Simple does not exist inside the walls of your home.

Jonathan and Chris have heard those words more times than they can count. And every single time, it has cost someone more than they expected. The walls lie. Every time. What looks like a straightforward kitchen renovation is hiding load bearing structure, rotten framing, relocated plumbing, and conditions nobody could see without opening things up.

In EP03 of BuildCast they break down why simple is the most expensive word in construction, what is actually hiding inside the walls of your home right now, and why skipping the planning step never saves money. It just delays when you pay it. And the later always costs more.

The takeaway that closes the episode is one of the best lines of the show so far: simple is not something you get to declare. It is something the project gets to earn.

Two brothers. One mic. Zero filter.

TIMESTAMPS 0:33 Welcome to EP03 1:36 "It's just a simple project" — the most expensive phrase in construction 3:39 Jonathan's generator story: how a "straight run" became a 30% overrun 7:32 Contractors are not trying to hit you with surprises either 8:17 Frontier's internal goal: stay within 3% of the original quoted price 10:19 What happens when you skip design: the HVAC miss that cost a family their timeline 15:16 Mid-project changes: why adding scope after construction starts is death by a thousand cuts 17:29 Concrete that cracks and concrete that will crack: why contingency is non-negotiable 21:36 "The house was always this complicated. You just hadn't met that version of it yet." 25:16 20 years of mistakes: why a PhD in dumb is the best credential a contractor can have 33:27 Simple should always be treated as suspicious in an old home 43:03 The final takeaway: simple is not something you get to declare

ABOUT FRONTIER BUILDING GROUP Frontier Building Group is a women-led, family-owned design-build contractor founded in 2007 and based in Waterford, Ontario. We specialize in whole-home renovations, additions, and legal accessory dwelling units, managing every project from feasibility and design through permitting, construction, and after-care. We serve homeowners in Waterford, Brantford, Paris, Simcoe, Brant County, Haldimand County, Norfolk County, Ohsweken, and Six Nations. We are not the cheapest option. We are the one you call so you only have to do this once.

FIND US Website: https://www.frontierbuildinggroup.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontierbuildinggroup/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FrontierBuildingGroup/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@frontierbuildinggroup TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@frontierbuildinggroup LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/frontier-building-group/ Call us: 519.448.3946 Email: info@frontierbuildinggroup.com