Modern Craftsman

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

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

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

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

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