Ever wonder what really goes into building a custom home or executing a complex renovation? Meet JP Pototschnik — our VP of Production and problem-solving pro. Every week, he’s going to take you behind the scenes on real job sites to show the smart, client-focused solutions the Smithouse team delivers.
From unexpected challenges to clever construction details, In the Field with JP is a peek inside the process—and the craftsmanship—that sets us apart. Follow along weekly to see how we bring dream spaces to life, one solution at a time.
EPISODE 01: JP visits a whole-home project in Mays Chapel where the owners are looking to renovate every room in the house. To achieve the open-concept layout the homeowners envisioned, the Smithouse team removed several load-bearing walls and installed a 33-foot, 2,200-pound steel beam spanning nearly the entire width of the home.
JP will return to this project to show progress over the next several weeks, so stay tuned!
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Video Transcript:
Hey guys, I’m JP. I’m the VP of production here at Smith House. I started at Smith House 20 years ago out in the field with the guys. One of my favorite parts of the job is still coming around every week and checking out what’s going on on site. I figured you guys might enjoy it, too. So, we’re going to start a new series here where you just kind of follow along and come with me on the job sites. You’ll see different jobs at different stages in production. I’ll walk you through what’s going on and hopefully you find it as fun and interesting as I do.
Hey guys, we’re out here in Mays Chapel at another one. This one’s kind of special. It’s a whole home renovation. The client purchased this house and wanted to redo the whole thing before they move in. So, we’re tearing it down to studs inside. Let’s go inside and take a look.
So, inside here, some of the goals were a big kitchen and an open concept. That meant taking down walls, which we love to do. When you take down walls, you have to hold up the ceiling. One of the stars of the show here is this W10x68, 33-foot-long steel beam that we had to put in to hold it all up. Getting that beam in really opened everything up, and this space is now open and ready for a kitchen.
Anytime you’re installing beams like this, it’s a multi-person effort. First, you have to put in brace walls to support the structure, then cut out the structure and raise the beam. A beam like this weighs about 2,000 lbs, so you’re getting lifts and people involved. Always fun.
Up here on the second floor, it’s kind of the same as the first—tearing everything out, starting over. I always love the opportunity to have the design team get creative in these multi-room projects. This means all new trim. Excited for you guys to see more of this and bring you back out here as we get further along.