R-Value

Undocumented Workers: Advice from Immigration Attorney Jorge Molina

According to Forbes, over 40% of the US construction workforce is expected to retire over the next decade. The fact is the construction industry faces a workforce shortage and according to Associated Builders and Contractors that shortage is up to 650,000 in 2022. This means every worker is critical including workers that came to our country looking for work. For many installation contractors, migrant workers fill key roles in the operation of their company. But the rules, regulations and liabilities around these practices can be confusing for workers and employers alike. We’ve invited immigration attorney Jorge Molina on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They discuss the best practices to protect your employees and your company.

 

Jorge Molina is the founder of the J. Molina Law Firm in Arlington Texas. He has worked hard to protect and help build his clients’ American Dreams and prides himself in leveling the playing field for his clients. Whether defending someone facing deportation, or a company trying to expand its business.

 

In this podcast…

3:11 - What type of help are people looking for from an immigration attorney?

6:39 - The long road of immigration court

10:00 - The best advice to give to your undocumented workers

18:29 - “Can undocumented workers operate company equipment?” and other liability questions

21:09 - The importance of the worker’s perspective

25:04 - How business interests could be the key to solving the immigration crisis in the U.S.

The Most Underused Tax Credit: Understanding 179D with Bill Harbeson

A lot of changes are coming to tax credits and other ways to save contractors and their clients money with the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. This includes not only new programs, but also adjustments to regulations and extensions around exisitng credits like the 179D. It’s one of the most underused credits but it can save business lots of money. Knowing more about these credits can be a critical game-changer for your business.

 

In this episode, IDI Distributors’ Ken Allison sits down with Bill Harbeson, CPA/Manager at one of the largest accounting and consulting firms in the country, Cherry Baekert. Cherry Bekaert provides guidance and support that helps clients move forward to reach their organizational goals. They discuss the benefits and nuances of the 179D and how it can make a big impact our on your business.

 

In this podcast:

1:59 - What is the 179D tax credit?

8:00 - What’s necessary to qualify for the 179D tax credit?

21:47 - Who can claim the deduction for the building? How did the Inflation Reduction Act change this?

25:29 - What’s the best “bang for your buck” projects for insulators as it relates to this deduction?

29:00 - Which buildings are the best targets for this deduction?

30:45 - What if you own your own shop?

37:20  - What is Cherry Baekert’s role in helping contractors with 179D?

The Inflation Reduction Act: Key Strategies For Finding Workers and Working With State Energy Offices

The Inflation Reduction Act is set to provide a lot of subsidies and other resources to contractors. But unless you know the details, you may not be able to maximize them for your business. That’s why we’ve invited Xavier Walters on the show to chat with IDI’s Business Development expert Ken Allison. They explain how you can get access to these benefits and how to best utilize them to hire and retain the best talent.

Xavier is the State Outreach Coordinator with the Building Performance Association. He is a certified energy auditor and contractor building science trainer for over 15 years in the home performance industry. He's going to share some of his experience and how he built and ultimately sold his company by building a team of professionals, many who are still in the industry today. We discuss these rebates, how you can make sure your state actually takes advantage of them, and how to recruit, onboard, and retain workers by providing a clear career pathway. 

For more on the Inflation Reduction Act Bill, read here: https://www.idi-insulation.com/what-does-the-inflation-reduction-act-mean-for-you-and-your-company/

In this podcast...

3:06 - Why this money is NOT a guarantee for contractors and what you can do about it

7:12 - What can you do to start adding labor for new construction projects?

12:45 - Training and wage subsidies options

15:59 - Thinking differently about what newer generations of workers want

23:28 - Rethinking employee benefits for better worker retention

Doing Things The Right Way with Suburban Manufacturing

Doing things the right way, even when it’s harder, will help you maintain a business with great customer relationships and a reputation that attracts more customers. That’s a philosophy that is central to the success of Suburban Manufacturing and our guest today, Mike May.

Mike is the Product Manager of the Python division at Suburban Manufacturing, which is headquartered in Monticello, Minnesota. He has been working with the spray foam industry since Suburban first launched the Sidewinder Spray Foam Sleeve back in 2016, with his main focus being new product development, product line management, and new business development. 

Mike takes us behind the scenes and tells us how Suburban tests the innovative products that you count on to protect your rig. 

In this podcast...

1:00 - The importance of doing things the right way

6:00 - All of the industries that Suburban Manufacturing designs solutions for

8:23 - Keeping the contractor off the hook for very expensive hoses

11:26 - How Suburban uses “Stage Gate” to ensure that products that go to market solve the biggest problems

15:43 - Why Suburban partners with IDI to get products into contractor’s hands

17:48 - Why do people love to use the Sidewinder Hose Wrap and how the thermal elements helps contractors in all climates

23:29 - How Suburban developed a drum blanket that was actually easy to store

29:00 - Finding the best place for a drum blanket temperature

Owens Corning adds Spray Foam

At IDI, we like to push the envelope, do the unthinkable, achieve the impossible. With this podcast, we're doing just that by welcoming Mike Swift, VP and General Manager, and Kurt Walters the National Account Sales Manager for Owens Corning. You read that right, Owens Corning, one of the world’s largest insulation manufacturers, is on the podcast and they are talking all about their recent acquisition of Natural Polymers and what that means for contractors across the United States.

Mike and Kurt take us through the history of Owens Corning’s relationship with spray foam, why they are embracing it now and how Natural Polymers became their manufacturer of choice.

Owens Corning is building a sustainable future through material innovation and now one of those materials is spray foam. 

In this podcast...

3:24 - Why Owens Corning is getting into spray foam now

5:41 - Installing spray foam the right way is the key to safety and customer satisfaction

8:36 - How spray foam is helping Owens Corning deliver the best R-Value solution to customers

13:30 - “If it wasn't Natural Polymers, we probably wouldn't be in the spray foam business right now.”

17:54 - The million dollar question…will we see pink spray foam soon?

20:38 - How this shift will not only mean new products but also new building practices and philosophies

Right Sizing Equipment and Down Sizing Moisture Problems with Allison Bailes

This episode’s guest has a PHD in physics and he knows how to use it. Dr. Allison Bailes is the founder of Energy Vanguard, a company that focuses on teaching, HVAC design services, and consulting. Dr. Bailes works on the forefront of change in the way people see and use energy in homes. 

Understanding the science behind the decisions you make and equipment you use is vital in today’s hypercompetitive environment. Dr. Bailes breaks down a lot of the calculations that contractors should be making to save money, ensure customers are happy and houses stay energy efficient. 

In this podcast...

2:15 - What’s the right calculation to use when right-sizing equipment?

7:14 - How the load calculation…is actually calculated.

11:35 - Are we going to keep lowering loads?

14:04 - How air tightness regulations have improved over the years

21:36 - Dr. Allison reveals his perfect insulation contractor that he would hire on any job

24:37 - Different climates call for different solutions

The New Big Holes & Air Leakage In Spray Foam Projects with Jamie Kaye of Elm Energy Group

When it comes to keeping moisture from destroying a home, it's all in the details. That's what Jamie Kaye is focused on. He's a Building Science Practitioner and Healthy Home Professional at Elm Energy Group and he joins us today to discuss how to prevent moisture intrusion and increase energy efficiency at every step of the build process. 

In this podcast...

1:38 - How Jamie became interested in the building science behind mold

3:41 - "The New Big Holes"

10:50 - "You can always improve even a great job."

13:20 - The 3/4" hole that ruined an entire set of stairs

15:40 - Yeti vs. Igloo: the small difference that makes a huge impact

17:30 - Can you ever build a house "too tight"?

22:20 - The top violations and places missed in a build

Demand, Supply Scheduling and Creative Recruiting with Joe Arrigo

Various economic pressures are leading businesses to make creative decisions on supply of product and supply of people. How do you balance business realities with customer satisfaction? Today’s guest, Joe Arrigo, has the latest data and strategies to help you navigate these difficult questions.

Joe Arrigo is the President/Owner of Resource Development Partners, a company that provides training, certification, and education for building material manufacturers. Joe specializes in building science education for residential and light commercial builders and trade contractors.

In this podcast...

2:13 - The increased demand for insulation

6:12 - How do you adjust your company in a way that deals with the supply challenge, keeps your people and continues to make money?

12:09 - There’s no scheduling silver bullet BUT there are some best practices

16:16 - Getting creative with scheduling

22:27 - Business in the front, recruitment in the back

26:00 - Looking for talent in every corner of your community

5 Points of Failure for Budding Contracting Businesses with Joe Arrigo

People think starting a business can be hard, but building a business on the other hand can be even more challenging, ESPECIALLY if you don't anticipate simple obstacles that can sink your best-laid plans.That's why business development education is extremely important and why we're talking to one of the best voices in building business education, Joe Arrigo. 

Joe Arrigo is the President/Owner of Resource Development Partners, a company that provides training, certification, and education for building material manufacturers. Joe specializes in building science education for residential and light commercial builders and trade contractors. On today's episode, Joe reveals 5 elements that have the potential to sneak up on your business and turn it upside down.

In this podcast...

3:30 - The crunch of cash flow

10:00 - "In God We Trust, but in all others we bring data."

13:17 - The dark side of inventory management

17:33 - Accurately pricing bids based on market conditions

23:00 - The true cost of onboarding a new employee

26:55 - Why you can't miss on job costing

Where is All This Going? A Building Science Interview with Dr. Joe Lstiburek

We’re well into 2022 and a lot has already changed in the building industry, codes, regulations, legislation, and COVID guidance just to name a few. We’ve called in one of the leading experts in insulation, Dr. Joe Lstiburek, to help you understand these changes and prepare your business for the next 3 quarters and beyond. 

Joe Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. His work ranges widely, from providing expert witness testimony to overseeing research and development projects, to writing for the ASHRAE Journal and buildingscience.com.

 

Dr. Lstiburek’s commitment to advancing the building industry has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices throughout the world, particularly in the areas of air barriers, vapor barriers, and vented and unvented roof assemblies.

In this podcast...

2:33 - The changes to the 2021 codes and if they will stick

5:00 - Is net zero next?

9:31 - What would the perfect insulation contractor ALWAYS Do?

12:27 - Are we building too tight?

15:59 - If you stop putting in bad stuff, you won’t have bad things happen to your house

18:03 - The new bad habit: over-ventilation

21:56 - Where are the biggest opportunities for retrofits?

26:19 - How important is sealing the rim joists?

31:34 - How will Build Back Better affect the industry?

34:51 - Current suggestions for COVID mitigation could kill houses