The Carolina Contractor Show

Housing feels like a moving target right now, and we’re putting the bullseye back in view. Donnie and Eric unpack why first-time buyers are squeezed, how material costs and mill closures ripple through pricing, and where a rent-to-own model might open real doors to ownership without a $50,000 down payment. We move from the jobsite to policy and back again, breaking down what’s changing, what isn’t, and what has to shift to make sta...

Pool house project, a skid steer after retirement, and more Panthers stories than you’ve ever heard in one place. We sit down with Mick Mixon to trace a remarkable arc—from the broadcast booth to a backyard compound where concrete, retaining walls, and a humming skid steer turned “free time” into craft. Mick opens up about why sports still feel truly unscripted, how different people find common purpose in a huddle, and the quiet wa...

Football jokes aside, we pivot hard into a practical, no-nonsense guide to choosing the right roof. Donnie draws on decades of contracting and roofing experience to decode the real trade-offs between asphalt shingles, designer lines, and metal systems, with blunt talk about warranties, wind ratings, and the hidden details that make or break a roof over time.

We walk through why certified, local, licensed, and insured roofe...

Football brains, builder brains, and a holiday shopping list that actually gets used—this one brings it all together. We open with Phillip Rivers’ headline‑grabbing return, the Panthers’ late‑season spark, and a dash of fantasy playoff chaos, then steer straight into a practical gift guide for homeowners, weekend warriors, and anyone who loves a well‑equipped garage. No fluff, no gimmicks—just the tools and upgrades that save time,...

The conversation starts with sweet potatoes and grandma-level stuffing, then pivots to the question stirring up homebuyers everywhere: would a 50-year mortgage help or hurt? We share the real math behind lower monthly payments, how amortization changes over ultra-long terms, and why equity can lag for years unless you get proactive. From belt-loop victories to kitchen-table budgets, we pull the debate out of theory and into real li...

A chilly room tells a story, and today we decode it with clear, practical advice you can use before your next utility bill arrives. We kick off with a quick nod to football, then dive straight into comfort science: why that “burnt” smell appears when the heat first comes on, how long it should last, and the simple signs that mean it’s time to call a pro. From there, we get hands-on with the fixes that matter most—filters, ducts, in...

Bacon might steal the opening, but the real feast here is a tour of where homebuilding is headed—and how to make smarter choices without spending more than you need. We dig into the surprising benefits of building smaller, then show how thoughtful design—10-foot ceilings, full-height storage, and slab-on-grade shop-plus-suite layouts—can turn compact footprints into flexible, livable homes that age with you.

From there we ...

Sunlight changes everything. We kick off with a real project that turned a dim great room into a bright, open space by swapping a standard door for full glass, adding a 10-by-6 quad window, and installing an 8-by-12 slider with screens for a cross-breeze you can feel. The secret wasn’t just picking pretty glass—it was structural discipline. We brought in an engineer, sized LVLs correctly, and worked to the inch so the spans carried...

Ready to tackle fall projects without stepping on hidden landmines? We kick off with a hands-on deck build—why we chose two-by-sixes over five-quarter boards, used a camo jig to hide fasteners, and saved big by assembling stainless cable rails from components. Then we widen the lens to what really protects your home: how aluminum rails beat rust at the coast, when PVC makes maintenance easy, and why looks-versus-longevity is the tr...

Have you ever wondered what mysteries lie beneath your kitchen sink or above your ceiling? The answers could save you thousands. In this eye-opening episode of the Carolina Contractor Show, host Donnie Blanchard and his co-host Eric Smith, dive into the questions that keep homeowners awake at night—and the solutions that could prevent costly disasters.

Drawing from decades of hands-on experience in construction and buildin...

Renovation or rebuild? That's the question many homeowners face when their current space no longer meets their needs. In this episode, Donnie and E break down the fundamentals of home renovation, sharing insider knowledge that helps you make informed decisions about transforming your living spaces.

The kitchen remains renovation central for most homeowners, but approaches have evolved. Rather than gutting everything, ...

What if your home could predict when your HVAC system was about to fail, automatically adjust temperatures room by room based on occupancy, or even guide you through complex DIY repairs with step-by-step visual instructions? This isn't science fiction—it's the very near future of homeownership!

Donnie and Eric dive deep into how artificial intelligence will transform our homes over the next five years, exploring ...

The long-awaited "Big Beautiful Bill" has finally passed, and it's reshaping America's construction and housing landscape in ways both expected and surprising. Donnie and Eric dive deep into this massive legislation to unpack what it really means for contractors, developers, homebuyers, and the future of housing affordability.

As rain continues to plague construction schedules across the Carolinas, Donn...

When your professional HVAC technician warns you about a failing component, listen! This powerful lesson kicks off our deep dive into summer air conditioning maintenance as Eric shares how ignoring a $50 capacitor replacement led to an $800 repair bill when his blower motor eventually failed.

The value of maintenance contracts becomes crystal clear as we break down exactly what technicians check during routine service visi...

Ever see those social media ads promising miracle solutions for your home? In this eye-opening episode, contractor Donnie Blanchard takes on misleading claims about attic fans that promise to dramatically lower temperatures by 25-30 degrees. Drawing from professional experience, Donnie explains why these mechanical ventilation systems often fail to deliver and can actually disrupt your roof's natural airflow when improperly in...

Ever sat in your living room staring at a mysterious crack, wondering if you should worry? Donnie Blanchard and Eric dive into a treasure trove of common homeowner questions in this information-packed episode that leaves no construction conundrum unsolved.

The guys bust open the persistent myth about black shingles making attics hotter. Through Donnie's experience as an insurance adjuster, complete with impromptu temp...

Artificial intelligence might sound like science fiction, but for builders and contractors, it's rapidly becoming an essential tool reshaping how we construct homes and manage projects. In this eye-opening episode, General Contractor Donnie Blanchard and host Eric Smith demystify AI in construction, showing how it's already transforming job sites across America.

From project planning that creates comprehensive sc...

The age-old question of modular versus stick-built construction reveals surprising truths in today's housing market. General contractor Donnie Blanchard brings 20 years of expertise to this deep dive, shattering common misconceptions about both building methods.

Most striking is how the traditional cost advantage of modular homes has virtually disappeared. "The modular home cost is pretty much neck and neck with ...

Ready to transform your space? Donnie Blanchard kicks off this episode with a roof revival story, sharing how Tyler Dodson from Industrial Softwash completely eliminated ugly algae streaks using an innovative chemical process. As a roofing professional...That endorsement carries weight, for homeowners facing similar issues.

The conversation shifts to the hottest home design trends for 2025, revealing a dramatic pivot from ...