Host:
Welcome to the Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction, online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com. Now here’s your host, Sean, with Mike of Edge Construction.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction Online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
It’s an amazing resource. Visit EdgeConstructionCompany.com to get some ideas and see some of the great work they’ve done. If you’re thinking about remodeling, Mike and the team at Edge would love to talk with you. Just pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That number again: 636-EDGE.
Joining us this morning is Mike of Edge Construction. Mike, you’ve got a little color. Have you been somewhere?
Mike:
Yes! How are you doing, by the way?
Host:
I’m doing great. Good. You were down in sunny Orlando, huh?
Mike:
I was, and yes, it was sunny. Last week, the International Builders’ Show was down there, and it’s just an overwhelming amount of anything related to construction—from cabinets and countertops to software, robotics, tools, and all the things we use.
Host:
Did you get to see any of those exoskeleton things? You mentioned them before. Like one of those robotic support systems?
Mike:
Yes, although these are much simpler than what people imagine. They’ve actually been around for a little while. The ones I was looking at were mostly designed to support your arms.
Some of them are only about five pounds. They’re made out of aluminum or carbon fiber and look like tubes with little shock absorbers. I’m dumbing this down a bit, but you get the idea. They strap across your back and shoulders, go down your arms to your wrists, and kind of lock on.
The idea is that if you’re doing repetitive overhead work—say holding a five-pound drill above shoulder level—this helps take the strain off. When you’re 20 or 25, you don’t think much of it, but construction has an aging population. I think the average age is over 50, believe it or not.
Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs talks about this a lot: for every five people who retire, only about one and a half are coming in. So we need to preserve the people we have and find ways to make the job easier, safer, and less injury-prone.
I wanted to try one on and see how cumbersome it was and whether it was realistic yet. There was also a heavier version, but then you’re strapping something like a 17-pound contraption to your back, and I could see where that would get annoying.
So my conclusion is: we’re not quite there yet, but I like where they’re going. Whether it’s drywall, lumber, cabinets, or other heavy materials, some of these systems can take a 30-pound load on each arm and reduce the effective weight by about 70%. That’s impressive. It’s a way to hopefully reduce injuries and make the work a little more pleasant.
Like I said, it’s not quite there yet. It’s still a little cumbersome, and I think our guys would get frustrated with the current versions. But I can see the future—it’s coming.
Host:
As owner of Edge Construction, and as you look to the future, was there anything else that stood out to you—something you thought you could actually start using now?
Mike:
Yes. We also spent a lot of time looking at design software and CAD software for interiors and exteriors, sometimes even whole houses. The renderings are already really good. I know we’ve had some on our website, and honestly we should put more up because one of the most fun things for me is to compare the rendering to the actual finished project and see how close we got. It’s getting really dialed in.
I thought I was going to find AI design software that could take a blank sheet and design something for you, because we keep getting pitched those products. Maybe it exists, but I didn’t really find that.
What I did find—and I think this is smart—was software geared more toward making renderings better. The renderings looked so realistic they almost looked like photographs. You could add people, furniture, and details that made the space feel lived in.
So we’d design it in CAD, import it into the AI software, and then it would ask, “How many versions do you want?” You say five, and it starts producing versions with different options. It’s actually suggesting options for you to react to—things you like or don’t like.
It’ll put kids playing on the floor, somebody cooking, someone sitting on the couch watching TV. For a homeowner who doesn’t do this all the time, it can provide really compelling visuals and good options without a ton of hours on our end. Normally we’d spend a lot of time manually changing things. This software was doing a lot of that very quickly.
Host:
It just popped into my head earlier this week on the radio show—we were talking about the explosion in the popularity of golf. I know you and I have talked before about golf simulators in homes. You’ve worked with some folks who wanted to add those. When you go to these builders’ shows, do you see things like that too? Or is it mostly tools and tech as opposed to products?
Mike:
Oh no, those are there too. There’s plenty of that kind of stuff, and it’s very interesting.
The old-school versions were pretty crude compared to what they offer now. And the pricing really hasn’t tripled or anything—it’s actually come down, I think.
You’re probably familiar with short-throw projectors. Some of these now can be mounted right next to where you hit, instead of overhead or behind a protective screen. The graphics are much better, and now they’re not just projecting—they’re analyzing your swing. They film your swing, calculate ball speed, spin, and all of that. It’s becoming more accurate and more useful.
I don’t have one. I don’t golf enough to justify it. But the homeowners we’ve worked with seem to really like them—not just for having friends over, although there’s some of that, but more for actually working on their swing and improving specific parts of their game.
You can also now do these in a garage fairly easily. You can back the car out, set up in five minutes, and have your golf simulator. So it doesn’t necessarily need to be a permanently dedicated room. That 15-by-15 space doesn’t have to be only a golf simulator.
The companies making these systems are smart. They’re giving people what they want.
Host:
A flexible space.
Mike:
Exactly.
My brother actually has one in his garage that we helped with. He can work on a car in there, play golf, and as a joke we even gave him a hot dog roller. So he’s got a hot dog roller in there too—which actually works pretty nicely.
Host:
Did I tell you about my hot dog toaster, Mike? I literally have a toaster where you put two hot dogs in it, two buns, push it down, and ten minutes later you’ve got toasted buns and warm hot dogs. I like it.
Mike:
That’s a pretty great setup. I’d still love the hot dog roller though.
Host:
We’re going to talk this week about trends—kitchens, bathrooms, and some other spaces. But as we talk about things like golf simulators, home theaters, and all of that, are you seeing people really use spaces—especially basements—as places to customize around their hobbies and passions?
Mike:
Yes, people are definitely still doing that. That part hasn’t changed much. I wouldn’t say there’s a ton of new innovation there.
What I did notice at the show, though, is how jealous it makes me of people who live in better climates and can really use outdoor spaces. Outdoor lounge areas are very popular in construction right now. In places without mosquitoes or snow, that makes obvious sense. But now it’s getting more popular even here, because they’ve figured some things out.
We did one last year as part of an addition. It included an outdoor living space where the homeowner could basically cook a whole meal outside. At first I thought, okay, I understand this in California or Arizona, but in Wisconsin? Are they really making products that can hold up to our winters?
But yes—they are. Outdoor kitchens, media centers, TVs that pop up out of cabinets, outdoor televisions mounted right on fake trees with hoses spraying them at the show. I mean, they looked indestructible. I’m not going to stand behind that claim personally, but it was interesting.
They’re not necessarily overpriced for what they offer, and they really give you a lot of options in designing your outdoor space. I think that trend is going to continue spreading north based on what I saw.
Host:
And when you’re doing an addition, does that come up? Do people say, “We want to do this addition, but we also want an enclosed patio,” or some kind of space that’s not fully interior but is still dedicated?
Mike:
It does. This particular one was outside. Generally, our company doesn’t get too involved in landscaping-type work. If you want a concrete patio poured, we can get that done. But if you want a really elaborate stone setup, we usually steer you toward companies that specialize in that.
Those companies are really set up well for working directly with homeowners, and honestly it’s better for the homeowner if we’re not in the middle of it, because if we’re in the middle, we have to put something on top of the cost. I don’t want to be in that position.
What we often do provide is the mechanical support for those spaces. So if the outdoor space includes a kitchen, we’ll make sure they have gas for the grill, gas for an oven if needed, electricity, water—whatever that outdoor setup requires. We make sure all of that is prepped and ready for the companies that come in and finish the space.
Host:
I see some of these water and fire features and think, wow—that’s very cool.
Mike:
Very cool stuff.
Host:
We’re talking this morning with Mike of Edge Construction. We’ll be talking more about home design trends that are really starting to get popular in the area, and also a little more about the Builders’ Show Mike just got back from in Orlando.
Before we go to break, I wanted to ask one more thing. This is a big national and international event. Do you ever see things that maybe showed up a few years ago and nobody cared about, but now you’re thinking, “You know what? That might actually be perfect for our area”?
I remember once you talked about a basketball hoop that literally folded flat and went into the garage.
Mike:
Yeah, it actually came out above the garage door. There was a panel built into the wall, everything was on actuators, and it folded out. I think that one kind of went by the wayside.
Some of the really trendy stuff shows up for a year or two and then disappears. This year, we took two designers down with us, and we all kind of agreed this year felt less trendy—in a good way. The quality of the products being shown seemed better, and they were also things people would actually want.
One truly new idea I saw—and those don’t come around very often—had to do with glass. Yard doors and shower glass have been around forever, and I thought we’d kind of reached the end of the road. You’ve got frosted glass, rain glass, sandblasted glass, privacy glass, and the clear glass products have gotten much better in terms of staying clean.
I thought we were kind of done innovating there. But this year I found a company doing something brilliant: they sandwich materials between two layers of glass.
The first one that caught my eye had what looked like a very fine linen fabric in the middle. You could still see through it a little, but it gave privacy and looked artistic. Then I looked deeper and found others with shimmering thin sheets of metal in the middle. Again, you could still see shadows, but it also became a design element.
I thought that was a truly new idea. Nobody had done that before, and it was pretty brilliant.
Host:
That is amazing. I never would have thought of that.
Mike:
I’ve got one more for you. I was walking around and saw this booth with two creepy robotic dogs walking around. They looked like something out of an ’80s sci-fi movie.
What they were actually for was large job site management. They would walk around electronically taking measurements and monitoring different things. You could probably dial them in for some safety-related functions too. I didn’t go too far down the rabbit hole on it, but I thought, okay, who wants a weird robotic dog watching them? Still, it was interesting, and I think it’s a sign of where the future is headed.
Host:
You wonder about security, too.
Mike:
Exactly.
Host:
Anything else that caught your attention?
Mike:
Yes. There was also a booth with what looked like a laser-level type setup, almost like a camera pointing down. It could project the wall outlines of an entire space onto the floor and ceiling.
Normally, when we lay out interior walls, we take measurements, snap chalk lines, and work it all out that way. In remodeling, that process can slow down because the homeowner may want input as you go.
With this setup, it could project where all the walls would go—and not just walls. You could load in your CAD drawing and project where the cabinets would be, what size they’d be, and how the layout would work.
It would make layout easier for us, but I also thought it would be very cool for homeowners to visualize a space.
Host:
That is pretty neat.
We’re talking this morning with Mike of Edge Construction. If you haven’t been to the website, head on over now to EdgeConstructionCompany.com. All one word: EdgeConstructionCompany.com. You’ll find great information about Edge Construction Company, links to recent projects, and their Pinterest, Facebook, and Houzz pages.
If you’re thinking about remodeling, they’d love to talk with you. Just pick up the phone and give them a call at 608-636-3343. That’s 636-EDGE. And of course, Edge Construction brings you the Home Remodeling Show right here on 1310 WIBA.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction Online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
Talking this week about design trends that are really getting popular right now. And of course, if you miss any part of the show, you can always listen back to the podcast at WIBA.com.
Very popular podcast, Mike—not surprising. A lot of folks really like the things we talk about.
As we talk about what’s popular, what’s trendy, and what’s cool—kitchens. Kitchens have always been very popular, but when it comes to kitchen design, people really seem to be going for quality these days, don’t they?
Mike:
That has been a really encouraging thing in construction.
There was a time when people wanted a certain look in their heads, but they weren’t willing to invest in really good cabinets, natural products, or better finishes. Most of the jobs we do now have real wood floors, high-quality cabinets, and stone countertops.
I think last year we did one laminate countertop job. I’ve got nothing against laminate—there’s probably laminate in the studio that’s 50 years old and still going strong—but generally people want stone now. Even if they think they want granite going in, once they see the quartz options, most of them end up picking quartz.
And I like that. Kitchens went through this stretch where everything was white, and while people still want that clean, efficient look, they’re also willing now to put some personality into the design. I brought some pictures that show that, and I think we’re heading in the right direction.
It used to be we’d try to fit homeowners into categories: modern farmhouse, contemporary, craftsman, whatever. Now that’s loosening up. We still know generally what people like, but we’re more focused on giving it personality rather than forcing it into a style box.
I’d much rather design a kitchen where someone says, “I don’t know what style this is, I just like it.”
Host:
That’s a great way to put it. It also seems like things are less busy and more subtle now. There can still be a lot of customization and visual interest, but it’s more restrained. Maybe one area stands out—like a glass cabinet or something—but overall it feels less cluttered than kitchens from the ’80s or ’90s.
Mike:
You’ve got it exactly right.
The kitchen still has to do everything a kitchen needs to do, but how it feels and how it works has become just as important. Homeowners are even willing to give up some storage if it helps them get the look and feel they want.
It’s not just about efficiently cooking and cleaning anymore. It’s about: what happens when the kids are doing homework? Can somebody else help cook? Does it work for entertaining?
A lot of old kitchens didn’t work very well for more than one person. Now kitchen design has really opened up. The older kitchens weren’t just busy—they all kind of looked the same too. We’ve moved away from that and toward, “Let’s design this kitchen for these homeowners, in this house, and make it work for how they live.”
Host:
That seems like the trend too—not just “this is what a kitchen should look like,” but “how are you going to use this space?” Whether it’s for cooking, gathering, entertaining, having wine with friends—those are now part of the design conversation.
Mike:
Exactly. Sometimes a space looks better when you pare down what you keep in it and focus on things you really use. And if you upgrade the quality of those items, some of them become part of the design.
We hear from homeowners all the time that they love their kitchens partly because they can see and display the things that matter to them. It’s not just about nice cabinets and countertops. Other items can be attractive too.
That’s why floating shelves work so well in the right setting.
Host:
And they seem very intentional now. Back in the day, floating shelves sometimes just became a place to pile stuff. Now it feels much more purposeful—not just in the design, but in what gets displayed on them.
Mike:
It really is intentional, and designers have had to adjust to that too.
I remember one project in Middleton we worked on three different times. The third time was the kitchen. It was a smaller house in a great location, and I went into it thinking, okay, let’s maximize storage.
Right away, the homeowners said, “We don’t want any upper cabinets.”
I thought, where are we going to put all your stuff?
Instead, we ended up doing really cool open stainless steel shelving. It fit the younger couple’s more modern, contemporary style. And when it was all done, and I saw how they displayed everything and how it all worked, it was really eye-opening. You could see how the kitchen would be used, and it was attractive too.
Host:
Something else that’s become popular—air fryers and other multi-function appliances. Are people starting to rethink things like needing a huge stove or a separate microwave? Are you seeing any impact from that?
Mike:
There are definitely more appliances now that do multiple things. You can have setups with a cooktop and a separate oven, or combined units that do convection, standard oven cooking, air frying, and more.
The challenge is always: where do you put all this stuff?
I’m not much of a cook, and we’ve joked about that before, but at our shop I’ve got basically a toaster oven and I love it. I can make a little pizza, toast—pretty much everything I need.
Host:
My wife doesn’t let me have a toaster oven at home. We had one when we first got married and I loved it. English muffins in there, little pizzas—so quick and easy.
But with air fryers and some of these appliances, I’ve definitely noticed people asking, “Do I really need all these things sitting on the counter?” That seems like a trend too—simplifying.
Mike:
Yes, and one rabbit hole worth going down is coffee makers. Go to Bosch’s website sometime, or visit their booth at the Builders’ Show.
We’ve done some kitchens where we plumb and wire for built-in coffee systems. You literally open up a cabinet, and there’s a coffee maker inside with a water line going to it. You don’t fill it manually. It can make everything from espresso drinks to regular coffee, and it grinds the beans fresh based on what drink you want.
They’re wild. If somebody wants to hand me five grand, I’d put one in my house tomorrow.
Host:
That sounds like a dream.
Mike:
Honestly, I could justify that before I could justify an air fryer.
Host:
I might be right there with you.
We’re talking this morning with Mike of Edge Construction. The website is EdgeConstructionCompany.com. That’s EdgeConstructionCompany.com. The phone number is 608-636-3343, or 636-EDGE.
More of the Home Remodeling Show with Edge Construction is next.
This is the Home Remodeling Show, brought to you by Edge Construction Online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com.
Talking about trends this week, especially kitchens. We’ve talked about countertops and what stays in the kitchen, but we haven’t talked much yet about where those things go beyond glass cabinets and floating shelves.
One thing I love hearing is that people are investing in quality cabinetry, because if you put in a really nice set of cabinets, you may never have to worry about them again in your lifetime.
Mike:
That’s exactly right.
Cabinetry is a little bit of a minefield. Most cabinets look great when they’re first installed. Face frames are generally solid wood, and drawer fronts and doors often come from the same few suppliers in the U.S., so they can look fairly similar.
The big differences are in the boxes, the hardware, the finish, and the customization options.
I’m not a huge fan of particle board. What most people don’t realize is that real plywood can weigh about a third of what a similar particle board product weighs. Particle board has a lot more binders in it. It’s kind of like compressed cardboard, and it’s more susceptible to moisture than plywood.
Unfortunately, it’s become increasingly hard to find cabinets that aren’t made with particle board, because it’s popular and cost-effective.
Our main supplier is Great Northern, way up in Rib Lake, Wisconsin. I always joke about how far north that is, but it’s at least somewhat local. These aren’t cabinets being made by the train-car load somewhere far away. They’re made by craftspeople.
What I love is that people are involved at every step. Someone is actually looking at the product, checking for problems, troubleshooting, and making sure it looks right—not just trusting a CNC machine and a conveyor line.
That’s especially important on the finish side. Maple, for example, is a very popular cabinet wood, but it’s traditionally been hard to stain well. It doesn’t absorb stain like softer woods do, so the finishing process matters a lot.
I like knowing there are people involved in that process, not just machines.
And the result for us is a fantastic cabinet product. One thing they offer that we love is custom sizing in eighth-inch increments. The next best in the industry might be three-inch increments. That means fewer fillers, better fit, and a more custom look—without charging full custom pricing.
They also offer all the hardware and interior finish options people want. They’re not priced like a full custom cabinet, but yes, they’re more than the thin-walled particle board products. They’re just going to last a very, very long time.
The overall investment in a kitchen is still substantial, even with cheaper cabinets. So I like that people are willing to upgrade where it matters.
Host:
And as you mentioned, the finish is huge. You can finish cabinets on site, but nothing compares to factory-controlled conditions where temperature, humidity, and application are all managed properly.
Mike:
Exactly. That’s where the whole thing can fall apart if it’s not done right.
Even if you’re using good materials, if the finish isn’t controlled properly, it won’t hold up the same way. We’ve built cabinets in our own shop before, but we can’t replicate what a dedicated finishing facility can do in terms of environmental control and chemistry.
Modern finishes aren’t what they were even 20 years ago. Now you’re dealing with two-part products and very specific application conditions. You need real control over the process.
Host:
One final thing I wanted to ask you—natural light. It’s not just a kitchen trend, but kitchens seem like one of the biggest places where people really notice the impact of adding more natural light.
Mike:
Absolutely. Making a window bigger or adding windows can completely change a space. Natural light makes people feel better. It also helps to be able to look outside.
We’ve never had a customer say, “How many windows can we take out of this house?” People want more. It just feels better.
I’ll also say this about the kinds of windows people choose. If someone is trying to sell you windows, they’re not always trying to sell you a great window. Vinyl windows, for example, are often treated like disposable products. We generally don’t install them because in the lifespan of a house, an 8- to 12-year window is pretty short-lived.
We want windows that are going to last a long time, operate well that whole time, and be efficient. We go to such great lengths to make houses efficient, and then if we put in poor windows, we undo a lot of that.
There are three major Midwest companies that have really stood the test of time: Marvin, Pella, and Andersen. Those companies continue improving year after year. They offer better efficiency, better looks, and more options than ever.
You can definitely spend a lot of money on windows, but in that category, you generally do get what you pay for.
Host:
And it’s great to hear that the overall trend seems to be quality. That’s a really encouraging thing.
As we talked this week with Mike of Edge Construction, now is a great time to start that conversation if you’re thinking about a remodeling project. Give Edge Construction a call at 608-636-3343—that’s 636-EDGE—or learn more online at EdgeConstructionCompany.com