Can AI create comprehensive takeoffs in minutes, and save you time? In this episode, I sit down with Patrick Murphy of
Togal.AI to explore his solution to tedious takeoffs, compliance and staying within budget.
"If a human can interpret plans, why can't a computer?"
Patrick also shares his other venture - RENCO - providing innovative, greener and cheaper building blocks.
"One person built a 1,500-square-foot house alone in a day."
Patrick Murphy's career path reads like a modern American story: CPA at Deloitte, two-term U.S. Congressman, and now construction tech entrepreneur. In this episode, Patrick shares how he's using AI to solve one of construction's biggest inefficiencies - estimating - and how he's revolutionizing building materials with recycled composite blocks.
Patrick Murphy is Chief Investment Officer of Coastal Construction, where he started as a day laborer and worked his way up through project engineering, estimating, and accounting. A CPA with experience at Deloitte & Touche, Patrick is now pioneering AI-driven construction technology through Togal.ai and CodeComply.ai, while developing the RENCO composite building system.
He served four years in Congress representing Palm Beach and the Treasure Coast, and currently serves on President Biden's Export Council as the only appointee from the construction industry.
From Tedious Takeoffs to AI Innovation
Patrick opens up about the construction world's biggest time-waster: manual estimating. He describes how 50-60% of his family's construction team spent their days "coloring plans and counting materials" - a process that sparked his lightbulb moment about AI automation.
Togal.ai: How Does it Work?
We dive into the nuts and bolts of Patrick's AI platform, from uploading PDF plans to getting instant takeoffs in seconds. Patrick explains how the system serves everyone from small contractors to billion-dollar companies for $250 per user per month, and shares the story of one customer who grew 215% in 40 days instead of their planned 25%.
AI's Future in Construction
Patrick paints a picture of construction in five years, where you could input your address, budget, and style preferences and get a fully compliant design instantly. He envisions AI optimizing everything from plumbing layouts to permitting, potentially bringing construction productivity back to Empire State Building-era levels.
Building with LEGO-Like Blocks
The conversation shifts to Patrick's other venture, Renco, which creates building blocks from recycled materials that snap together like LEGOs. Patrick walks through the 10-year journey and 450 tests required to get regulatory approval for blocks that are 80% greener and 20% cheaper than traditional materials.
Skilled Labor Crisis
The harsh reality is that for every five builders retiring, only 1.5 enter the trades, while the country needs to build a million homes annually. Patrick explains how both AI and innovative materials can help bridge this gap by reducing the need for highly skilled labor.
Education and the Devaluation of Trades
We also discuss how American culture has systematically undervalued trade work while pushing everyone toward traditional college paths. Patrick advocates for bringing back shop class and teaching practical skills alongside AI literacy and critical thinking.
Lessons from Congress
Patrick reflects on his time in Washington, sharing observations about partisan dysfunction and the incentive structures that reward division over problem-solving. He discusses his book "A Divided Union" and what he learned about governance during his two terms representing Palm Beach.
Resources
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Togal.ai - AI-powered construction takeoff software
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Renco - Renewable composite building blocks