Professional HVAC instructor, David Collins, joins the ProfitDig guys for a conversation about how one goes about becoming an HVAC professional. They discuss what is involved in the one-year HVAC training program that David teaches, and how a coopreative program with local HVAC companies is so critical in getting his students the hands-on experienc…

In our final video with HVAC expert, Jonathan Booker, he tells the guys some HVAC horror stories, such as encountering rats, opposoms, skunks and various other creatures in attics and crawlspaces (skunks love ductwork); getting eat up by dogs while under a house; witnessing weird (and sometimes disturbing) things at peoples' homes; horny customers …

Continuing our conversation with HVAC expert, Jonathan Booker, we talk about various HVAC-related topics, including the value of having backup generators, green energy options, changes in refrigerants, electrical versus gas systems, and many more interesting topics. If you have any involvement with HVAC in your work or life, you will definitely lea…

HVAC expert Jonathan Booker discusses the differences between HVAC systems for homes versus commercial locations. If you are involved in home or building construction, take the time to increase your knowledge of HVAC systems by learning from a professional with many years of experience. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy!…

HVAC expert Jonathan Booker joins the ProfitDig crew to talk all about heating, venting and air conditioning. HVAC is becoming increasingly complex, but it is a critical component of building and home construction. Learn what HVAC is, how HVAC systems work and what your options are for HVAC systems. He also spends time explaining how important it i…

Certified bridge inspector, Corey Work, finishes his visit with the ProfitDig guys by explaining the exact steps he follows when inspecting a bridge. He also talks about weird things he or his co-workers have seen under or around bridges. As Corey explains, step one: turn the truck off and get out of the track. The guys have quite a few laughs in t…

Our buddy, Seth Williams, collects rare concert posters, most of which he personally purchased at the actual concerts. Many of those posters are not very valuable. ProfitDig's Jerry Work is a collector of vintage toys and comic books. If you are a collector, you will enjoy this conversation between two guys who are passionate about their collection…

Continuing our conversation with certificed bridge inspector, Corey Work, the ProfitDig guys talk about if there is anything that could have prevented the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore from collapsing (other than not running into it with a cargo ship), how bridges over water are constructed, underwater bridge inspection, the reason a major …

Bridges are on everybody's minds, so this week professional certified bridge inspector, Corey Work, joins the ProfitDig guys to discuss what a bridge inspector does and what they look for when inspecting bridges. Corey discusses the three main components of a bridge and what inspectors look at in each component. He also discusses environmental fact…

Seth Williams, an engineer who currently makes his living managing lighting crews for major entertainment acts, talks about his experience working on wind turbines, which often required him to climb up an ever-narrowing tower that stretched hundreds of feet into the air. This is some wild stuff! Just another entertaining and educational video from …

The ProfitDig guys welcome Seth Williams, a skilled electrical engineer who has spent years managing lighting for major artists since 2007. Seth talks about the technical challenges and difficulties setting up lighting trusses, managing his crews, and just life on the road. He also talks about some of the wild things he has experienced in his caree…

Professional construction Project Manager, Jeff Spencer, has spent the last 22 years bidding construction jobs, and as he explains, the key to increasing your company's profits is by increasing production. Materials will cost everyone the same, and profit margins tend to be fairly standard across firms. Bidding with higher margins baked in will lik…

The ProfitDig guys talk about safety precautions when performing elevated work, such as on lifts and ladders. Safety is no joke! Workers on a lift must be tied off and they must have safety harnesses. OSHA and PPE costs are discussed. Nowadays, safety requirements are industry standard, which makes it easier to stay compliant. Most general contract…

Construction project manager, Jeff Spencer's firm has a division that specializes in sprinkler systems. Jerry mentions that he knows people who live in a town where a huge EV battery factory is being built, and wonders aloud what kind of sprinkler system you have to have for something that potentially dangerous and difficult to control. Jeff discus…

In this episode of the ProfitDig Construction Show, the guys talk about mobilization. Planning ahead is the key to effective mobilization. Does the job have multiple phases? Look at the phasing plan so you know how many times you will have to move your equipment in and out of the jobsite. There could be weeks between phases of mobilization. Look at…

There are very important differences between a construction bid and an estimate, and it is critical that you use the correct language with customers or potential customers. Jeff Spencer has been bidding work for 30 years so is highly knowledgeable on the subject. Our special guest, contractor Luke Fielder, joined us for this conversation and descri…

The guys talk about hot water heaters. Recent extreme cold weather in Tennessee had water pipes busting all over the place. What can cause a hot water heater to go bad? A hot water heat is just a tank with a heating element and supply lines. Your local codes will dictate how water lines should be run. Should you go tankless? Jeff Spencer is an expe…

In today's ProfitDig video, the guys talk about when you should get your General Contractor's license. The discussion centers around the state of Tennessee, but the ideas apply anywhere. They also discuss the risk to General Contractors that allow you to operate under their license. Jeff Spencer is a highly experienced construction project manager …

Chris and Jeff talk about construction bonding. Bonding can cost you a potential job if you are unable to perform the required bond. You have to work with your insurance company, and you likely have some kind of monetary limit on your bonding capacity. Make sure you know your limit. Watch and learn much more about this critical aspect of constructi…

The ProfitDig guys talk about emerging technology trends for the construction industry for 2024, with Jeff Spencer, our resident construction project management expert, Jeff Givens, our resident engineering expert, and Jerry Work, who doesn't know much but he reads a lot of articles. Topics include: AI and robotics on the construction site The prob…

ProfitDig's Jeff Spencer talks about his preferred brands of heavy construction equipment (based on his extensive experience) and discusses the concept of "or equal to" materials. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy!由ProfitDig LLC

Construction contractor, Luke Fielder, gives his advice for how to repair a damaged driveway. Any gravel driveway without a finished surface like asphalt will require period maintenance. Making sure your sub-grade is correct is the first step. Make sure your base stone is dropped on an even surface. Ditches need to carry your water away from the dr…

The ProfitDig guys talk about tilt-up construction, a form of construction in which concrete walls are poured in forms on the construction site and then lifted to form walls of a building. How does it work? What are the advantages and disadvantages? Watch now and find out. Another useful video from ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money…

The guys talk about weird things they have seen on a jobsite - such as a guy who left to get a tool from his truck and then showed back up with it months later. Have a laugh with the guys as they talk about jobsite ridiculousness. From ProfitDig - bid jobs, track costs, make more money. Easy. Visit https://www.profitdig.com.…

Wally Rankin, from Trout Creek Home Inspections, LLC, gives his take on the state of the economy from his perspective as a home inspector. As Wally explains, home inspections have died down quite a bit in his market area, likely indicative of the overall market in an environment of inflation and higher interest rates. The guys have a laugh, as usua…

Being your own General Contractor on a construction project, such as a home build, is difficult if you are not highly experienced in the construction industry. Jerry explains the difficulties that someone he knows well has experienced while acting as her own GC. Jeff explains that the GC must elicit bids from subs for every part of the project that…

The ProfitDig guys break out into an economics discussion regarding interest rates. How are rising interest rates affecting the construction industry? How are they affecting new home construction? Home loan applications are at their lowest rate since 1995. A recent home building rebound likely reflects permits approved many months ago. Can the cons…

The ProfitDig guys talk all about easements, which are agreements to allow you to perform work on someone else's property. As Jeff Spencer explains, it is important to record, takes notes and time-stamped photos about the condition of the property before you do any work. Look for cracks in foundations and anything else that could be affected by you…

Don't get burned by the contracts you sign! In today's ProfitDig video, the guys discuss various topics including: On a project, you become part of the business of the General Contractor. Make sure your scope of work is specified in the contract. If it is a long contract with a company you have never worked with before, consult an attorney. Languag…

The ProfitDig guys talk about the importance of daily jobsite documentation. Jeff Spencer talks about using contractors' daily diaries to document information such as jobsite conditions, weather, or any other factors that might affect the work that gets done on a particular day. This information is invaluable in situations such as a court case. You…

In this non-construction episode of the ProfitDig Construction Show, our buddy, Wally Rankin, talks about his experience with chainsaw wounds and knife stabs - all incidents he has experienced with family members growing up in a logging town in Michigan, and with his children in Tennessee. This was supposed to be a Halloween episode, but better lat…

ProfitDig's Jeff Spencer discusses his invoicing strategies to make sure that you have the draws you need to pay the job bills along the way while maintaining healthy profit at the end of the job. Avoid overly aggressive billing! If you bill too aggressively, you may very well find yourself out of money by the end of the job and forced to pay expen…

ProfitDig's Jeff Spencer and Jeff Givens talk about power quality. As Jeff Givens explains, the U.S. is divided into three major grids, and generation of power is based on the demand by homes and businesses within those grids. Generated power has to align with the demands on the grid. Non-linear sources of power for drives, motors and electrical eq…

The guys talk about all subcontractors. If you are bidding on work that you do not self-perform, you will require subcontractors. A good subcontractor is hard to find, especially in a hot market. Having a well-established relationship with a subcontractor will help immensely. A sub is essentially an employee of the GC, so good relationships are cri…

“Dirty” power can cause expensive damage to the equipment in your shop. ProfitDig’s Jeff Givens, a former electrical engineer, explains what to do if you are not getting clean power to your shop. From ProfitDig - easy job bidding and costing for construction contractors. https://www.profitddig.com由ProfitDig LLC

In years past, safety requirements were not so strictly enforced, but these days, OSHA is strict about enforcing those rules, and most companies take pride in keeping their employees safe. That is good news for employees, but from a job bidding standpoint, safety compliance must be accounted for in your bids. When you sign on to perform work for a …

The ProfitDig guys talk about trench boxes, chains and slings - essential safety equipment used on a jobsite to prevent injury from collapsing trenches. Chains and sligns are used to lift heavy items. Most trench boxes weigh 8 - 12 thousand pounds, so they are very heavy devices. They must be used correctly based on soil and OSHA requirements, whic…

ProfitDig After Dark... not really! But it is Chris and Jeff talking about pipes! As Jeff explains, come municipalities require certain brands or types of pipes for specific applications. If you are engaged in underground utility work, it is critical you understand the different types of pipe and when to use what. Jeff is an expert in underground, …

Highly experienced construction Project Manager, Jeff Spencer, talks about how to hire a foreman to help your company grow. As Jeff explains, it is hard to find workers in general, so finding a foreman is even more difficult. Jeff gives his tips for finding the right guy to run your crew. From ProfitDig - the world's easiest to use #construction jo…

Professional home inspector Wally Rankin of Trout Creek Inspections shares some of the weirder things he has seen and experienced while performing home inspections. Another fine video from your friends at ProfitDig - EASY job bidding and costing for #construction contractors. Try it today. $99/mo., no contract. Web-based. Cancel any time. https://w…

Wally Rankin of Trout Creek Inspections explains how there are limitations in every home which can make it difficult to examine everything. Every home inspector has a legal agreement detailing these limitations. It's extremely important to document everything discovered during the inspection. A home inspector isn't allowed to move items around with…

The ProfitDig guys talk with home inspector, Wally Rankin, about why you need a home inspector when purchasing a home. Most legitimate real estate agents want accurate home inspections and will advise their clients with regard to inspections. If a realtor supplies you with a list of inspectors, do your research and pick the best one, even if he is …

In the latest ProfitDig video, we continue our conversation with professional home inspector, Wally Rankin, of Trout Creek Home Inspections. We ask Wally how building codes affect the home inspection process. Home inspectors do not inspect to code - they code to home inspection standards, which are set at a national level. National codes such as th…

Special guest, Wally Rankin from Trout Creek Inspections, joins the ProfitDig crew to talk about what to look for when hiring a home inspector. Wally runs a successful business and knows exactly what makes a good inspector. Among the advice: A good inspection for an average size home should take about 3 hours. An inspector should be able to tell yo…

Today's ProfitDig video is all about silt fences and erosion control! Silt is runoff from a job site. Natural erosion control is best for slowing silt down, but silt fences are erosion matting attached to posts that is used to control runoff. The idea is for silt to pile up next to the fence. Silt fences often have to be redone to maintain control,…

The ProfitDig guys talk about bidding underground utility jobs - something Jeff Spencer knows a LOT about! When looking at a specific project, the specifications limit what you can and can't do on a project. Ease of accessibilty is a huge concern. How hard is it going to be do to get your equipment moved around? Where will you have to store your ma…

Starting a new construction job and unsure of the local codes? Codes apply to the location (city and/or county) of the job. You may have to take a drive to a local courthouse for an application or at times you may get lucky and have the option to apply and pay online. ...and don't forget to budget for these in your job cost!…

The ProfitDig guys talk about what to look for when buying construction equipment. Your equipment is a MAJOR expense, so you want to make sure you buy the equipment that is going to work best for your business and provide you years of service. Topics include: Making sure you buy equipment that suites the scope of work you are going to be doing. Wha…

The ProfitDig guys talk about "cut and fill," a concept that anyone engaged in construction needs to understand. It is a simple concept, but one that is essential for preparing a level construction site. It can also allow you to increase profits if you are strategic about it. From ProfitDig - easy job bidding for construction contractors. Starting …

The ProfitDig guys talk to contractor, Luke Fielder, about the process of interviewing job candidates. All three of these guys have experience hiring and firing, so they have a strong understanding of how to find and hire the best candidates for a job. Whether you are looking to hire or looking to get hired in the construction industry, you will ga…