The Origin Series with Brian Long | Build Show Podcast Ep 208
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Brian Long built a $1.5M/year cabinet business in Dallas and outfitted high-end New York City showrooms before transitioning into custom home building.
Growing up in a family of carpenters, plus a strong high-school shop program, gave Brian a hands-on foundation that shaped his entire career.
His 1980s move from Dallas to Austin was difficult, so he brought several trusted subcontractors with him rather than gamble on unknown local crews.
Spray foam insulation transformed how Brian builds, though he had to fight to get early systems code-approved and saw firsthand how inflated some manufacturers' R-value claims were.
Vetting subcontractors comes down to references from other builders and seeing their prominent, same-caliber work in person.
Decades-long relationships with legendary trades (roofer Mundo, and Ray) and a deep bond with clients are what drive repeat work and referrals.
A practical framing tip from Brian: dimensional treated AOA lumber works well for decks, outriggers, and other exposed applications.
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