Welcome to an exclusive interview with Dennis Comstock, also known as “Builder Brigade”, also known as your go-to expert for navigating the home building experience (which can be the opposite of relaxing). Dennis understands first hand how challenging it can be to build a home that meets all of your expectations, so he created Builder Brigade: A one-stop-shop for users to feel more knowledgeable and comfortable throughout the homebuilding process. From choosing a contractor, to designing your space for functionality, to keeping an eye on crucial elements of the project from start to finish, Dennis has you covered!
So, grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and join us as we get to know Dennis a little better in this Q&A!
Killarney Metals:
How did you get started in the homebuilding industry?
Dennis:
I framed houses in Florida for a few years and really learned what the residential home building process was all about. I was able to see first-hand how all the trades worked together.
I ended up joining the Army, and after serving for 8 years I got out and had my first house built. I was shocked at all the mistakes and home features I overlooked and knew there was a need to help other homeowners who were about to embark on the home building journey. I started making videos and documenting all the ideas and tips into my checklist.
Dennis’ social media channels, “Builder Brigade” were started pre-2020 and have garnered more than 1.2 million combined followers looking for that next great home building tip.
Check out Dennis' TikTok page here for videos like these and plenty more!
Killarney Metals:
What’s the most common piece of advice you give to people building their forever home?
Dennis:
Start planning early! Thinking through the home features and ideas early give you time to really consider if they’re worth the additional cost. You’ll be looking out for things as you go throughout your day. You’ll find things and think “It sure would be nice to have ___”.
One of our favorite (non-Killarney Metals) home hacks that Dennis has showcased on his channel is here, where he gives alternative ideas on running water drains for your property.
Killarney Metals:
How did you first hear about Killarney Metals?
Dennis:
I was in search of a second floor drain pan that I could recommend on a video. I saw the trench drain pan and was shocked I’d never heard of it. I immediately made a video to show my audience that it existed.
Dennis’ first Killarney Metals feature was in January, 2022 and resulted in more than 400,000 views on his TikTok channel. Check out that video here.
Killarney Metals:
Can you tell us about the home building checklist?
Dennis:
It’s a compiled list of everything I wish I would have given thought to when I had my house built. Since creating it, I’ve been able to add to the list all of the “Wish I would-haves” that other homeowners have sent me. I send updates to previous purchasers free of charge so they have the most updated version.
Essentially, it’s a massive list of all the things to consider, organized into phases of construction so you can provide the finalized list to your builder and then go back and reference it with each phase of the home building process to ensure nothing was overlooked.
The Home Building Checklist can be found here: https://builderbrigade.com/collections/home-building-checklists
Killarney Metals:
What’s in the future for the builder brigade?
Dennis:
Continue to refine the checklist I mentioned earlier and eventually finish the General Contractor Checklist for builders. The “GC” checklist is much more involved but I think it will really help a ton of homeowners and builders.
I haven't mentioned this yet but we are also going to release an Amazon product that I’m so excited to share because it solves a problem that I have yet to see a good solution for.
A big thank you to Dennis for his invaluable insights and being an awesome resource for anyone going through the home designing process! Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just starting out, Builder Brigade serves as a guiding light in the world of home improvement. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dennis, and are excited to apply his wisdom to my own projects moving forward!
Our favorite comment on one of Builder Brigade’s many Killarney Metals video projects: “Finally, someone designed this drain pan. It should be mandatory in all installs in my opinion”.
Some of our favorite tiktoks BuilderBrigade has made for Killarney Metals:
Defend your kitchen from unexpected drips:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTo1NGR/
Don’t let laundry room leaks dampen your day:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTEcS5J/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRTETocG/
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZPRToeAWB/
A special discount for killarneymetals.com since you made it to the end of the blog…
use code "COOLPEOPLEREAD" at check out :)
