Episode 6: Jerad Hutchens on Building Summit Contracting: Culture Is How You Feel on Sunday Night

Jerad Hutchens, president of Summit Contracting, shares how Summit self-performs almost every phase of a build to control quality and margins, why he had to learn to stop making every decision himself, and how a serious injury early in his life taught him to think before he acts. Since joining as a partner in 2014 — when the company had about a dozen employees — Jerad has helped grow Summit to nearly 200 employees, growing 20–30% year over year. Jerad and Allan also dig into profit sharing, competitive culture, resilience, and what “decency” looks like as a guiding business principle.

Is a Barndominium the right fit for you?

Also known as a barndominiums are growing in popularity for good reason. These post-frame buildings offer consumers tremendous flexibility and options. But is a barndominium the right fit for you? This guide is designed to help you answer that question.

Shouse Survey

	Yes	No
You understand that barndominium/shouse pricing is comparable to studwall home construction, particularly those with traditional 2-3 car garages and basements. Interior finishes are the same in either building type, and the advantages of a barndominium/shouse largely go away when the garage/shop space is modest and a basement is required. In many cases, you can expect to pay the same as studwall construction (i.e., somewhere between $175 - $250 per square foot depending on your market).
You want an attached garage and/or shop space > standard 2-3 car garage (i.e., > 1,200 square feet). Using post-frame building design, a barndominium/shouse is able to create large usable spaces cost-effectively in ways that traditional studwall construction cannot.
You like the aesthetic of steel (for the roof and sidewalls) typically used in a barndominium/shouse. Alternate materials may be used on the exterior, but they add cost.
You are comfortable using a concrete floating slab (or equivalent) to meet your foundation needs. A barndominium/shouse can be built on nearly any concrete foundation, including traditional basements. However, traditional basements are not necessary with a barndominium/shouse and having one increases cost.
You want to do some of the interior work yourself (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fixtures), or you want to be the general contractor for that scope of work. While some builders will do full turnkey projects, most prefer to perform work through completion of the building shell.

Is a Shouse the right fit for you?

Shouse = Shop + House

Also known as a barndominium, shouses are growing in popularity for good reason. These post-frame buildings offer consumers tremendous flexibility and options. But is a shouse the right fit for you? This guide is designed to help you answer that question.

Shouse Survey

	Yes	No
You understand that barndominium/shouse pricing is comparable to studwall home construction, particularly those with traditional 2-3 car garages and basements. Interior finishes are the same in either building type, and the advantages of a barndominium/shouse largely go away when the garage/shop space is modest and a basement is required. In many cases, you can expect to pay the same as studwall construction (i.e., somewhere between $175 - $250 per square foot depending on your market).
You want an attached garage and/or shop space > standard 2-3 car garage (i.e., > 1,200 square feet). Using post-frame building design, a barndominium/shouse is able to create large usable spaces cost-effectively in ways that traditional studwall construction cannot.
You like the aesthetic of steel (for the roof and sidewalls) typically used in a barndominium/shouse. Alternate materials may be used on the exterior, but they add cost.
You are comfortable using a concrete floating slab (or equivalent) to meet your foundation needs. A barndominium/shouse can be built on nearly any concrete foundation, including traditional basements. However, traditional basements are not necessary with a barndominium/shouse and having one increases cost.
You want to do some of the interior work yourself (such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing and fixtures), or you want to be the general contractor for that scope of work. While some builders will do full turnkey projects, most prefer to perform work through completion of the building shell.

Episode 6: Jerad Hutchens on Building Summit Contracting: Culture Is How You Feel on Sunday Night

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