day is the Thursday where there will be a lot of government officials there to discuss a number of things. There will be 12+ tiny homes there for people to walk through and discuss. Over 35 different exhibitors featuring everything you need to know about building, maintaining a tiny home. Let’s get into everything to do with tiny homes, beginning with 188-450 square feet is the clear definition of a tiny h
#249 Tom Elliott of Elliott’s Trusted Trades Inc. is here to share so much about his Renovation Specialist career
We open the show with a little Dirty Dancing melody. 7 years in the business on his own with his brand but many more years of learning from so many other trades. During his college years he picked up some work with a plumber digging undergrounds 4 months straight and that was his humble beginning. With 4 children Tom has a busy household and he’s had to refocus his energies to keep the money in the bank. It’s a daily challenge running a construction business.Tom shares his thought on the differe
#248 Vintage Ideas LTD with Steve Sampaio and Jennifer Sherman discussing Rustic Designing and Construction
How did it all begin? Children’s BDay party and a few drinks and plenty of pics about wood and the ideas started flowing. Steve didn’t have any formal construction experience, but he would tinker and build odd things and then friends suggested he should do this as a business and Vintage was born. Steve and Jenn love what they do, they love to create ideas for clients, they love working with mother nature resources and making vintage ideas come alive. Vintage has been built on 100% creative an
#247 Tony and Dave from GD Contracting Services Inc from Roofing to Renovations to so many lessons to learn
Tony Viera and Dave from GD Contracting Services Inc. are here to share their many stories, from a humble beginning working in roofing and eventually int renovations of all scopes. It all began with roofing, working with their Dad’s and uncles during all extremes of mother nature. Dave did it for 6 years and Tony for 20 years before he got out and began renovating. This show will dive into the education of construction, the search for the next group of trades, the lessons learned from every e
#246 UBILD the new construction app that we all have been waiting for and Matteo Nunziata here to discuss it
Matteo Nunziata is on the show to discuss changing the construction industry with his app UBild. Of course, we will discuss plenty of construction bones to pick, old school vs new school, trade schools, technology and construction, politics, and so much more, one show not to miss. Matteo began his construction career by knocking on doors and offering up odd jobs, known as Odd Job Matthew in the neighborhood, from there he began to look at the industry differently, he realized how inefficient t
#245 Bob Peel the Happy Boss / Brafasco / Mentor / Gentleman / Consultant of the many industries
I first met Bob nearly 20 years ago and to sit down with Bob, expect hours and hours of your time as he truly enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge with anyone that will ask. Hold on, for our longest show ever and Carlito and Manny could have gone longer speaking with Bob. This isn’t a show to miss and please do yourself a favour and take notes. At The Construction Life we embrace guests offering up suggestions and with this show Bob preferred opening the show with a spoken word and quite the
#244 Larry Serpa from Key Tile Co and Key Surfaces is back on the show to get technical about tile installing
We open with must be the worst version of Easy, and rolled right into why we are not drinking on a Sunday morning. Larry Serpa from Key Tile Co and Key Surfaces is back. He was traveling back home to Pico Azores with a stop in Toronto so we had a chance to stop by for him to meet some of the Portuguese trades in Toronto. Fabio @fabio.andrade51 who was late to meet up with us on the current job site. Joe from @jrentrysystems Gary and the Old Man from @marescarpentry Tony from @tc.installation
#243 Side Hustles for all Tradespeople We all have more than one passion in our construction lives
We open the show with a little Rob Base and it takes two, not the best version but we did it and it’s fitting for today’s show. A couple of shout outs to @hh.concpets sharing a few messages about preparing for a potential recession. @summitexteriorsidaho discussing moving his business from Canada to the States. On with the SHOW we talk about Side Hustles, and we will be doing a series of these shows featuring tradespeople that have worked on other things outside of construction. I wrote a no
#242 CRYPTO Shawn Silva of A3C Crypto Club Inc & Marco Carlini are here to discuss Cryptocurrency Blockchain & more
DISCLAIMER The following show is in no way advice on how you should invest into cryptocurrency, always do your own research and source out the information for yourself. Shawn Silva, an Engineering Technologist who created A3C to help others navigate the blockchain landscape and Marco Carlini, a salesperson in the concrete industry are here to share a lot about cryptocurrency, blockchain, NFT’s and a whole lot more.On with the show. What is Blockchain? A blockchain is a distributed system that ac
#241 Essa Abdool-Karim a Corporate / Commercial Lawyer here to share loads about the law and more
DISCLAIMERLet’s begin the show by saying that the information shared on this show is in NO WAY legal advice to any of our listeners, please schedule a meeting with a lawyer to further discuss your particular legal issues.Operating his own private practise for 2 years now, graduated University of Ottawa, worked for an investment broker dealer after he did his article for a sports and entertainment firm. He was planning on moving to Chicago but then the pandemic had other plans, he stayed in Canad
#240 Bradley Dell from Built By Bradley is here to share his construction life and the hardships he has gone through
This show will relate to so many tradespeople working in the industry, please give this show a listen as Bradley shares why and how he got into construction and the path he took, or you could say the path that took him. Thank you so much Bradley for sharing so much and opening up, I know there are a few other tradespeople listening that have or are going through similar struggles. This show we will discuss the industry, business owning and running, union strikes, economy, mental health, addict
#239 Grad Concept Inc Talking the best Deck and Siding Clip Systems with Gwladys Petit and Jon Witt from Deck Protect
What a great show we have, I first met Gwladys and the Grad Concept crew over 2 years ago at IBS, I knew about them through Thermory and the PaCs clip system and trust me, once you use any of the Grad Concept systems, you will never look back at any other type of system for all of your projects. On the show we dive deep into the products and the ease of use, the countless uses for the clips for decking, siding, features, interior use and so much more and remember they have a key that allows you
#238 John Masalkofski of Arctic Fence and General Contracting over 50 years of family owned business
Amazing to have John on the show talking the fencing business for the past 50 years, from humble beginnings as an immigrant with his grandfather, working on smaller residential projects to full scale commercial and industrial projects of today. So much to discuss on this show, but first up, we discuss the economy and I must say, it is refreshing to hear from a 26 year old like John that feels there is something bad coming our way, he has heard the stories from his Dad, from his GrandDad from th
#237 Mike Valchuk of Building Dreams Contracting Inc. from a life of a franchise owner to successful contracting business
Finally have Mike Valchuk, the man, the myth, the contractor on the show and what a show it is. We begin by discussing his 8 years of construction and how during the beginning of the pandemic Mike and his partner Grant O’Neal felt they needed to pivot, shift gears, an idea that will carry through this episode and has been brought up on so many other TCL shows. Mike and Grant decided to seek professional coaching and they have never regretted it. When they realized the business was creating mirro
#236 Natalia Pierce from Detail By Design is here to share her Kitchen and Bath and Wellness experiences
Nearly 2 decades in the business Natalia has seen and experienced so much, she is WELL AP, AKBD, CLIPP certified and recently completed her first book, hopefully 1 of 3 of a series of renovation books to help the industry and clients. Natalia is a kitchen and bath designer and there is a difference between her and an Interior Designer and even a decorator. Off to the designing races, Natalia shares that there should never be a microwave over a cooking surface, the same with a TV over a firepla
#235 Paul Gancman from Kitchen Fix is here to talk kitchen repairs and more
What a great show we have, Paul is here to share his insight into the wonderful world of kitchen repairs and contractors mistakes and of course, we are talking about those short cuts that eventually lead to failures and homeowners are left with dealing with the builder, warranties or bringing in a professional like Paul to get it done and get it done properly. His business and reputation grew very quickly because Paul found by dealing with smaller scope of work, he was able to fulfil the soluti
#234 Bethany King Real Estate Broker who built her professional network and business using Tik Tok
What an amazing show we have today, Bethany King, threw herself into real estate after being laid off a job she loved, quitting a safe, secure, soul sucking federal government job, realizing as a millennial she needs to make more money to be able to buy her own home one day, she asked herself several questions and went searching for all the answers. Then came Tik Tok and she used the platform to build her network and in turn create sales, all the while never selling herself. She focused on sha
#233 Fix It Friend the Man the Myth the Legend Jeremy Ross is here to discuss the Handyman Service industry
On with the show, Fix It Friend with Jeremy Ross next level of Handyman Services. 6 years in construction after studying and working in the mechanical engineer field, he had enough of the office environment and wanted to get his hands dirty, that is how Fix It Friend began. Of course, Jeremy had some concerns, lack of confidence if he would be accepted into the industry and would establish tradespeople share, we all went through that, that’s the beauty of construction, it truly is a community,
#232 Kyle Springer from 2X2 Construction is here to discuss running a construction business from the numbers
We open the show with a few shout outs to the many tradespeople that reach out on social, emails and through the industry. Thank you everyone for making the show the huge success it is as we make our way to over 1 million downloads. I have always said it is all because of our guests and the tens of thousands of listeners. Thank you so much. This show is all about the numbers behind running a construction business and Kyle, a 29-year-old has a lot of great advice for the young and old tradesp
#231 Greg and Justin Janczak from Generation Construction Ltd talking first year being a GC in the business
Something a little different on the show, the worktables are being turned around, Greg and his brother Justin from Generation Construction, 1.5 years into the business of being a GC are going to ask Manny questions about all kinds of scenarios that we GC’s go through on the daily. We are going to bring up a lot of things and some you may not want to hear but it should be spoken, as you know construction social media has always been about filters and everyone only discussing the good, at TCL we
#230 Brock Peel Advanced Property Solutions and Dalton Cousineau SouthPaw Stoneworks are on the show
Brock from Advanced Property Solutions is back on the show, check out his first appearance on TCL Show #153, and this time he has brought a new friend, Dalton Cousineau from Southpaw Stoneworks and we are going to be talking Brocks first year as a GC and how Dalton is taking masonry and stone skills to new levels.New Podcast to check out – Michelle Farrugia has been on TCL twice now and she’s doing her own podcast called Cognitive Capital Podcast and find it on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube, great
#229 New Tech Wood discussing these new cladding, decking, fencing products with the GM Kosta
What a show we have today!! Let’s discuss a new product that has changed the way you consider cladding and decking, we have Constantine (Kosta) Karolidis, the GM and he shares how it all began and how it’s going. But first, a few shout outs and a lovely story about a lazy and talentless renoactor. On with the show. Kosta runs us through this new product to Canada and the many benefits attached to working and designing with it. Kosta literally dove into this business, upon graduating from un
#228 - 60–69-year-olds Part Five Health Fitness Nutrition and Age of Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Part Five –50–59-year-olds. #FitnessFridays with Dimitri Giankoulas Our last show of this series and Dimitri gets right into it. Yes, you still need to be active, but at these ages you need to be careful on the level of active. At this age there are a lot of failing body parts and putting too much stress on joints can create bigger problems, especially since older people don’t heal as quickly. Functional strength is what you are after at this age, learning to improve your mobility from everyd
#227 - 50–59-year-olds Part Four Health Fitness Nutrition and Age of Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Part Four –50–59-year-olds. #FitnessFridays with Dimitri Giankoulas This show begins with life stresses, as you get older, you have challenging moments in life, a divorce, separation, loss of a parent or parents, loss of employment and how this can affect your health, mentally and physically. At 50 you need to ask yourself are you doing this for your kids or yourself? Yes, you need to be a role model for your children, but you also have to be selfish, I am 50 now, I want to live a high-quality
#226 - 40–49-year-olds Part Three Health Fitness Nutrition and Age of Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Part Three –40–49-year-olds. #FitnessFridays with Dimitri Giankoulas We begin with mindset, because everything begins with mindset, if you wake up in the morning and the life, your body, your work, you have, isn’t what you want, your mindset will dictate how the rest of the day, that week, that month, that year turns out. In your 40’s your margin for error is smaller and smaller, you can’t continue with the bad habits, those habits will catch up to you and will make your life even more difficul
#225 – 30–39-year-olds Part Two Health Fitness Nutrition and Age of Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Part Two –30–39-year-olds #FitnessFridays with Dimitri Giankoulas It all begins with weight, the scale, is the old way of tracking your gains and losses, it’s truly about body composition, a reflection of tissues in relation to each other, fat and lean muscle tissue. In your 30’s your body begins to change, add life, marriage, kids, work, stress and watch your fitness drop and be pushed to the end of the line, worst thing to do. Food, find out what your body needs in nutrition, for example, Di
#224 - 20–29-year-olds Part One Health Fitness Nutrition and Age of Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Dimitri and Manny had this crazy idea, let’s do shows about health, fitness, nutrition and let’s warp up the conversations around age groups.Part One –20–29-year-olds. #FitnessFridays with Dimitri GiankoulasListen to these packed 1-hour shows discussing so much about living a happy, healthier life. Let’s begin, the conversation begins with finding a mentor, your circle of friends and your family will determine what kind of person you become for the rest of your life. Of course, we discuss the 20
#223 Chris Michelin from Treasured Trim Inc. is here to chat Finish Carpentry and the love for the construction industry
Open the show with a little talk about the Superbowl and the new Rams logo. Coming from a family full or ironworkers Chris wasn’t interested in that craft, he fell in love with carpentry, building projects in high school trade classes. Chris shares the best thing his previous employer ever taught him; this is a major construction lesson worth listening too. His next story will tug at the heart, thank you Chris for sharing. Of course, we must talk about tools and his line up, as you expect, C
#222 Kim Piller a Sales Trainer from Sandler Cornerstone Centre for Continued Learning
Kim opens the show with a great assumption about contractors, he thinks we make loads of money, why do we need a sales trainer? This show will have a lot of questions for you as a business owner to ask yourself, prepare the notepad. · Why do you do your business?· How do you build a structure for your business?· Plan and prepare to sell your business one day.· Understanding the Buyers / Sellers Dance.· Don’t try to sell yourself and your service.· Don’t sell the p
#221 Alex from Seal-It is here to discuss sealing all types of exterior surfaces and where the business is going
Alex has had an interesting last decade, studying music, working for lawn care and other sealing companies, hustling and learning, and even considering getting into electrical. 5 years ago, he had a vison of Seal It and has made it what it is now and growing well. He has his crews and is currently searching for more employees if anyone is interested. Alex takes great pride in learning about the proper sealers and applications through speaking to his suppliers and reps and testing these product
#220 Real Estate and Mortgages learning from yesterday, what’s going on today, and expectations for tomorrow
Anthony Caputo from The Caputo Group and Michelle Farrugia are back after nearly two years to discuss the real estate and mortgage markets. This is one show for the books, it was all business from the very beginning, and they share so much incredible insight into what is really going on today, what we learned two years ago and what to plan for tomorrow. We even shift gears and discuss crypto, nft’s and the metaverse. You want to listen to show, take notes and prepare to be educated. Toronto j
#219 Larry Serpa of Key Tile Co from Vancouver is on the show talking everything to do with tiling and stone
Larry literally began by being thrown right into the pool with no swimming lessons, working for his dad and brother, they gave him a caulking gun and a tube of silicon and told him to caulk the shower, never did it before, was never shown how to do it and once completed his work was complimented and that was the beginning. Soon after that he’s asked to grout, no training, no instructions, you will figure it out is what his brother said. He did a great job and then was given the job, Grout Bitc
#218 Behzad from Aria Build is here to discuss being a 25-year-old General Contractor of luxury homes
We have a new segment to share on the show, Building Books where we share a book that we have read and our listeners should consider reading, on today’s show we discuss Think and Grow Rich, Little Red Hen, Richest Man in Babylon, and today’s feature book is The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse. Please consider expanding your reading, it will only help you and your business. 25-year-old GC Behzad of Aria Build is our guest, moved to Canada when he was 11 years old, didn’t know any English
#217 AVAS & Concepts Inc with Dennis Costa discussing Home Automation and Integration
Let’s get right into home automation and integration with Dennis from AVAS and Concepts, it all began with Dennis taking broken speakers out of the back trash of a local stereo shop, that led to him fixing the speakers and getting a job at the store. From there, Dennis was offered a job at Rogers Cable with the sub-contractor Trinity Cable. It was a great opportunity for Dennis, able to be one on one with homeowners, learning how to communication with clients and solving problems. Dennis alwa
#216 D’lusso Tile with the OG Frank Dilorenzo, his son Joey and the new kid Jason Rita from MCM Stone & Tile
What a show! Are you easily offended by the truth about construction, then this show is for you because you need to be woken up about the realties in construction and Frank, Joey and Jay say it as it is and TCL welcomes everything said on this show.Huge shout out to JD Hellinger of @hellingerconstruction he reached out asking me to do more shows about safety, and I will be doing more. He recently had a jobsite accident; a split second can change your life. We want to wish him the best, we wis
#215 Heavy Duty Homes is on the SHOW with Phil Russo the owner and his project manager Philip Games
Huge thank you to all the listeners, messages of support, questions about construction, the network this show has been building as we head closer and closer to our 300th show event, watch for it in August and this years Labor Day is something you don’t want to miss, Carlito and Manny has some big ideas. Please leave a rating and a review on iTunes and you can now leave a star rating on Spotify. Thank You On with the show. Most of this show discusses employees versus subtrades. Something diffe
#214 Pino Pirillo and Giuliano Tarantini from International Visual Corporation talking about custom fabrication
In our last show from Montreal, we dive deep into the custom world of manufacturing and fabrication where every idea begins on a napkin. We have Pino Pirillo, business development and Giuliano Tarantini a prototype on the show and sharing the 60 plus years of this incredible business. With a facility at a size of 260,000 square feet IVC can handle any project and on today’s show we will discuss the entire process. A lot of respect goes out to IVC and how they never stopped when Covid hit, the
#213 Filippo Placentino of Cr3ative Construction Company is here to share plenty of construction
The show opens with one of the best show tunes ever! Then the guys assess the grappa and realize we need more grappa because both Manny and Danny are feeling cockatail. Filippo was kind enough to bring one of the OG Hardcore Renos t-shirt, one of 1000’s that have been given away over the years, so nice to finally meet a follower and someone that received a HCR T. Thank you Filippo. Coming from a family background of trades, he didn’t begin in construction until 27, in his younger years he pur
#212 Philippe Gaudreau from Construction Anorak Inc. the new kid on the block and loads to consider
1 year on his own after 6 years of working with others Philippe has a lot of questions for us and the industry, he is so passionate about. Incredibly refreshing to have a tradesperson that loves construction but wants to learn more on how best to navigate through the construction world.This is going to be one amazing show.The show opens with a classic Quebec song. Just to set up a construction business you will spend $4-5K just in paperwork, no jobs, no income, nothing and right out of the gate
#211 Old School Italian Show – 3 wise masons and the 2 young masons taking over from Construction Dosca Inc.
This is going to be one for the podcast books, we have 3 of the best masons on the show, Tony, Mario and the OG Ermete and the young men taking over the empire they built, Danny and Mike from Construction Dosca Inc. Sit back, pull out some paper, listen to the three wise Italian masons share their stories in Italian and English, trust us, you will understand the passion, family, love, and drive for the construction industry throughout the show. A massive shout out to Pizzayolo Montreal for prov
#210 Aldev Construction with Pasquale (Pat) the Dad and David the son taking things over for the next 40 years
Welcome to Detour a Montreal – Danny from @dannydosca suggested I come to Montreal and record a few shows, He reached out and had so many wanting to be on the show, 5 were selected and Manny was off to Montreal to get the Quebec Tradespersons perspective.1962 and Pat’s dad is the one that started the construction business for the family, Pat started Aldev Construction in 1997 and now David has been working there for 10 years and he’s 26 years old. We have a lot of great stories to share on this
#209 Derek Sousa a Highschool Trade Teacher has a lot to say about teaching the next generation of trades
15 years in the industry with the last 4 being a teacher, Derek wasn’t the best kid in school but in his high school years he found his passion through the woodworking class. Finished school and went right into the union and began working right away. After a few years of doing commercial construction, he got into the carpenters union, followed by the opportunity to work for the school board taking care of things that fall a part or damaged by the students, faculty or age. 4 years ago, he was off
#208 Alex Maggiacomo from Universal Aluminium Products is a mom-and-pop shop handling all kinds
Welcome back!!! Nice to have a bit of a break after such an amazing 5 months of pushing the show to new heights and crossing that 500,000-download mark. First show back and we are geared to reach over 300 shows and 1 million downloads this year, stay tuned because it will all happen, and more.On with the first show of 2022.Alex Maggiacomo, manager of Universal Aluminum Products, 41 years in business is on the show and we have a lot to discuss the wonderful world of window, door, trim, soffit, an
#207 Millennials Choice Group of Companies with Matthew Ablakan - Let’s talk investing your money
In our last show of 2021, we end things with a lot of great information about where to spend your hard-earned money with pre construction condos. Matthew opens the show with a few reasons why tradespeople are the perfect candidate for real estate investing. Matthew takes us back to his humble beginnings, immigrant old school parents, he started working in service jobs and that led him studying 2 degrees in university. During his hustling days and making 25K per year and working and studying e
#206 Tyrone Nickel from Nickel General Contracting is on the show, and he has a lot of years to share
I have known Ty for over 11 years, with his Irish background his name comes from the county Tyrone in Ireland. He’s been in construction since 1987, right out of college, always loved working with his hands, went through 2 recessions, shut down his Canadian business in 2004 to move to the USA and work there, he has dual citizenship, so you know he has seen a lot so you don’t want to miss this show. Now Ty began as a summer job with his first business, Deck Masters working in the Toronto downto
#205 Frontiers Design Build building the right construction team
We have a full house on the show today, no less than 8 members of the Frontiers Design Build team, from the 3 owners, James Savoie, Doug Taylor, and Adam Taylor and then we have 5 of their employees, Jeremy Muzzell, Mac Myers, Patt Davis, Jesse Ranch and Graeme Fraser.We have quite the show for you today, we will be discussing the partnership, hiring, project planning, expanding the business, taking things from hardscape and landscape to full builds to high performance building. With 17 employee
#204 Mike Belley from Belley Renovations is back to discuss toxic masculinity on the jobsite
In our last show of the 24-hour event we discuss a topic that no construction cares to discuss but this is The Construction Life. As a GC we ae asked to handle so many details, on and off the job site, recognizing what our clients, crews, sub trades, suppliers are going through on a day-to-day basis. Where does this type of behavior come from, where does it begin? We feel it begins and comes from competition; competitive behavior breeds this type of environment. Construction is 100% about co
#203 Jesse Barbosa is back to discuss what’s been going on with the growth of his framing business
Jesse has now joined the 3rd guest show appearance club and we couldn’t be happier as we have watched him grow his business over the course of our show. Welcome back Jesse, on with the show.Jesse gets Manny and Carlito to join in for the opening track and it’s great. Where do we begin with this show, it’s 6am and we are down to the last 3 shows of the event, the sun is starting to rise and Carlito and Manny are back with some energy. Jesse begins with a major foundation fuck up, funny enough it
#202 WELCOME BACK CrewMenGroup Taha has a lot more to share on the show – hold onto your tool belt
Taha (T) is back and gearing to go 3am in the morning and it all begins with where he left off the last time, a 400K fuck up. Sit back and enjoy the many lessons T has to share on this show and we appreciate him being a part of our craziness. Back to the 400K involving a union roof job that certain things didn’t get done and then T and his crew were asked to make holes in the roof for the anchoring points, but the next trade decided to go home and not do the work. Lesson learned and big ups t
#201 Adrian Schwantz from C.R.C Contracting Inc is here to discuss ICF and more of his construction life
One O’clock in the morning and Manny and Carlito are still at it and thanks so much for Adrian for making the trek for such a late night or early morning show, much appreciated. Adrian began his career with ICF at the young age of 14 years old, learned so much with the right builder, then decided to get his mechanic ticket, hated it and got right back into building homes and the rest is history and will be shared on this show. Adrian has worked with and used every type of ICF block, and his pref
#200 Significant Others and what we as tradespeople put our loved ones through every single day.
This has been an idea for a show since our very first show and here we are 200 shows later and we finally get to record a show about our significant others and what tradespeople put our loved ones through every single day of The Construction Life. We have Carlito, his wife couldn’t make it, Jason from The Keystone Contractor is back with his wife Laura and Manny and his girlfriend Bela are here to chat the other half of the business. This should be interesting. The men speak up and accept what
#199 Danny Dosca is BACK for more TCL talk and this round we will talk about the future of tradespeople, young and old.
“Tough times create strong men. Strong men create easy times. Easy times create weak men. Weak men create tough times.” The quote, from a postapocalyptic novel by the author G. Michael Hopf, sums up a stunningly pervasive cyclical vision of history. That is what this show will be about. Plenty of older tradespeople are nervous of the future of construction including the 3 on today’s show. Danny sparks the conversation about what will happen when the older generation of tradespeople decide
#198 Kurt Snell of Snell Contracting Services Inc talking his young construction life and young trades
With today’s show we cast a wide construction net, but Kurt wants to focus on young trades, young business owners, the youth of construction, as the older trades prepare to step down, where is the industry going to be in the next decade, a particular favorite topic at TCL. Strap on the tool belt, this will be one hell of a great show. The show begins with Kurt’s experience with George Brown and how it was a huge positive step in his career path, sharing the teachers, the classroom sizing and
#197 The Finish Carpentry Trim Team is here – Gary Mares Fabio Andrede and finally we have Joe Nicolau
WARNING - This show is raw and honest and if you’re not interested in the real version of The Construction Life then please don’t listen. Very Explicit conversations on this show.What a show we have for you during our craziness of 24 hours of podcast and 14 shows, finally reaching the halfway mark we have 3 of the best finish carpenters in the Greater Toronto Area on the show and boy will the fun be let loose like sawdust in the wind. We begin the show discussing suppliers and the quality of m
#196 Quaid Sturdy of Sturdy Contracting Co Young Contractor talking the future of construction
What a great show we have with Quaid Sturdy from Sturdy Contracting Co. and he’s going to share what he’s been doing being so young in Trades and why he sees such an optimistic future in construction. At 24 years old Quaid is very interested in meeting, speaking, absorbing from as many tradespeople as possible. Quaid walks us through his journey from working with his dad’s electrical co to busted up collar bone to all types of employment to finally getting into construction for good. Then we
#195 Tyler Stott from Stott HVAC is back to talk loads more heat loss calculations and advancing your business
Welcome to the wonderful world of HVAC, Tyler is back to discuss his business, the HVAC business and more. Working for an established HVAC brand Tyler was making suggestions on where to take the business how to grow with the times and his ideas, the powers at be didn’t want to go in that direction so after many ups and downs and Tyler watching his sales go up but revenue go down, Tyler decided to take the leap and go on his own. He partnered with someone, plus a helper, one van they were off i
#194 Mental Health and Tradespeople with Taylor Pagniello from Rise Psychotherapy
This is one show Carlito and Manny have wanted to do since the very beginning. We are going to upset some, we are going to bring up some issues that most don’t discuss, we will discuss addictions, anxiety, suicide, depression and more. This show might not be for everyobe but it’s a conversation we must have and at TCL we will never hide from speaking the truth.Taylor is here to discuss mental health on the jobsite and how to handle yourself, your trades and the construction industry. She is a Re
#193 Snow Removal Contracting and Electrician running the business and a workplace injury with Giancarlo Ianni of Ironwolf Services
Running two businesses, at times 3 or even 4 or more, Giancarlo is snow removal, contracting, landscaping, property maintenance and electrician. We begin the show discussing the winter wonderful world of snow removal. Servicing from Toronto to Huntsville, Giancarlo has figured out how to run his business for the season and avoiding all the issues most new guys fall victim too. The conversation quickly turns to trucks and maintaining those work trucks and Giancarlo shares some amazing insight int
#192 Alonso from Clueless Framer and Kase from Alchemist Carpenter 2 framers from different perspectives
We have Alonso from Casa Nueva Contracting Inc and Kase from Alchemist Carpentry discussing framing, union, non union and all kinds of framing. Alonso is a George Brown graduate, would he do it the same way? He says no, he says he would have gone the appprentice route and jumped into framing. He's been framing for 8 years now. Then with Kase he is no longer a part of the union and working the custom homes. With a background in hospitality then school for animation then fell into carpentry and jo
#191 Terrazzo Tile & Marble Association with Tod Valickis the newly appointed president of TTMAC – lots to talk about
77 years of educating and changing the Terrazzo Tile and Marble industry for the better, we have an amazing show to share today where Tod will not be sugar coating anything and sharing so much valuable information when it comes to this part of the construction industry.First up substrates, we discuss the proper ways subfloors were built, were engineered and these days clients are asking for far more out of the structure of the home and every tile installer and GC must understand this information
#190 Marc Fraser from Craigmhor Construction is here to discuss all kinds of numbers associated with tradespeople
Marc was having a conversation with Manny and 5 mins in, this show idea came up, we have to share this. Marc recently had a Zoom call with our Minister of Labour and he’s going to share that talk. We are going to talk about getting into trades and why teenagers should consider consruction as a career, we are going to talk about wages and rates, running your business, working for someone, we are going to compares construction to other career options, we are going to talk about Guidance Counselors
#189 Stu from Brollyrenos, Justin from JMP Carpentry, Jason the Keystone Contractor discussing old and new schools of construction
We stir the pot and begin the show discussing rates and how trades should be working towards billing $1000.00 per day, once that has been stirred we hear from Stu and Justin and how they got started, interesting stories as Stu if 50 and Justin is 26. Stu does share the way the UK handles aprrenticeships versus how it is handled here in Canada. It’s refreshing to hear from the 3 different perspectives of a seasoned tradesperson like Jason, an immigrant who built a successful business like Stu a
#188 Manny and Carlito hit this one solo and discuss a variety of construction topics and the upcoming 200th show event
It’s great to have Carlito back on the mic, he needed to take the year long break and focus on important details in his life. We have all missed him. On today’s show Manny and Carlito discuss a variety of construction topics from wages, rates and worth, bad clients, where will the indystry be in 10 years, failed products, construction scenarios and how to handle them, client and contractor releationships, listener DM’s, emails, questions, shout outs, and more, plenty more, there is always more
#187 Deck Protect Inc. Jon Witt is on the show discussing his decking career, offering up deck maintenance and a love for wood
We have a great show today, Jon Witt from Deck Protect Inc discuss his humble beginnings from trade schooling with horticulture technician, hardscaping, followed by a few different trade jobs ultimately falling into decking and fencing just as the recession and family were growing adding to so much stress, isn’t that always the case, hard times makes hard trades. Let’s get talking all kinds of decking products, maintaining those decking products and understanding you truly are making an extensi
#186 Danny Dosca our first Montreal based tradesperson discussing bricklaying, renovating and
Sit back and enjoy this special show where we will be discussing family, old school, new school, all kinds of bricklaying, building in Montreal, more family, food, history and more, Danny has a lot to share and of course, we will upset a few, it’s The Construction Life.Danny begins his journey almost 40 years ago when his Dad immigrated to Canada, the family followed, sisters married two brothers and they became a crew of hardworking old school bricklayers and they always helped each other out a
#185 Michael Ferreira from Rose Gold Homes & Design a custom builder in his twenties
Carlito is back on the mic, it’s been over a year since he was last heard on the show, nice to have him back and sharing so much about The Construction Life. Carlito will be on future shows, and he will be part of an event happening in November, stay tuned to learn more.On with the show, Michael from Rose Gold Homes & Design, 29 years old, a custom home builder since he was 22. He set out a plan to make his business a successful brand and it’s working. We open the show discussing delays, schedul
#184 Mat is here to discuss big machine rentals a side of the construction industry most don’t know about
Thank you Mat for being on the show and opening the show with a little ACDC. Mat works for a large rental corporation and due to some legal logistics, we must keep the name out of the show. There are times where I want to interview certain big-name brands, but it’s takes months if not years to get approvals and instead of waiting and jumping through hoops, we record a show and still share valuable information. We also discuss a bunch of other construction details on this show, such as working in
#183 James Malinowski from JM Insul on the show to talk insulation and so much more
We have a great show, talking about insulation, all types of insulation, batts, cellulose, closed cell, open cell and sound proofing. James walks us through his first year running his own business and the last 9 years working with his dad who has been insulating for 35 plus years, how the batts have changed. James discusses different types of insulations and applications, and he knows his building code. We go from old 2x4 walls of the 80’s and 90’s to R24 of today to spray foam, proper spray f
#182 Woodcraft Furniture with Oliver Kremeris and the OG Mark Mager
What an amazing show we have today, we are going to talk about solid wood furniture making with Oliver the current Business Manager and owner and Mark the original owner who recently retired and has passed on the business over to the digital age. Sit back and enjoy what these gentlemen have to share because Woodcraft began by someone who really didn’t know about furniture making but he had a passion for it, then it was passed onto another person who also didn’t have the skills for furniture des
#181 Ontario RediMix Concrete with Marco Carlini - The Supplier side of the concrete business
10 years in the business currently working as Supervisor Sales of Operations, Marco actually went to school, worked at a bank, that didn’t last and went right back into construction, specifically concrete where his uncles taught him so much, he has concrete in his blood so a year into the banking industry he was back to learning the ropes, being yelled at, understanding different mixes, scheduling and so much more, in no time he was part of the concrete family. With 5 plants and over 100 trucks
#180 Caledon Timber Frames with Roland Skuce – Post and Beam old school framing
Roland Skuce and Dan Ray partners in Caledon Timber Frames for nearly a decade with 5 employees and still growing. They have known each other since grade 2, worked as stick framers for Roland’s Dad, a custom builder, and his dad was a plumber so the guys were familiar with the trades. They both attended Fanshawe College and studied Construction Engineering, with a focus in Carpentry Techniques, from there they took an intense 3-month timber framing course at College of the Rockies and all this
#179 Scott Westlake from the Westlake Team is here to discuss mortgages, all kinds of lending options
Scott is a mortgage broker and entrepreneur; he has a lot to share regarding the misunderstood industry of lending. We begin the show discussing building business relationships the old school way, a phone call, a meeting, speaking in person and getting a better understanding of the client’s needs. Scott is here to discuss how to finance a recreational property, a cottage, a piece of land, construction, development, luxury real estate, and more, his team loves the challenge, and they will make it
#178 It’s the Electrical show with Andrew from Azores Construction & Electrical and Jalen Lam
We have quite the show today, Andrew Padre Cura and Jalen Lam will be sharing the whole electrical truth, trades, and the industry, might want to buckle in for this one. Two Conestoga graduates under the Electrical Technician Program, nothing but praise about the school. Andrew opens the show with an interesting story with every perfect storm possible, wiring mistakes, ministry of labour arriving on site, unsafe work site and no PPE.5 mins early, makes you 10 mins late, arrive on site and ready
#177 Work Wear with the ultimate shop Work N Wear for all your work and safety wear needs
Aadil from WorknWear is on the show today, since 1975 they have been outfitting tradespeople and more with the proper work wear, safety wear, fire rated wear, long underwear, and more. I have a huge amount of respect for Aadil and his staff and how they treat everyone that enters the shop, buys online, the same way, with respect because Aadil knows you work hard as a tradesperson. Aadil shares his insight on which products and why are they good for your specific trade and application, he has n
#176 Chris Clarry from Hardwork Canada is on the show talking High Rise maintenance and more.
Today’s show is all about high rise maintenance with Chris Clarry of Hardwork Canada, Chris goes where most of us will never, fixing things that should never have failed, but they do because erecting high-rise structures is all about how fast, not how good. Chris is truly a forensic contractor, sourcing out why buildings are failing, assessing things, and then making the proper repairs one time.Coming from a troubled youth and even getting into drugs, Chris was able to pull himself out that worl
#175 Motivating Educating and Empowering Tradespeople with Dimitri from Pure Motivation Fitness
Coming from a broken home with a single mom raising him and his brother, life was hard for his family and when he found fitness it became his escape. Training begins with body types, which of the 3 are you? Ectomorph, Mesomorph, Endomorph, focus on your body type to begin with. At 21 with the help of his wrestling coach, Dimitri was able to compete in his first show and he won. From there he worked in fitness clubs, good and bad ones, mostly bad ones, he saw where they could improve and how to i
#174 GL Plumbing with Jeff DiGiantommaso Canadian Italian Master Plumber with a lot pride and love for construction
Jeff from GL Plumbing is on the show today, commercial and residential master plumber. He understands his Italian surname but always questioned his first name, his mom wanted him to blend in, but he stands out, he’s one of the best plumbers in the industry and today he will share a lot of love for the industry, the trade, the people he works with and for. Hold on, this will be an amazing podcast and listen up all you younger trades looking for an opportunity.Jeff began his plumbing career the ol
#173 Master Electrician, Fire Alarms, Safety and the Whole Wide Construction World with Patricio
Welcome to TCL’s longest show to date, over 2 hours and for good reason. Patricio and his lovely wife, Pricilla is on the show. The focus on this show will be about safety but we will discuss electrical, a few other trades, the industry, schools, new trades, old trades and right back to safety. Patricio with 22 years of electrical experience, master electrician and fire alarms certified. At 18 years old he had a bad accident on site and a pair of safety goggles could have saved his eye from blin
#172 Taping and Beyond with Sunaina talking plastering, females in construction, puppies, harassment and more
We have one hell of a great show today, Sunaina, a self-taught taper with 6 years in the business, coming from university degrees to bartender, to construction, to dog grooming and more. Sunaina will not be holding back, she has a lot to say about the construction life and yes, we will discuss men and women in construction and how men treat women and why.A first for TCL we have a puppy on the show, Sir Nicholas Liam will be sharing a few of his thoughts throughout the show which brings us to a s
#171 Alair Homes Springwater with Owner Norbert Lengyel and Operations Manager Curtis Stein
Curtis got his start with his Dad who was a tradesperson, working at a very young age and learning the ropes, from there decided to open and run his own business for 5 years, loved it and then Norbert suggested he take over as his Operation Manager. The connection was made over IG, Curtis was interested, Norbert was interested in taking his business in new directions and needed to find the right tradespeople. One of the first questions Norbert asked Curtis, how would you like to build your busin
#170 Paolo Foglia – Fogliatile - Stone, Masonry, Tile, Marble Restoration / Installer and Expert
A true stone artist, Paolo talks to us about his beginnings, his arrival to Canada, the country he loves because it has given him so much. Paolo was a peacekeeper, in the army, Special Forces as a teenager and into his 30’s, working for the government studying civil engineering in college back in Italy, originally from Viciano, on the edge of Naples. Paolo’s construction career began with him studying history, studying techniques from centuries back, studying what and how and why Michelangel
#169 David Maniccia of Luco Design & Build shares his 20 plus years of navigating through construction
Before the mics get recording David’s brother drops off some amazing food from Ombretta Cucina, amazing pizzas from Pizzeria Rosso…OMG So good. Thank you so much. Check them out and trust me, you will love the food. Open the show with a listener message from Mike Dunn from Washington @m1keandike24 asking how he can start on his own and some of the things to consider when you make that move. We are going to talk about everything, how he got started, who taught him, building a business from scr
#168 Chris Allen of On Point Contracting talking hiring, working and sourcing out new leads in construction
We open the show with a recent message from @seantaggy which pretty much set the tone of today’s show. Sean had a lot to ask being a new listener to TCL and loves the show, he has since gone back to the beginning and has been listening to all the shows. Huge thanks Sean and I hope the shows and this show help you. I will say this much Sean, M.A.P will be a huge resource for all your questions and this exclusive membership will launch before the year is over, watch for it and I encourage you c
#167 Julia Rose - The Brick Chick is on the show talking all kinds of brick, block, stone and restoration work
We have Julia Rose AKA The Brick Chick on the show, 26 years young, 3 years in the business, a young and skilled mason leading the way for men and women in the industry. Julia at a young age had a lot of mental health, drug addictions issues, it was a hard time for her. She was considering post education and unlike her friends looking at universities and a mountain of student loan debt, she chose to be a mason. Never worked as a mason, never apprenticed as any trade, didn’t really know constr
#166 Julie Sawchuk Accessible Solutions Inc. Accessible Design Construction and more
Training for a triathlon Julie was biking and was hit by a car and paralysed from the breastbone down. Thrown 30 feet, split her head, broke teeth, broke her nose, broke ribs, broke her spine in two places, T4 and L1. 5 people every day sustain a spinal cord injury in Ontario. Fast forward 6 years and Julie is now an Accessibility Strategist.How do we begin having conversations with accessible clients? Just have the same conversations you would have with other clients, no reason to beat around t
#165 Peter from Picasso Interior Con – Crown Moulding / 3D Plaster Walls / Waffle Ceilings & Stone Veneers
25-year-old Peter, working at this trade for 8 years now is going to talk about Styrofoam plaster mouldings, coffered ceilings, waffle ceilings, diamond patterns, accent walls and so much more. The reason Peter started his business and has always built to a certain standard, he was disgusted with where the construction industry was going. Peter gets very passionate about million-dollar custom homes with upgrades that have no value because the builders use the cheapest of the cheap material, such
#164 Plaster Masters with Shane Wile - A lot to learn from this young tradesperson and business owner
23-year-old tradesperson with a lot of passion and heart for the industry and he loves Frank Sinatra, hold on, this is going to be one great show. His Dad taught him only one way to be a tradesperson, the right way, he taught him how to build better, and be better. Losing his Dad at a young age was very hard for the family, really sorry for your loss Shane.Shane has a solid base for his business and what was key, was his crew, his trio of tapers, himself, Saudi and Adam, Shane’s plan is to find
#163 Kevin Carty the Friendly Mason From Irish Farmer to Autoparts to Mason in Canada
Open the show with a great Irish work song and we get chatting about Ireland, the beautiful country and people, the great food and work ethic. What a pleasure to have Kevin on the show and everyone knows Manny will always have a special place for the masonry trades. On with the show. Arriving in Canada in January, five years ago got into autoparts first, and after a number of odd jobs including the rickshaws by the Skydome aka Rogers Centre, yes he did that for a little while to build up his en
#162 Talking cigars with Mike from Toronto Habanos – Listen and you understand why cigars and construction
We are @speducci recording the show on the patio, Rosie and company are always amazing for letting the show record there, it’s quickly becoming the Speducci Studios for the TCL Podcast, thanks guys.Open the show with a few shout outs.Tim from BC @poundforpoundframers Tim from Akron Ohio sent me an email. @southcoaststudio rocking some great Schluter projects. Rob from @galaxyplumbinginc had a pic to share. John from @greekbuilder asking me to do a show on “approved” programs. Marco from @el
#161 Waddell Engineering is back for some more talk on engineering with Jim Caruk this round
Larry and Brian are back on the show and Jim is joining us to talk loads and load calculations, hold on to your tool belts, the math is going to be massive on this episode of The Construction life. The last time the Waddell guys were on the show was May of 2021 with a two-part show, #77 and #78 and now they are back to educate us a lot more on the wonderful world of engineering. We begin discussing upgrades to active factory set ups and how they engineer new ways to move in new machinery, from
#160 Matt Feeney of Feeney Design Build going from 8 builds in 2020 to building 25 homes this year
Matt opens the show with Darius Rucker “Wagon Wheel”, great way to open the show. Operating this business for 13 years, coming from a family of tradespeople with his Dad being an old school carpenter, Matt always had a hunger for construction but he never wanted to be that “guy” that just gave in and gave up and stopped caring.Matt works with realtors to secure lots, he brings in other builders, friends in the industry and they share the lots, they work together to build each other’s business, t
#159 Retired Ontario Building Official and College Professor Glen Good is here to share so much about CODE, Inspections and Training
We open the show by letting our listeners know Mr. Jim Caruk is back on the show and it’s great to have him back on the mic sharing so much valuable information about The Construction Life, thanks Jim.On with the show, this show is all about the team, working together for the greater good of the building industry. Glen has a lot to say about the building code and how things have changed over the last 4 decades. You don’t want to miss this show and this one show will be one that is listened to
#158 Adnan is back talking more on Modular Shipping Containers with Acad Modular Part II
We love having guests return to the most listened to construction podcast and we love continuing the great conversations that move this amazing industry forward. Adnan was on the show way back in March of 2020, episode #56, please check out that show. On today’s show we further discuss C Cans, building with Shipping Containers, Modular Building and more, I even come up with an interesting idea for designing shipping container dog houses for our furry friends. Let’s get talking everything to
#157 The Construction Life includes motorcycles – Carmine from The Dukes of Cycle is here to talk motorcycle technician and motos
Something a little different but not, today’s show is extremely relevant to the construction life, so many tradespeople ride motorcycles. Bikes are a huge part of our downtime, keeping us sane, inspiring us and our renovations, dealing with clients and more. Carmine has been my service tech for a while now and has taken care of my 1999 Ducati Monster Dark 750 which has evolved into a different kind of Monster over the 22 years of owning it. Have a listen to this special show as Carmine shares
#156 Sheet Metal Steve is on the show talking all things metal and more
Stephen currently is a project manager with Black and MacDonald but got his start in sheet metal fabrication, he has his Red Seal and is also working on achieving 3 more Red Seals, Plumbing, HVAC and Electrical. He’s not trying to be greedy; he wants to educate others and build this amazing industry even further. For the past 8 years he has been teaching sheet metal at a high school in Toronto in his spare time, educating the new generation of tradespeople, preparing them for real life construct
#155 The Construction Team with the most of everything is on the show WELCOME CrewMenGroup
We have one hell of a show today, our 2nd longest show to date and for very good reason, Taha, Sal and Z from Crew Men Group are here and ready to share so many construction lives experiences. Prepare to be inspired, the gentlemen from Crew Men Group will get you to remember why you got into construction. From the hood to demo to building, these guys will never hold back how passionate they are. It all began in their early teens and demo with a friend’s father, the old man wanted the boys to sta
#154 Steve Andrews from Structural Reinforcement Solutions talking about Carbon Fiber reinforcement over concrete
What a great show we have today, talking about carbon fiber reinforced polymer and the countless residential and commercial applications in construction. Discussing basement cracking, bowing, leaks, settling and more and how this product can repair these and many other issues. We get right into the science behind the carbon and epoxy, the engineering, installing and training.The process begins with images and or site visits of the issue, it’s never as simple as one stop solution, the objective i
#153 Brock Peel from Advanced Property Solutions 5 months into construction after leaving a 6-figure diesel tech position
Brock opens the show with a great rendition of a track from Tennessee Ernie Ford and covered by Johnny Cash. What a great opener, thanks Brock. Brock is young and ambitious, 25 years old and left a well-paying 6-figure field service tech position with Tormont Cat to start a career in construction, just jumped right in and loving it, that was 5 months ago. What a great story to share, don’t want to miss this one. One last thing before we begin, Brock was kind enough to bring me some maple syrup a
#152 Joe from Tip Top Exteriors is on the show talking about all kinds of exterior cladding
Started in the cladding business when he was 17, he’s now 37 and has learned a lot and of course has come across all the tradespeople that are negative when it comes to wanting to build better. Joe has always been about learning about new products, new techniques, push the industry forward and offer client’s better products and service. This will surprise our listeners, Joe found new employees through the local YMCA, yes that’s correct, up to 90% of the new employee’s wages are covered up to 3 w
#151 The Keystone Contractor is on the show – Jason has a lot to say about The Construction Life
Jason of The Keystone Contractor is on the show finally, been chatting on IG for years and it’s a great pleasure to have him on the show. Huge shout out to his lovely wife, Laura for baking these amazing goodies for me, OMG, so good, thank you so much.From high school to the military to anything and everything during his 20’s. A self-taught tradesperson where he will try to educate himself as best and as most as he can and do a great a job and onto the next thing. Jason has built a solid wind
#150 Bram Weitzman a GC with 16 years of experience and it wasn’t until his 14th year he finally figured it out.
We open the show with a massive Beastie Boys track, thanks Bram. Bram got started in construction because he owned a frat house and his friend/partner was moving out and Bram was getting married and they needed to fix the place and sell in. Picked up a hammer and that was about 15/16 years ago. Before construction and before tending bar Bram was a licensed auto mechanic. Then life kick in hard for Bram, back issues, left being a mechanic, went back to school for IT, at the start of his new caree
#149 Linda Kafka from Livable Canada is back and talking more Wellness Building – Healthy Options for your home
We open the show with a few shout outs to @marescarpentry @galeforcemasonry @oliverlumber Ian reached out, needed to have a couple of custom planter boxes made out of Ipe, I reached out to Gary Mares, picked up the lumber from Oliver Lumber and things are being built, the power and positivity of Social Media. Thanks guys and looking forward to seeing them.A fan mail and question, Darrel Kwan from @dk_tile asks us how to handle the next job when the current job is running late or being added to p
#148 Engineer and Architect in one Gabe Faraone from GPF Design Services Inc is here
What an amazing show we have today, Gabe is an Architect Technologist and Engineer and Building Consultant all rolled into one person. It all began with his Father who a Building Consultant from Italy but never certified as an Architect. Find Gabe at GPF Design Services Inc. gpfdesign@hotmail.com 416 656-0134This show is all about the structural planning and design of most residential structures, here in Ontario, building this way is Part 9 of the Ontario Building Code and Gabe dives deep into t
#147 Let’s discuss budgets during these crazy construction days
Jim and Manny and no guests and no wine as we sneak this show in before the long weekend, Canadian Victoria Day and the US Memorial Weekend. Shout outs!!!Zoe reached out to us, her boyfriend/tradesman Jeremy is a huge fan and loves listening to the show, find him @jeremydoiron Jamal, AKA to his friends as J loves the show and wanted to say hello, find him @agdrywallandtaping Taylor, another fan and loves listening to the shows on his long drives to and from work. Started his career at 18, he’s
#146 DGR Concrete Forming is back with the 4 members of the concrete business and more
The show opens with a little tease about a BBQ and “non alcoholic” beverages on the table at the make shift concrete studio in the DGR shop and what is and was the concrete industry all about, Jorge has some great insight into this question and how it all connects to track building and sub division work and scope.With a crew of 15 from as young as 22 and as old as 63 and everyone has something to say about that age bracket. All 4 guests share why they love concrete so much and in the end, it’s i
#145 Right Choice Plumbing with Danny, Jim’s plumber for over 20 years with a lot of stories
We have quite the amazing show today, old school vs new school, technology, banking, recession, dating advice, clients, designs and oh right, we finally get to plumbing, everything to do with plumbing and the construction life. G. Michael Hopf“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” The quote is from a post-apocalyptic novel called “Those Who Remain” by the author G. Michael Hopf. One could be tempted to say that th
#144 Ridley Windows and Doors and a load more about construction relationships
We open the show with no song, we have David Cairns the VP of Business Development at Ridley Windows and Doors and he was caught off guard…wink wink Jim.Then we really open the show with some terribly sad insider info about the lumber industry and what’s really going on, Jim and Manny have to share this with the listeners and the industry. You must listen to what we discovered and prepare your business for more increases and possible hardships ahead. We run the gambit of all of this madness, a
#143 Q&A Part V with Jim and Manny another round of questions and comments
Let’s begin. Jason from @propertymaxdevelopment_corp discusses the pandemic and how there isn’t more support from so called “influencers” on social media. Jarrett from @pacificwildgeneralcontracting from Winnipeg brings up a new bullshit bylaw the city will be presenting to go after homeowners who didn’t get a permit. Andrew Maida from Georgian Renovations loves the show, would love to find the remaining seasons of Real Renos on Canadian Amazon Prime and would love to have a coffee with us to
#142 Finish Carpentry with Gary Mares Carpentry and Fabio FNA Custom Woodworking revealing so much about the craft
We open the show with a Portuguese classic Fabio belts out, thank you sir for such an amazing opening number.We are at the Mare’s Carpentry and Construction Inc. Workshop and Jim and Manny are very impressed. Gary is back on the show, @marescarpentry the one and only email him at marescarpentry@gmail.com and this time Gary has brought Fabio Andrerde from FNA Custom Woodworking @fabio.andrede51 and email him at Fabio.andrede.en69@gmail.com Fabio has been in Canada for 6 years, we have 2 finish t
#141 We are at Skilled Trades College of Canada doing a Q&A with the students
We are at the Skilled Trades College of Canada where Ralph started a hands on school for pre apprentice electricians, pre apprentice plumbers and he even started a introductory home reno course. With 65-70 student in each of the three school in the Toronto area, Ralph is adding to the industry. A little bit of background atmosphere as the classes are still going on when Jim and I arrive there to record a special show. Find the school at www.skilledtradescollege.ca on IG @stc_canada and email to
#140 The rising costs of construction material – Jim and Manny share some insights on the critical mass.
A minor technical glitch at the start of the show, 2 mins and then we get back to normal. Must be Manny with way too much on his plate these days. We discuss the rising costs of material, from lumber to metals, to everything is seeing increases and we begin with the why. We begin the show with stats on how high lumber prices have gone from the 80’s to as recent as 2020 and how the USA is Canada’s #1 customer followed by China as #2 and that leaves next to nothing for the Canadian industry.
#139 Almost 40 years of residential, high rise and now exclusive condo construction with Joe Ferrara
We are back at the R Club recording another great podcast with my guest co-host John from Craft and Clerk and Stones Throw Construction, we open the show with a few shout outs and a special shout out to the wine that John brings, thank you Sir.Find Joe from Napa Valley Developments at www.napavalleycontracting.com and joe@napavalleycontracting.com and he is not on social media and Manny is very happy to hear that. The bell is wrung when Joe presents the truth behind a lot of social media images
#138 Our first phone in podcast with Adrian and Byron from Calgary talking all kinds of construction
Our first guests from outside of the Greater Toronto Area. We chat with two builders from Calgary, and we discuss how they build and what motivated them to begin Builders and Brews. Here is the contact info.Adrian: @uniqueprojectsyyc https://www.uniqueprojects.ca/Byron; @brookwright_construction http://brookwright.ca/ Both involved in @buildersandbrews https://www.buildersandbrews.ca/ and @home_upkeep http://homeupkeep.ca/ We apologize for the bad connection as we tried a new mixing board an
#137 Q&A Show Part IV with Jim and Manny and questions, comments, praise keep coming in
Another great Question & Answer show with Jim and Manny. A jam-packed show with another long list of questions, comments, inquiries and more all about The Construction Life.We open the show with Jim mentioning @renosforheroes and how the pandemic has made it tough to get donations to help our wounded soldiers. Jim and Manny as asking for tradespeople to go to the web site www.renosforheroes.organd donate any amount. Thank you so much for the support.On with the show!!Here is who reached out to u
#136 Parkview Building Supplies with Laurie who holds her own in a man’s construction world
Let’s get dirty, we are talking about those heavy big boy toys full of all kinds of dirt, and concrete materials, we are going to dive into this world and the world that Laurie has been a part of for 22 years, and Parkview has been in business since 1995 and she doesn’t take any crap from anyone. We open the show by talking about her Dad, the person who built the business because nobody was doing what he needed done so with a few interesting phone calls to friends and family, Parkview Building
#135 Laneway Custom Building with Joel taking construction to new areas of the city
Joel, like Noel, is Laneway Custom Builds, a red seal framer from North Bay came to Toronto nearly a decade ago and jumped into urban construction. Joel has come across almost every type of “urban” scenario, neighbors, deliveries, inspections, tradespeople, working in very tight lots and spots, did we mention neighbors? Getting started with garage building, with his own being the first due to the neighborhood arsonist being kind enough to set his car on fire. Joel had absolutely nothing to do
#134 Cottage Country Real Estate with Steve Haid how to buy that second property
We have a great show for our listeners, let’s talk about buying that second property for yourself or to rent out, a place to getaway, a place to experience, a place to fixer upper. Steve is an expert in purchasing these types of properties and he has a lot of great information to share. Find Steve @steve.haid on IG his website www.stevehaid.com his email stevenphaid@gmail.com and his phone number 416 277-6604 The wine is on the table, a bottle for each of the three nationalities represented
#133 Q&A Show Part III with Jim and Manny and this show gets very real.
We open the show with a phone call to Adrian in Calgary Alberta chatting with him from @uniqueprojectsyyc giving our listeners a brief glimpse into what the great folks out west are doing with @buildersandbrews along with @brookwright_construction stay tuned for a whole show with them. There is a lot more to share on the great construction and contractors going on across Canada.After the call with Adrian we shift gears on the already scheduled Q&A show Jim and Manny had planned, Jim wants to say
#132 From being a Chef to becoming a Contractor Belley Renovations has a great way to renovate your home
Mike opens up the show with a funny onsite story that involves this opening song, the avocado!!! We have Mike and Jessica from Belley Renovations, find them on IG @belleyrenovations and www.belleyrenovations.com Navigating the wonderful world of dream kitchen and bathrooms. There is a lot of thought put into the design and functionality of bathrooms and women dictate the start and finish line on that design and function. Manny just lets it all out and starts the conversation down a very inte
#131 Ontario Youth Apprentice Program everything you need to know and more
We have an amazing show today, we have a very special guest, Matthew Bradley from OYAP. Matt works for the TDSB for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program Department. Before OYAP he was a carpentry teacher, before that he was carpenter, before that he was a cabinet maker, and from leaving high school Matt went to study philosophy in university and not really knowing why he did that. LOL. Matt began his career in finance in the UK but working in finance wasn’t satisfying. Left London and m
#130 Cavemen Landscapes with special guest Carlos starting a new business at the start of the pandemic.
Very explicit conversations in this show and a few jabs at DeWalt and Milwaukee.Let’s open the show with some Shabba and some reggae from Carlos and this is how as all construction podcasts should open. LOVE IT!! We have a special Co Host to join Manny, John from Craft And Clerk proposed the idea of joining the show and here we are. Manny is interested in doing more Co-Hosting, so anyone interested in filling in the seat, please reach out to Manny.Carlos a little nervous to be on the show opens
#129 Another Q&A with Jim & Manny please keep the questions coming
The show opens with a mic check and a bottle of wine, Pinot Grigio this round. Back at the evening podcast recording session and Jim and Manny are answering a lot of listener questions. We have a great show for everyone, talking about all details of construction and Mr. Smith returns with more information from the wonderful world of the Ontario Building Code. Let’s open the show with a classic scenario where a sprayfoam trade is being asked by the client to provide documentation for her occup
#128 Talking with Edward from Ridgewood Building Group, Young, Asian and Motivated
What a great show we have today, Edward talks to us about being taught all the wrong lessons and he will be the first to admit the stereotype behind Asians and construction, how it’s always fast and cheap is the best and only way to renovate. Edward talks about going to post school, leaving in his 2nd year, he didn’t think school was right for him, but he did end up finding a network of likeminded tradespeople that he eventually turned into Ridgewood. Edward felt school was too simplified and
#127 It’s time for a little Q&A with Jim & Manny
We turn the topics over to our listeners and they have sent in great questions for Jim and Manny to answer and they don’t hold back. From dealing with Building Inspectors to how to price low to high end jobs, to what can trade schools do better when educating for RED Seal, to losing out on the job, to shadowing other contractors, to how to set your pricing and is pricing a constant evolving thing, to clients not willing to pay that final payment, to staying a sole proprietor or make the move to
#126 The Construction Variety Pack of Topics Show with Jim and Manny
Something a little different on today’s show, Jim and Manny just rapid fire the topics and discuss a variety pack of construction hits and misses. We open the show with a little DATA on our followers and how much we have grown since launching the show back in 2019, over 150,000 total downloads with an average of 17,000 downloads per month, with May of 2020 being our biggest month ever, over 30,000 downloads. Thank You to all of our listeners and spreading the word, letting everyone know about
#125 VenturesX a new way to set up your construction office space
We open the show with a few construction terms and the origins of these terms, from Journeyman, the imperial measurements to plumb.Let’s get talking about your next construction office space, the Oakville location has 18, 746 square feet with 63 private offices, 3 boardrooms, a café, a lounge, and a flexible workspace. There are currently 5 locations in the GTA, this Oakville location, 3 in Mississauga and 1 in Richmond Hill with more expansion into Etobicoke, Ottawa, and out West into BC coming
#124 Mike from Integrabell Construction talking about missed opportunities
We open the how at a new venue, we are at VenturesX workspace in Oakville and next week’s show will be all about this space. Thanks Trevor and Joe for offering up the space to record the show.Mike, what a great guy, calls himself the “toolbelt contractor” he loves being on site and seeing what’s happening and doing what needs to be done. Mike is proud of what he does for a living, but even more so proud that people call him a carpenter. Mike has 21 years of great stories, a successful tradespers
#123 Framing Part II with Jesse from Barbosa Carpentry.
Jesse Barbosa is back on the show and finally gets to meet Jim, we get talking loads of Framing. Jesse a 25-year-old framer with a solid crew that has old school heart and love for the trades and the construction life. He’s a hard worker that truly cares about his trade and what happens before, during and after his work, regardless if he can only blame the foundation guys for any issues while everyone else blames the framer. Listen in as Jesse shares some great insight on how he started his bu
#122 Talking Construction Stigmas with Marc from Craigmhor Construction
WE ARE BACK!! It was a nice hiatus, well worth the 4 weeks off and enjoy some downtime to ourselves. We hit 121 podcasts at the end of 2020 and now we are focused on reaching 200 podcasts by the end of 2021. We welcome Marc from Craigmhor Construction back on the show to have a great conversation about stigmas in construction and we just let the conversation roll from there. We open the show on what potential clients think about us showing up at their homes, the way dress, the tools we use,
#121 CAR Design Studio, let’s talk architect and designer with Craig Rietze
We get right into the wonderful world of architects and designers. Talking about the formal education, the on-site education, the real construction life. We even discuss the egos attached to being an architect, a designer and how to handle those egos. Then we jump into the formality of drawings, zoning, committee of adjustments, urban forestry, conservations and all of that fun stuff months, years before that first shovel hits the ground. Jim and Craig walks us through actually attending a Commi
#120 Hey Ladies!! Let’s get a better understanding of female clients and how Contractors treat them
We get right into the world of working for women clients, single professional women, married women and the stigma attached to having a female client. Why do contractors treat the ladies differently? Why can’t all tradespeople treat all clients the same way?Women are concerned that they need to know all of the construction terminology, not true, women and men, all clients need to know what they want, let the contractor worry about the terminology and make sure they are using the proper materials
#119 Talking Small Business and Covid Lockdowns vs Big Corporate and Government
We open the show with a couple of bottles of wine, a few cheeses, salami and bread as any great construction podcast should start.We don’t sugarcoat it…Covid is killing small business or should we say selective lockdown is killing small business. The panel today gets right into the motives behind the Canadian government and how they are handling the pandemic, lockdowns, and small business owners or should we say small business survivors.What is the real reason for this 2nd lockdown? The governme
#118 Construction Nutrition Health and Construction Lifestyle with Sandra Florio
Something a little different but very relevant to our construction life, on today’s show we get right into a lot of health and lifestyle, eating and living. You really need to listen to your body and what your body is telling you because it is telling you a lot and listen up. It really is about what goes into your body has an effect on you, physically and mentally and what needs to come out, what is left inside will do good or bad to your body and mind.Your health begins with your gut, your colo
#117 Are you a Sole Renovation Business or considering a Partnership Renovation Business or have you retired?
Back in the Caruk Hall Boardroom and we have a couple of special guests, Dan Hall from Caruk Hall, Jim’s younger partner in construction crime and Terry a recently retired plumbing expert on today’s show and we are going to talk about the three segments of business ownership and operation.Both Dan and Jim got started in their late teens and went the union route and they partnered up 5 years ago, Terry was independent and started in the 80’s as a renovator and got out in the early 90’s, went into
#116 Talking one of our fav 4 letter words in construction…HVAC with Dan from Tropical Heating and AC
Back in the Caruk Hall Boardroom and we have a special guest, Dan from Tropical Heating and AC and today’s show is all about HVAC and Dan shares his experience for over 30 years, wait till you hear how much things have changed and how little things have stayed the same. Dan started at 19 years of age and eventually got partnered up with his brothers and built up one of the best HVAC teams in the Greater Toronto are and now the sons are working with the Dad’s, truly a Family Business. We discuss
#115 Renos for Heroes with Jim Caruk and two veterans on Remembrance Day 2020
10 years ago Jim was on a road trip across Canada and with a phone call from a friend about his son in law returning from Afghanistan and struggling with his family and new born, Jim came up with Renos for Heroes and wanting to do something. We open the show with Mike and Dean sharing when they join the service and when they retired, the beginning as it turned out was a choice between military or prison, that old cliché. We discuss the connection between every service person and how that broth
#114 Bosch Tools Canada we finally have Steve Ipek Marketing Manager from Bosch on the show
We open the show with a shot across The Construction Life bow when Steve brings up his construction bone, he has a problem with people that talk negatively about tool influencers. We get right into the whole social media influencing game since Manny has been very vocal about calling these “influencers” the Tourist In Construction or TIC’s. Jim asks, what makes these influencers experts? Jim feels it’s the first time that these so called influencers are using these tools and using them in thei
#113 Glass Inserts and Exterior Doors and More with Andrew from Lusso Designs
Andrew is back and we get very technical about glass and metal fabrication and design. The science behind the glass and the techniques and all the great details and expectations of tempered glass. We discuss Prince Rupert’s drops AKA Dutch or Batavian tears about the toughness of glass. Andrew discusses his designs from years back and how they are still difficult to fabricate with today’s tech and how Andrew has had people copy his work but badly and the quick and cheap way.Thank you so much
#112 Luxury TownHome Building with a General and Site Supervisor
We open the show not with a song but rather a story about this General’s first job interview and what he did that secured his employment. We have Camilo a GC and Marta the only female Site Super on this site.We discuss what it is like building to this luxury scale and how the trades of today need way too much handholding, or babysitting or our new term, tradesitting because too many trades simply don’t care enough. We dive deep into what makes these 19 luxury 3500 sq ft 4 story homes way above
#111 Jim and Manny talk about the Renovation Triangle Price, Quality, and Time and you can only have 2.
The newly formed The Construction Life 2.0 with Manny and Jim asking the direct questions about the construction industry. The wine is poured, it’s a nice fall evening and Jim and Manny sit down to talk about the construction life. Let’s talk about Renovation Price, Quality and Time, pick 2. Clients need to understand how this renovation triangle works and why. It always begins with price, that submitted estimate and the clients flipping through the scope and ending at the back page and the
#110 Wish from Wish List Construction joins us and we get talking how he got started late in life
Wish was a metal fabricator and one day the writing was on the wall and he say his termination, worried Wish had no idea what to do next but quickly realized he can do some handyman work until he figures out his next move. Go figure, he got his first job a week after being fired and the work has not stopped. Wish was in his late 40’s when this all happened and with the help of a government program, the SEB Supplement Employment Benefit program that is still active today during these difficult
#109 Construction Law and Lawyers and a lot to do with Contractors and Contracts
We have Rob a Construction Lawyer on the show today. The newly formed The Construction Life 2.0 with Manny and Jim asksing the direct questions about construction legal situations and Rob doesn’t hold back anything. We discuss sourcing out who should represent you, consultants and experts and the bottom line your legal “team” should be like your construction team, they should understand construction and your trade. The legal system is flawed and it favors the clients over the trades that have
#108 We are at Speducci talking construction and food and construction and more food
Rosie and Rob join Manny and Carlito to talk about construction and food and Covid and how things were, how they are and what we hope things will be like soon enough. We get right into how best to cook speducci and we get right the whole menu and how you can step up your lunch game on the job site with a little help from Speducci. Oh and the salt, wait for it, the salt is key. We discuss the upcoming thanksgiving boxes they will be offering, a Canadian AKA mangiacake and the Italian thanksgiv
#107 Talking Safety / PPE / Fall Protection / Ministry of Labour and more with Brafasco
Nobody plans their day in hopes of getting injured on the job. What safety hazards commonly shut down jobsites or create injuries? What’s the deal with PPE and Fall Protection? What could the Ministry of Labour look for if they paid your work a surprise visit?Hear our interesting hard facts about jobsite safety, and some of the very reasonable cost & time saving solutions that are overlooked.We talked about all this – and a lot more – with the folks at Brafasco. Brafasco works directly with trad
#106 Speaking with one of Jim Caruk’s clients about the whole experience
Jim Caruk is my co-host of a newly formed The Construction Life 2.0 where Jim and Manny will be speaking to more people that are passionate about construction. On today’s show we are speaking with Rob Renna about his recently completed project from Caruk Hall Construction. Rob tells the whole truth about working with Jim, why he and his wife went with Jim and his team and how Jim finished the project on time and under budget. The show opens with a great intro by Rob and a lot of food, as Rob
#105 Jake Lintack talks to us about being a 26-year-old construction business owner
Jake arrives at the recording session with famous Hamilton pizza from Shorty’s and swag for us. Jake began his construction career as most of the new generation did, shop class in high school and that led to post construction school at Mohawk and that is when things really changed for Jake. He embraced construction and learned what he could. Once out of school, he worked for a few smaller construction companies and paid his dues. Early 2020 he made the decision to go on his own and then Covi
#104 Adam from Amp Construction is on the show and we are talking about ICF
Adam discusses his path from HVAC to ICF and how his very first experience watching ICF being assembled actually frustrated him, he quickly realized the potential behind this new way of building. Adam truly believes most of the negative attached to ICF has everything to do with how and who is installing, like everything in construction. It is in Adam’s nature to question the status quo and build better, even when an architect questions ICF over the client’s request, the best part is the ICF co
#103 We have the great Peter Lundy a red seal carpenter and former construction teacher on the show
Peter AKA Lundy shares his story with us from a teenager to his home being burned down by the meth lab neighbor and now he is dealing with the government and rebuilding his home in British Columbia.What a great talk with Lundy and prepare for a really emotional show.We open the show with a Construction Bone Lundy has to pick with us and free estimates. His career began with a newspaper article about youth apprenticeship, after searching for a school to attend since most schools were closing the
#102 Flo from Pro Custom Painting is on the show and we are talking young business owner and a little painting
We open the show with the Albanian National Anthem, The Construction Life rendition. Enjoy.Flo lived in Italy for 13 years, 6 in Albania and now 6 in Canada, he hopes to continue to build his legacy right here in the good old SIX. An immigrant coming to Canada and understanding the opportunities is something Manny and Carlito can relate to and can respect. We discuss the work ethics and how immigrants differ, how the life and having so little drives a person to have a better life. Flo has al
#101 Omid The One and Only – The Tile Guy is back with us and talking tile, lots of tile, prep, production and more
It all begins with our latest and greatest segment, Construction Bone to Pick and Carlito has a few things to say about trades that smell.We roll out this 101th show talking about the details of tiling and it begins with thin set. Omid draws a hardline in the mix, he only uses white thin set for all applications, no more grey. We talk about all the brands and the pros and cons of each product. We get into the whole modified and non-modified debate and what has worked for all three of us. The deb
#100 THANK YOU. Carlito and Manny are the guests on this special show
#100 THANK YOU. Carlito and Manny are the guests on this special showHold on as we get to celebrate our 100th show and this round we have the hosts of the most listened to construction podcast be the guests. With over 130 hours of real construction conversations Manny and Carlito have change the industry beginning with one simple message, Good Enough Is Never Good Enough For Us.The show has been turned over to Teddy from Paint Ready Finishing and he does an amazing job getting to know the host
#99 Framing!!! It’s about time. We have Jesse from Barbosa Carpentry with us talking rough framing.
We get right into with a great History with Manny and a perfect Construction Bone to Pick and this time Carlito gets the talk going and Jesse brings up some really strong arguments.Then we finally get talking FRAMING!Jesse is 24 years old and began his career at 19 and fell into framing after a mason site visit that never happened, a framer called and asked him to come in for an interview and that is how he began. Jesse has a 4-man crew including himself, from as young as 20 to as old as 31 and
#98 Homeowner Hell of a Home - We chat with a client and what he went through with an established custom builder
We have a homeowner on the show telling us about his experience with a custom builder that wasn’t a very good contractor. You don’t want to miss this show as we focus on what Mark went through but even better what Mark learned during this whole ordeal that is still going on, he is still paying tuition on that education.We start the show with History with Manny and then our new segment, Construction Bone To Pick with and we go after tradespeople damaging others tools and employees and sub trades
#97 Let’s talk everything to do asphalt and asphalt sealing and more with Leo Ing Asphalt Services
Leo sings an original rap for us and he doesn’t approve of drinking and fishing for the record.Before we get right into asphalt and trust us, that one word will be expressed a number of times on this show, we get briefly talking about millennials and what they are worth, a constant battle of wage vs worth. Bottom line everyone must always deliver on their worth and the moment any tradesperson decides to slow down, not care, make mistakes, because these are choices they made, and when the GC spea
#96 Loft Doors with Jeff and it is a lot more than just custom creative doors, they are works of art and more
We open with the good old boys and what an opener to out show, one of the best ones yet, thanks Jeff for setting the bar. The Loft Doors story actually began with a fireplace mantle that led to a pergola for a client and that very first trip to a dilapidated barn, take as much of the board you want, the owner said to Jeff. Jeff and his creative team considers his pieces as “functional art”. This podcast was an overload of visually stunning pieces in the showroom and a free for all creative se
#95 Maple Leaf Construction Demolition Waterproofing Underpinning and Termite
Chris comes from the Hospitality sector and Jason was always in construction and they thought let’s partner and take on the construction world. Wasn’t an easy task. It all began with a bin business, that led into more reno work, then it was too much to handle without any proper organization so Chris and Jason sat down during the early Covid days and came up with this Business and Employee Guideline Plan they developed and that is when their business actually became a proper business. We begin ch
#94 Turn Key Shoring with Matt and we are talking building a better kind of shoring company
We get right out of The Construction Life gate with food that Matt brought us from Speducci, pizzas, spiedini and more, what a pure gem of a gentleman. Matt began his construction career like most, sweeping floors in sub division and once he saw other trades digging holes for the next build he was hooked and wanted to know everything about excavation. The official term that Matt performs is Engineered Earth Retention Shoring. We get chatting about his very first machine and what that cost him
#93 We have Brendan Goulding and a different take on the apprentice route
We begin with a specific shout out to David from @blucarpentry and how he gets a good laugh at Manny and Carlito having a hard time converting imperial to metric. Enjoy.Brendan gets right into his pretty sweet IG handle @redsealcarpenter and his matching license plate that has been stolen before. Brendan wrote his test, achieved higher than 70% and that grade got him into his first year of apprentice and with that got a secure job with an established builder. Right of the construction gate and h
#92 Upwardor Garage Doors – Let’s talk everything to do with garage doors
We are talking with Tony Anderson from Upwardor, one “o” should have been two “o”’s but he never named it, he just bought it. We have a lot to talk about when it comes to garages. We get into colors, styles, construction of the doors, all of those little details that make a garage door last a very long time. People don’t realize that a single car garage door is 56 sq ft of surface area and on your front façade of your home and more attention to detail and care should really be put into the se
#91 Jason Guest from Guest Contracting is our Guest and he has a lot to talk about passion in construction
34-year-old Jason began his construction career 17 years ago working with his Dad who was a body man. We quickly get into the image of your construction brand and Jason has benefits for his employees and even goes as far as to give them all a boot allowance, this is such a great idea. Branding your business leads to a lot of work and completion and every contractor should embrace the competition and continue to build better, Jason has a lot to say about that. Jason has built his business by reac
#90 We have our youngest tradesperson on the show Vincent Maida of Amadeus Construction Design + Build
Vincent opens the show full of awesomeness and talks about his Uncle and how much of an influence he was, is and continues to be. Vincent was 11 years old when his Uncle brought him along onto the job site and he was hungry to learn how best to prep, fill and paint. This show isn’t all about paint or prepping, we dive into a number of construction topics and great products to use. Sit back and listen to what the new generation is thinking about when it comes to construction.Don’t forget we have
#89 Chris McKaskell a fine cabinetry, fine carpentry, fine everything to do with fit and finish artist on the show
We have a great show for you today and will be discussing a number of fine cabinetry and woorkworking details. We get right into talking about shop classes at the high school level and how they are disappearing. Machine vs hand wood working and grasping the differences in working each piece. You can hear the passion that Chris brings to every project he works on. Chris brings up a great connection between construction and furnishings, we are going to quote him for years to come.After his univers
#88 Garbage all kinds of construction garbage with the great folks from Bins Plus Disposal
We have Valerie and John from Bins Plus Disposal on the show talking everything to do with garbage. Right into contractor and client expectations and how they just keep throwing all kinds of garbage and couldn’t care less about separation of garbage for the environment. From there we get into our biggest pet peeve about bin companies that don’t care, driveway protection. A lot of garbage can be and should be recycled such as concrete, asphalt and dirt, please don’t mix these up or worse place al
#87 Talking Real Estate Agents/Markets and Mortgage Brokers – Everything to do with buying and selling properties.
We begin the talk with a very interesting History with Manny segment and that leads into the real estate market is not going to crash and our guests explain why. The investment in properly marketing your property is paramount in the buy and selling of real estate and our guests share all of those key details. Let’s discuss what people should be buying and for how much and why. The beauty and benefits of being a landlord and looking at getting others to pay your total mortgage and keep your cash
#86 Electrical Construction with Mario the @electrical_local_69 man himself is on the show
We open the show with some very interesting facts about trades, you will be surprised to hear what we researched. From there we discuss the lovely wine Mario was so kind enough to bring us and for any future guests we accept any gifts you are considering bringing us. Thank you Mario, such a gentleman. On with the show.We get right into how Mario was taught, who taught him, and the reasons behind those lessons, from there we get into electrical functionality in every single room. We dive deep int
#85 Liz from Sapphire Landscape & Interior Design Inc. talks us about Balcony and Landscaping Design
Liz has carved out a nice niche where she has built a strong Circle of Construction and takes great care in bringing the best trades to her clients to get the work done correctly, on schedule and within budget. We discuss the effects of certain stones and how stone can add heathy elements to your life and your outdoor areas of escape. We get right into balcony sizes and limitations for furnishings and decorating details. A lot of shopping when it comes to outdoor landscaping projects, Liz never
#84 Another great Painting Podcast with Proper Painting Jeff
Jeff gets right into painting and the lack of respect from the homeowners and other tradespeople. It’s true that so much is left for the painter to fix. Painters are always on the hook for touch ups when it’s really a repaint, people have to take responsibility for their actions. We discuss the possibility behind paint failing and how Jeff would handle it. We get talking about painting tools and things to consider when purchasing and working with them, for all you homeowners, listen to what the
#83 Living in Place and Wellness in the home with Linda Kafka How to renovate for the different ages of clients
We are talking about living in your home, wellness in your home and how simple things like the smell of grass and how impactful those scents are to your mental state. Since 2009 she has been a resource for the residential trade sector, a subject matter specialist and advocate for Inclusive Design and one of Canada's experts on living in place and wellness in the home. She’s a Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP) and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS). She just completed sever
#82 Marc Fraser from Craigmhor Construction Talking apprenticeships and construction education
Marc decided at 16 years of age he wanted to be a Bricklayer, that simple. Listen to find out how and why he came to become a bricklayer. Craig’s career in construction began at 14 years old in demolition, pick up a couch and moved it three times and that was it, he’s in construction for good. Marc had the mindset to look at construction though the numbers, the power of money and time, he was 14 years old making 16 dollars an hour while his circle of friends were making 8 dollars an hour at an e
#81 Marcelino joins us and we get talking about the big Hardscaping projects he has worked on for 30 plus years
What an intro – Pink Floyd Another Brick in The Wall the Portuguese version. Marcelino sets the tone of this show and we love it. A lot of education for Marcelino but no passion, no love, no drive, he wanted hands on and he found it with an established company Melo Landscaping. Marcelino has been with them for over 25 years now and there are things that he learned from them that he would have never learned anywhere else. Marcelino learned very early on, working for a smaller Mom and Pop shop the
#80 Building Inspector opens up about Construction, Contractors and the Code Part II
We get right into Part II beginning with do inspectors look for any contractor licenses? From there we get into the requirements to become an inspector, all of the exams associated with each section of a home and once you pass the exams you can begin to inspect each section of the Code. We get right into key details of the Code and how the powers at be came to sign off on these Codes and we bring up the “ball” drain test and all of the stages of inspections and what Inspectors are typically look
#79 Building Inspector opens up about Construction, Contractors and the Code Part I
We open the show with a great tune and then we get right into the questions that were asked by followers, a lot of questions that every contractor have asked themselves, now we finally get a reply. Inspectors expectations when they arrive on site and does a dirty job site factor into the inspection? Plans are never approved, they are reviewed and there is a difference, understand the difference and you as a contractor will understand the inspector that much better. Dealing with a disagreement an
#78 Engineering with Waddell Engineering with Larry and Brian Part II
We get right back into it and begin with post beam structural engineering, very cool talk. We discuss fixed tie offs for commercial and residential projects and how they are designed and built. Larry and Brian discuss rigging, spreader bars and lifting beams leading into the 108 max length of engineered 2 Ply trusses and that brings the conversation to mechanically graded lumber. From there we get into ICF structure, concrete roof slabs, 25mm rebar for structure and raft slabs. There is such a t
#77 Engineering with Waddell Engineering with Larry and Brian Part I
We have a couple of Engineers on the show today, Larry and Brian from Waddell Engineering join us to talk about Agricultural, Industrial, Commercial and Residential Structural engineering. We had so much to talk about we had to split the show into two parts, here is Part I.We begin the show talking about the CN Tower and it turns out our guests had a little something to do with the tower from there we get into agriculture structural engineering and “cow comfort”.We discuss the relationship betwe
#76 Revisit Mom and Pops Shops during the Covid-19 Pandemic
Let’s get right into it, COVID and what is it all about, what is true, what is fear, what is ignorance? Why did we have to stop using cash? Cash has always been dirty. Mississauga Hardware sill accepts cash cause not every contractor lives off of credit / plastic. As much as we have fun the show and share jokes we are still being serious regarding all the deaths and businesses that had to close down for good. This is so serious. We ask that people be smart about things and don’t let fear drive y
#75 Historical Plasterer with Kieran Reid from KR Plasterer
Our 75th SHOW!!!What a treat we have today, we are going to be talking about the origin of plaster work, real lime based plaster.We begin with our 75th GIVEAWAY contest rules, we have 8 questions, answer any 3 correctly and the first 10 listeners to do so will receive a The Construction Life PRIZE. Good Luck everyone.Back in the day Plasterers and Masons and even Roofers would work hand in hand and it wasn’t unheard of for these trades to cross the work line. It was Kieran’s Mom that persuaded h
#74 Euan from Renossance Inc joins us and we are talking working on older homes – century homes
The show begins with Euan and his rendition of a classic Kenny Rogers track and we love it. A few housekeeping shout outs and Euan was so kind to bring us homemade olives and Renossance tees, what a gentleman.It all begins in BC and Euan moving to Toronto, working with tradesmen from B.C. go figure, working as a plumbing apprentice working on sprinklers and black pipe and a lot of oil, possibly olive oil, that led to a very bad motorcycle accident that changed things. The bad head injury brought
#73 Millennials in Construction Part II with two elder millennials speaking the truth
We open the show with a little Tequila!!! Then we get right into a lot of history and talking about the last 100 years of generations and characteristics attached to each generation, from Silent, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials to Gen Z. We begin with a BIG question, what is wrong with Millennials? That leads us to not eating store bought chewy cookies, they stay chewy for a very long time for a reason.Christian began in landscaping in 2012 fresh and ready to go, Dustin had a variety pack of be
#72 Zak from Picture Perfect Painters talking about painting and prepping and more prepping
Zak walks us through his early days, university days and how he got into painting, how a flyer left on his classroom desk for student painters inspired him to become a painter. Manny follows that up with telling home owners that painting is a justifiable and skilled trade and not everyone especially clients thinking because some idiot taught them to do a “W” on a wall gives clients the experience they require to paint. Painting is 95% about prep and 5% about painting. Understood?Painters are the
#71 Cabinetry Installations with Tony from TC Installations Inc - 20 plus years of great construction knowledge
We have Tony Cordeiro of TC Service & Installations INC on the show today talking about cabinetry installs and more. With over 20 years of experience, Tony has a lot to say about The Construction Life so you don’t want to miss this show. The show begins with Tony singing our first Portuguese tune as our intro and we loved it. Thanks Tony.We get right into the show with a question about the origin of dust extraction, who and when?So now we get into the real hammer Tony got as a gift from his pare
#70 Restoration Projects with Ian from Gale Force Masonry - Takes a special kind of trade to handle these older buildings
Ian opens the show with his version of the Hips Courage. On today’s show we have Ian from @galeforcemasonry and we are talking historical buildings and restoration and a lot to do with the oldies but a goodie when it comes to construction. From brick, to lead roofs, to those original windows and more.Ian begins with school at Algonquin College and how there really is a shortage in stone and mason trades and we have to go outside the country to find good guys, Irish, Polish and others. Ian brings
#69 Interior and Exterior Foam Mouldings plaster and cement and stucco with Matt from Foam Core Mouldings
We are recording live at Foam Core Mouldings 100,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls. Over 1000 different profiles to choose from and you can still walk in with a custom order and have that turned around in days. Working with foamcore panels, siding, all kinds of options from Foamcore Mouldings for exterior and plaster interior products.Let’s get right into the origin of stucco. Testing the product to hold up to 4 seasons including Canadian and USA harsh winters and hot summe
#68 Self-Leveling Flooring with Paul from Mack Constructions Inc.
What an amazing show we have today, Paul from Mack Constructions Inc. and we are talking self-leveling products and applications. Believe it, Paul is one of the leaders and he actually began in plumbing as a licensed Master Plumber but then one day on a job he was asked if he could and he did and that was the beginning of his self-leveling career in construction.Paul went from doing one job a month to doing 8 jobs a week and two crews and hasn’t looked back. Pumping the material as high as 14 fl
#67 Finish Carpentry and Hardwood Flooring with Andrew Prete of @carpenter_on_site
We have another amazing show talking finish carpentry and hardwood with the one and only Andrew Prete of @carpenteronsite An elder millennial that has really taken the industry by the horns and made the business better than most. Andrew isn’t shy about how and why he builds the way he does, the best that he can filled with a lot of passion no matter the size of the project, it is all the same to him.Andrew is different than most contractors, nobody from his family is in construction, no one real
#66 Talking SAFETY with Safety Val - She is leading the way by helping all tradespeople being safer on the jobsite
We have Val, AKA @safetyval a Safety rep that helps your business, your employees, your sub trades, and the owners, the industry be better and safer on the jobsite. She offers up basic safety knowledge, hardhat and safety, fines and max fines, deaths on site and plenty more very valuable knowledge.We talk about alcohol and weed on the jobsite and how it can impact your day to day operations. Who really is responsible when a worker is drunk and or high? Proper workwear and we are not talking abou
#65 Jim Caruk - The Godfather of Construction nearly 50 years of experience to share Part II
Part II of Jim Caruk – The Godfather of Construction and Jim gets right into his very first build as a tween and his first run in with an inspector. Jim shares more of his great insight into the construction industry.Jim gets into his details and what has worked for him and his clients, from plaster crown to his love for wood trim. He discusses how the trades have changed over the decades and what they are like today versus the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. Keeping the jobsite clean, professional, and
#64 Jim Caruk - The Godfather of Construction nearly 50 years of experience to share Part I
We have Jim Caruk, the man, legend, the Godfather of Construction on the show and he has nearly 50 years of experience to share with us. So much talk we had to split the show into two parts, Corleone would be so proud.Starting his career in construction right out of high school with a major in trades, sheet metal, Jim went right into Union work, the year was 1973. He did the sheet metal work for 15 years, worked hard, learned a lot about the business and people, made an enemy or two along the wa
#63 The bodyguards of construction money with Dave and Tyler from Renoshield
We’ve got a great show for you this week. We’re talking with Renoshield about building more trust in the construction industry. Payments are a big source of frustration when it comes to renovations. From scope changes to stolen deposits to homeowners refusing to pay, contractors are put in a tough position. Dave Strang and Tyler Burton join us as our special guests to talk about how Renoshield is shaking up the industry. Both have mechanical engineering backgrounds and they’ve built an app that
#62 Jackie Schagen Design and we get talking the whole truth about Interior Designing
Jackie Schagen Design introduces us to her world of Space Planning Expert. What an amazing show about the whole truth behind Interior Design, the relationships with contractors, clients and changes. Jackie has a great outlook on the construction and design industry sharing her thoughts from school to the job site.Jackie understands that dynamic between her client and her contractor and how everyone needs to be on the same design page. She discusses the good and bad, the low and high budgets and
#61 Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems with Roman and Orest and Polar Bear Geo
We finally have a conversation about Geothermal heating and cooling systems and we have Roman and Orest working with Denis Campbell from Polar Bear Geo. Let’s talk about a system that has been around for over a century in Europe, even longer than that if we discuss the very early days of capturing heat from Mother Earth and using that energy to save the planet.Let's not forget how Geothermal is actailly saving the planet in energy consumption and producing properties.This podcast gets very techn
#60 Artistic Skylights - We get right into all of the enlightening benefits of a skylight as part of your build
Manny and Carlito are on location at the Artistic Skylight warehouse talking with Marco and Nenzio from Artistic Skylights. We get right into the history of the skylight and how far back in history was the very first skylight ever built and installed and we also get into the 40-year history of Artistic and where it all began. Then we get into all of the benefits especially the health benefits behind natural daylight inside your home and business. We discuss the difference between glass and acryl
#59 Cash Jobs - Are they worth it? Plus more insight into operating your construction business
Matthew Janeko joins us and we get right into talking about cash jobs and are they worth it. Manny was surprised to hear what Matthew had to express. We also get into operating your construction business from registering to incorporating and how it is best to keep the Canadian Tax Revenue off your hard working back. We begin the show with our new format and we share what some of the retirement stats are like, they are not good. We get into what you can and cannot write off as a part of your busi
#58 We have clients on the show telling us what they think of contractors and construction
Here's a thought...why not have actual clients on the podcast? Let's ask them what they think of us, think of contractors, think of construction, think of our pricing, think of our schedules, think of our rates and more. So many great questions here and we didn't hold back even when they really didn't want to share. These cleints tell us truth when it comes to The Construction Life.We discuss how the clients find contractors, their first impressions, their last impressions, what they think of ou
#57 Trim Carpentry and Contracting with Daniel Vella of Vella Contracting
We have the one and only Daniel Vella of Vella Contracting on the show. We get right into finish carpentry, where and how Daniel began, a self taught contractor and trim expert with a love for everything wood, especially crown moulding.This show opens in our new format, all of you know that our guests sing a little tune as our opener, now we get into a little construction history, fact and today we find out when and where was MDF first introduced into the market. Half way through the show we sha
#56 Talking Modular Shipping Container Building with Adnan from A-Cad Modular
On the show today, we have Adnan Zabian an Architect and Engineer with a focus on building modular shipping container structures. What a facinating talk as we get into every detail of taking a shipping container and turning it into a home, office or temporary space. The pros and cons of working with these shipping containers and why. We get into all types of cladding options, design options, construction options when it comes to modular building. We loved this talk a lot. Find Adnan @acadmodular
#55 Talking Demolition Excavation and Abatement with Michael from MagCor
What an amazing show we have today, we have been waiting for this one for a very long time, let's get right into Demolition, Excavation and Abatement with Michael from MagCor Demolition. We talk about the industry in general and what made Michael get into demo first, excavation quickly followed and then abatement. With only a few years in the business, Michael has been able to carve out a very solid brand. Determined to change the construction industry with every project he works on, Michael and
#54 We have a true Master Plumber on the show Rick Clark from Rick's Mechanical and also a Kohler ASR
In this week’s podcast, The Construction Life team has the opportunity to speak with Rick Clark from Rick’s Mechanical. Rick is a self-employed master plumber with a wealth of knowledge and history, 40 plus years. He is also an Authorized Service Representative for Kohler products in the Toronto area. This informative and interesting conversation will cover the advancement of digital valves, plumbing requirements from the supply source to the fixture, important things to consider such as copper
#53 Building Science with a real Science Guy, Greg Labbe from the Ryerson Building Science Research Lab
On another great episode of The Construction Life, we have Greg Labbe, a Lab Technician from the Ryerson Research Lab. We get right into what we need to know about the air barrier "System" and discuss how these individual types of materials work to maintain a healthy home for decades to come. Where these types of materials should be installed, interior and or exterior applications. Understanding that all trades and we mean all trades must be aware of the "System". This isn't a show about promoti
#52 Welcome to Digital Fab a workshop like no other with Anatol and Tim
On the show we have Anatol and Tim of Digital Fab, a workshop that is doing things a little differently. Taking woodworking and any other kind of material to new heights by way of computers and CNC's and other machinery. When Manny walked into the Digital Fab shop in 2019 it was the first time the creativity was ahead instead of behind. Digital Fab will never say no to a client or creativity, they want and encourage new creativity ideas and materials. Building such an amazing brand in 4 years yo
#51 Electrical industry with Frank Cozzolino from DeVille Electric and a hard truth pill to swallow
Frank Cozzolino from DeVille Electric joins the podcast and we get a rough and a no sugar coated version of the electrical industry from the last 25 years. It all begins with Frank wanting to be an accountant and very early into that career choice he decided to work with his hands instead, left the spreadsheets and trading all of that paper for a set of pliers. It all begins with the J O B - Just Over Broke. Frank talks about permits, licensed contractors, homeow
#50 HVAC with Tyler and Andrew from Stott HVAC Systems on the show
Tyler and Andrew from Stott HVAC Systems join us in the Skyluxe Studios for our 50th podcast and we get right into everything to do with Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning and nothing to do with House Vacuuming And Cleaning as one of the Stott team members kids have expressed. On this show Tyler and Andrew run us through forced air, boilers, radiant, air filters and purifiers, snow melt systems, CFM's, backdraft from fireplaces, manintainance and the dreaded evil CLR and never to use that
#49 Evan Jatou from Veracity Group Construction speaks to us about Brick, Stone, Construction and more
We have Evan Jatou from Veracity Group Construction in our Skyluxe Studios speaking candidly about his early self taught brick and stone days, to building a hugly successful commercial construction business, to expanding into custom residential renovations and the proper way to manage and build with clients and crews. On this show we get a lot of great info regarding brick masonry, stone masonry, the quick commerical construction turn around and we even get into the evil entity known as Instagra
#48 2019 Wrap UP Manny and Carlito discuss the last 47 podcasts and guests
WOW! What a year it has been. We brought The Construction Life podcast back and back in a big way. We recorded 30 new shows in less than 4 months. Wrapping up the 2019 year with a grand total of 47 shows and we figured let's make our 48th show all about our beginning, the last 47 podcasts and all of the wonderful guests. One by one Manny and Carlito discuss what this podcast means to each of them and what each show brought to the table. Listen in and get a bit more insight into the making
#47 Passive Building Industry with Hans Eich and why all of us should be building this way
Hans Eich joins Manny and Carlito and we have a full tilt show talking about Passive Home Building and the Construction Industry. From air tightness, air barriers, vapour barriers, proper ventilation, phase shifts, diffusion open, to energy consumption and achiveing that Passive rating of 15 Killawatts per hour, per square meter, per year. This is a podcast to listen to carefully. Did we mention Carlito gets political on this one and has a few choice words to express about building inspectors. T
#46 Talking with Agnes from NextGen Professional Today's Students. Tomorrow's Construction Leaders
Let's talk NextGen Professional and the mindset of construction personnel with Agnes who has started a movement to change the industry on so many levels. She has coined the phrase, Today's students. Tomorrow's construction Leaders. Agnes gets right into what the construction industry is like, where it will be in the near future, what employers and employees need to understand and what she calls Emotional Depositing. What a great conversation at The Buildings Show 2019, we encourage students to
#45 Schluter Systems at The Buildiings Show 2019
We have Mike Cardoso from Schluter Systems Canada join us and we get talking a lot about this amazing orange company at The Buildings Show 2019. We get right into all the new products and the amazing new finishes. We ask Mike over and over what else is coming in the next year but Mike won't give it up but he does hint at a few ideas and Carltio runs with those ideas. Manny and Carlito have always used Schluter and listen in to see how these amazing products have added so much value to their reno
#44 Drywall and Mudding with Teddy from Paint Ready Finishing
In our first Drywall and Mudding podcast we have a 20 plus year tradesperson from the business, Teddy from Paint Ready Finishing. Teddy has seen a lot over two decades, he has watched and worked in all kinds of drywall and mudding situation, from commerical to custom and unfortunately the business has gotten worse but he feels optimistic the business can get better. We get right into hand troweling to machining, durabond to premix, metal to plastic corner beads and more. We even get right into
#43 Mike Pereira from Greenstone Fine Masonry talking Stone and Brick Masonry
Let's get right into stone and brick masonry with Mike Pereira from Greenstone Fine Masonry and a little Yoga while we are at it. Mike dives deep into 20 plus years of masonry work from his first week on site throwing bricks to make a point to jobsite etiquette today. Mike a student of many schools of masonry and now a teacher has built a solid masonry business. We discuss custom and we mean custom granite stone masonry to working with clients directly to the next generation of stone and brick
#42 Reno Run at the Buildings Show 2019
We chat with Reno Run for the second time at the 2019 Buildings Show we talk about Reno Run Pro and More.Our special guests are Devlin and John, turned out John was Reno Runs very first client. John a real contractor from the Montreal area shares his insight on how Reno Run has changed his business and construction business.We get right into the new Reno Run Pro program where it is now a subscription base program offering even more to contractors and their day to day business. You get FREE fle
#41 All about Doors with Andrew from Lusso Design
We have Andrew from Lusso Design as our special guest and talking how important doors are when it comes to design, fabrication and install. We get right into different types of doors from steel to fiberglass to wood, discuss insert designs, insert failures, insert installs and the importance of the frame and key materials that shoud be used in today's type of doors and frame design and construction. Andrew is extremely passionate about The Construction Life and it shows in this podcast. Andrew
#40 Talking everything to do with Tiling with Matty from MMC Tiles
Matthew (Matty) from MMC Tiles joins us and we get talking a lot about tiling and the tiling industry in the last decade. It all begins with Matty arriving on a high rise job site on his first day in the construction industry where he finds a couple of trades were actually having a physical fight. From there Matty got tiling at 2 bucks a square and using mastic for walls, floors, everything. What an intro. After two years of high rise Matty went onto sub division work, it wasn't that much bett
#39 Tony Fogarty the Timber Tailor joins the show today and we are talking Finish Carpentry and Woodworking
The Construction Life podcast is on location north of Toronto inside Tony Fogarty's garage workshop and we are talking finish carpentry, woodworking, the construction industry and we even get talking about Carlito's brief attendance at gynecology school. Back to Tony, also known as The Timber Tailor on social media he talks about being a bass player in Texas, meeting a Canadian wife, moving to Toronto and jumping into construction head first. A self taught, and an amazing problem solver on site
#38 Michal Jaster from Tilt Wall is our guest and we talk Concrete Structures from Residential to Commercial and more
On our first podcast from The Buildings Show 2019 in Toronto we have Michal from Tilt Wall talking about old school concrete building. We are excited to hear what Michal has to tell us about this 100 year old technique of forming and pouring walls on the ground and then tilting them up into position. Michal and Len are passionate about bringing this technique to the Canadian market and proving that a concrete wall is a better wall and we agree. We get right into the R values, the mechanical run
#37 Talking Stone Tile Porcelain and More with Ciot Toronto Montreal New York City Atlanta Detroit
We are in the Ciot North Toronto location talking about natural stones, porcelain, tiles, lots and lots of tiles and the tile industry in general over the last 70 years. Our special guests are Jack and Sonya and after a great duet intro we get right into the humble beginnings of Ciot in Montreal all the way to the new locations in New York city, Detroit and Atlanta. We discuss the trends, what's making a great come back, working with clients and contractors and where is the stone and tile indust
#36 Construction Social Media / Construction Marketing / Construction Digital with Mike Moll from Social Media House
Mike Moll from Social Media House joins the talk today and we get right into everything digital and online for construction and tradespeople. Mike walks us through all of the social media platforms and why Instagram is playing games with construction content, everyone's content. Mike tells us why Google has the IQ of a 6 year old when it comes to context. Mike tells us the best ways to actually set up Ad Words and working your SEO to actually work for you and not against. Mike tells us that it
#35 The Buildings Show An intro into Canada's biggest Contractor Show December 4-6 2019
Manny & Carlito are at the Informa Markets offices in Toronto talking about The Buildings Show 2019, also known as Construct Canada happening December 4-6 2019 at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto. We get to hear about the show and when it all began, 31 years ago. How the show and the construction industry has changed for the better. This year, The Buildings Show has a numebr of new features going on and of course tech is on everyone's plate. We also get a chance to have a couple of guests
#34 Architect and the Contractor dynamic mixed in with a few clients
On this show, we have Danny Tseng an Architect from the Toronto area talking to us about contractors, clients and changes.Danny gets right into it with a very big intro piece of music that most of us will reconize, well done Danny. Carlito and Manny get right into the questioning about the Architect and Contractor dynamic. What to expect frome ach other? How to work with each other? And the most important part of all construction, how to say NO.Check out this great podcast where Danny gives
#33 Plumbing - A whole lot of plumbing with Rob from Galaxy Plumbing Inc.
Roberto Fraschini (Rob) from Galaxy Plumbing Inc. joins TCL Podcast and nearly 2 hours later Rob dives deep into the fascinating world of pipe. We get Rob's perspective of nearly 20 years of union work and then another 5 years on his own. Rob talks to us about what and who drove him to be the best plumber, the lessons he learned over the years and still learning to this day, standing his ground and where he sees Galaxy Plumbing Inc. in the near future. We get right into his fav tools, toliets a
#32 Craft & Clerk - Building a Better Construction Business on Paper
John Morra from Craft & Clerk is our special guest and we hear how he began with his Uncle in bricklaying in his teenage years to building his own successful Mason and Landscaping business to giving back to the industry with his new renoventure Craft & Clerk. John shares so many stories that every contractor can relate to on and off site. He gets right into his teenage years and learning the good and mostly bad details of the construction business and doing what most don't, question it
#31 Landscaping and a lot more with John from McLennons Landscaping
We have a very special guest on today's show John from McLennos Landscaping get's right into the dirt of things, from starting his own business to dealing with clients, drug use from trades and weather. Get a very realistic view on starting your own landscaping business, John talks us through his highschool years to some 20 years later working outside. The ups and downs of one of the hardest trade in construction. Dealing with employees, clients and Mother or Father Nature calling the shots o
#30 Custom Smart Home Automation Cyber Security Network Data and More
Josh from OnHive is here to talk about anything and everything to do with your Custom Smart Home Automation, we dive deep into cyber security, web, entertainment, network and data systems. Hold on to your carpenter pencils and open you notebooks because on today's show we get very tech heavy. We talk about 5G, WiFi 6, Cyber Security and cameras, Network set ups, Home Theater / Entertainment Systems, and how DATA will be the most powerful currency in the world 10 years from now. Listen to this e
#29 Tubs the Ultimate Bath Kitchen Home Humour Fun and More Shop
Let's talk personalities and sales in construction with Sunny from Tubs, one of the founding owners who is determined to take the business to new heights and Frank Cone of Cone Construction, Frank has 50 years in the construction business and has seen his fair share of highs and lows.We get right into misname calling from the first minute and then we get right into personalities and how to connect with clients, suppliers and your crew. You really need to be a match to make construction work for
#28 Aria Vents - The first modular air vents
On this episode of The Construction Life we are on location at the new home of Aria Vent, right here in Toronto. We have Paolo and Roberta Mantenuto from Aria Vents and they tell us how this little family business has changed the construction industry.We get right into the origin of the invention, the family better known as The Board, the many and we mean many "no's" they heard when they first launched the product and how this simple idea has captured all of our construction hearts.We dive deep
#27 Skyluxe Roofing / Cladding and so much more
We have the man himself, Mark from Skyluxe Roofing and Metal on the show again and we are talking all kinds of construction, from roofing all types of roofing, metal cladding all types of cladding to millennials and more. In this episode, we finally had to censor a few things that were expressed about crappy products and brands. We are not interested in talking about the bad materials, let's focus on the great materials. Our apologies for the beeps during the podcast. DM us if you really want
#26 Talking Commerical Concrete with Sean Flood
Sean a "younger" but very experienced commercial concrete "voodoo doctor' joins the show and we get the inside on big concrete projects, from bridges, skyscrapers and airports. Sean gives us the load down on how big concrete projects are handled, from the plant, to the trucks, to pouring, to all of the political red tape along the way. We get into the concrete stereotypes, the mafia, the techniques, the pride and so many things that need changing so we can continue to build a better construction
#25 Residential Concrete with Jorge from DGR Concrete Forming
Jorge from DGR Concrete Forming joins the show and in this 84 minute long show we talk about residential concrete and more, lot's more. Jorge, with nearly 4 decades of experience walks us through the ups and downs of concrete, clients, trades people and the industry in general. We even get into radios on site, smoking on site, smoking weed on site and more. Jorge has some amazing information to share and this show is well worth the longer time especially if you as a construction business owner
#24 Talking Trim Carpentry with Gary Mares of Mares Carpentry
Gary Mares is our guest and plenty to talk about reagrding Trim Carpentry. In the next hour we go old school and new school and has the construction industry changed for the better or worse?We also get into the some very cool trim techniques, tools and what a typical day on and off site is with Gary and his Old Man. Dealing with clients, other trades and the industry in general. Once again we don't hold back and niether do our guests, always trying to make our conversaions as real as the work
#23 Windows Doors and Garage Doors with Joe Fernandes of JR Windows and Doors
What a great podcast on Windows, Doors and Garage Doors, we get right into what's the norm, how to install and the clients. We have Joe Fernandes from @Joerf1 as our guest, with decades of experience we get ritght into everything to do with these openings in your home. Why most go one style over another, what are the good, bad and ugly truths about installing windows. Why clients always go cheap and learn thigns the hard way. Are the upgrades worth it? And so much more as Manny and Carlito and
#22 Building a Better Construction Business on Paper with Matthew from e6Analytics
Manny and Carlito have a very special guest on today's podcast, Matthew from e6 Analytics talking about how to run your construction better. We get right into how you as a tradesperson, contractor and general contractor should get organized. From contracts, to scheduling to progress to closing out the job no matter if it's a powder room or a complete new build. Plenty of great ideas presented in this weeks show. This is The Construction Life
#21 Millennials in Construction Part I - Need we say more?
Manny and Carlito have Omid @thetileguy.gta and Flo @procustompainting both of them being 24 years old as guests on today's show. A couple of 47 year olds vs a couple of 24 year old trades. What could go wrong? We get right into it, no BS here and you will be surprised what Omid and Flo have to say about their generation. Sorry Eddy, you made your own bed. We might have to do a follow up to this show and topic, after 74 mins we still had more to discuss. This is The Construction Life.
#20 TCL is Back with Manny and Carlito September 2019
Manny and Carlito are back in the saddle without Mikey. The Construction Life podcast will go on as Manny and Carlito have a lot to share since the last time these two contractors have been recorded. Its a funfilled show talking a little bit of everything to do with construction. Hold on to your butts cause we don't hold back and with Carlito on his own proffesionally speaking, there doesn't seem to be a filter so you know this talk will get good. Great to be back and both of us are commited t
#19 Roofing with Mark and Jordan from Skyluxe Roofing
Manny is on location at Skyluxe Roofing workshop and breakroom talking roofing with Mark and Jordan and we have Ben from Soprema join us too. We get talking about everything to do with roofing and that trade and the business. We get talking about safety, regulations and how other countries handle roofing, unfortunatley, North America is behind and we really need to be better. What an amazing talk. This is The Construction Life.
#18 Soundproofing with MSL and how to build better
Let's get LOUD!! We get talking about soundproofing and the simple but important steps required to help with sound transfer in your renovation. Gone are the days where sound building was for the rich, sound dampening and being aware of sound transmition should be a part of all of your renovations.Plenty of great talk and products from MSL to help guide you during key steps of any construction project.This is The Construction Life.
#17 Building with Schluter Systems and how to evolve
Join Manny as he talks with Todd from Schluter and Omid The Tile Guy himself as we get very orange and talk all things Schluter. We don't stop there, we get into the history of Schluter, all of their products and what to expect for the future of tiling and Schluter. This talk has been one Manny has been waiting for a very long time. Recorded in one of many Schluter training facilities, we get talking a lot of great details. Check it out and we assure you that you will learn a thing or two on
#16 Building Science with Soprema - How important it really is?
Manny invites Joe and Ben from Soprema and we get right into the building envelope and what's really important.This has always been an amazing topic for Manny and the information in this podcast is super valuable. Listen along as Joe and Ben educate Manny from the foundation up. We talk about all of the nessesary steps regardless if they are "pretty" or not.By spending a little bit more money and effort now will save home owners a lot more money later.This is The Construction Life.
#15 Social Media and Construction - Do It and Do Not Do It
The Construction Life hosts talk about using social media to build your construction brand, attract clients, find subtrades, teach and learn from others and deal with Trollaholics out there. Yes, social media can consume a lot of your downtime, and work time but social media can also be a great tool in your business. Listen in, as the boys share a few secrets that have worked for them, and they will also share a few things to avoid. This is The Construction Life.
#14 Mom and Pop Shops and how we love them
We have a very special guest, Tony and we are on location at his store Mississauga Hardware Centre just outside the Toronto core. On today's show, we talk about Mom and Pop Shops, Big Box Stores, the Construction Industry and what makes Mississauga Hardware Centre, a shop that has been around for 28 years a great place for laughs and deals. We can't stop talking about the store, the staff, Mom and Pop, the contractors who visit, the tools and even Dragon Slayers comes up more than once, you don'
#13 Personal and Professional Time - How to manage both
In our 13th podcast, The Construction Life crew talks about Time, managing your professional and having more personal time. How can we get ahead of our renovation businesses and still have a personal life for our family and ourselves? Too often renovators and tradespeople spend way too much time on their businesses, neglecting their families. We offer up a few "Time" suggestions after a few interesting stories of our own experiences. This is The Construction Life.
#12 Women in Construction Part II
Join The Construction Life crew as we have another guest, the amazing Natasha from @naturalcarpentry as we continue the women in construction conversation. From trade school to running her own business in 15 years, Natasha shares a few stories about being a female construction business owner. We discuss anything and everything with Natasha including a bleeding penis. Don't forget to give her a follow on Instagram. This is The Construction Life.
#11 Women in Construction Part I
One of the many reasons why the 3 of us started a construction podcast was because of Episode Eleven, Women In Construction. We had so much to talk about that we had to do it in 2 parts with 2 different women. In this episode, we have Marta as our guest, a woman in the industry with over 15 years experience. Working her way from faux finishing to a site super handling over 400 homes a year. Listen in as we don't hold back with the questions and Marta doesn't hold back with the stories. This is T
#10 Renovators VS Renoactors Part II
Now that the gloves are off, Manny, Carlito, and Mike continue the conversation that dropped the mic last week. Things did get heated and we needed to press the pause button.It was bound to happen when you get 3 different opinions about reno TV shows. Check out the latest podcast where The Construction Life crew sheds more light on the Construction Show Business. Is it really about construction? Or it is really about show business? This is The Construction Life.
#9 Renovators VS Renoactors Part I
In our latest podcast, we don't hold back on how we feel about the current crop of reno tv shows and the hosts, better known to us as Renoactors. With The Construction Life, we have three different opinions about these shows and the content they present to our industry. Listen to our most controversial podcast as things get heated and build up to an explosive ending between Manny, Carlito, and Mikey. This is The Construction Life.
#8 Military / Police / Contractor with Will Gonell
We have a very special guest on today's podcast, Will Gonell from Gonell Homes. Will talks to us about how he went from the US Military to the Police in the Bronx NYC to a Contractor in Toronto, Canada. It is always great to here how others got into construction and trust us you don't want to miss this inspirational story from a true gentleman. This is The Construction Life.
#7 Manny Carlito and Mike the hosts of TCL March 2018
We finally get to introduce the hosts of The Construction Life, Manny from Hardcore Renos, Mike, and Carlito from Creatix Contracting. In this latest podcast, the three contractors share a lot more about themselves, their private lives and how and why they got into construction. Listen in and get a better understanding what makes these real contractors so passionate about our industry. This is The Construction Life.
#6 Old Dog New Tricks with Roger Lauzon from TechnoMetal Post
Roger from TechnoMetalPost joins The Construction Life crew as we get talking about new ways to build your foundation, working with helical piles. Manny met Roger over 9 years ago and it was all about decks, getting rid of the old way of pouring concrete and using helical piles. Today, helical piles are being used for more than decks, they are being used for buildings, additions, signs, fencing and more. Join the talk today and see where helical piles can take your next project. Techno Metal Pos
#5 Respect The Next trade TM It's that simple.
It is all about building more than a home, it is about building a team that respects each other. When a Tradesperson arrives on site, the site should be clean and ready for that Tradesperson to do the work involved. When that Tradesperson is complete they should leave the job site just as clean for the next Tradesperson. Join Manny, Mike, and Carlito as they share more than a few on-site stories about respecting the next trade and the talk gets right into all the crap we have seen on site, liter
#4 Contractors and Designers Discuss Design, Clients and tradespeople with Hanstone Quartz
In our 4th Podcast, we have a couple of 1st, we are on location at the Hanstone Showroom and we have 4 women in construction joining the talk.We have Jennifer and Nicole from Hanstone Canada, Laura from Carpet One and Natasha from Studio 286 Design and we get talking about the construction life.Things did get a bit heated and Mike, Carlito, and Manny had to sit back as the ladies got very passionate about a particular comment that was brought up.This is The Construction Life.
#3 Contractor Negotiations and why the last payment is always re negotiated
Manny, Mike, and Carltio discuss how to handle negotiating with new and existing clients and sub-trades. Why is that a Contractor must always prove their skill set? From the initial meet, to work schedules and expectations to that dreaded last payment, a Contractor must defend their career choice and the brand they have established. In our 3rd podcast, The Construction Life crew get right into our professional experiences and offer up a few key thoughts. This is The Construction Life.
#2 Changing the construction industry with Reno Run Material Delivery Service
Eamonn O'Rourke the CEO of Reno Run joins us for a pretty interesting talk about Changing the Construction Industry.Reno Run is a service that delivers construction material to your job site within 2 hours all done through an app. Reno Run is the first to the market in the world, and The Construction Life hosts are incredibly thankful they did.Listen to this hour-long talk, because we are going to ruffle more feathers. This is The Construction Life.
#1 Good Enough Isn't Good Enough For Us
This one expression has made us a few enemies in the construction industry - and we don’t care. Tradespeople who don’t care to learn new ways to build, are not interested in new products, and just want to phone in the workday onsite and move on, are not good enough for us. Today’s podcast is all about "good enough". This is The Construction Life.