Chicks in Construction
You plan your renovation with excitement, trust your contractor, and hope for the best...until things start going sideways. That’s when most homeowners realize they didn’t know what they didn’t know.
From permits that were never pulled to “contractors” who ghost after demo day, the construction world can feel like a maze of hidden costs and shady shortcuts. Too many homeowners end up confused, overwhelmed, and out a lot of money.
The Chicks in Construction Podcast is here to change that. Hosted by Mikki Paradis, a licensed general contractor with 20+ years of experience, and Jess Aper, a homeowner turned construction content creator, this show breaks down real renovation horror stories and teaches you how to protect your time, money, and home.
This isn’t just another DIY podcast or contractor interview show. Mikki and Jess pull back the curtain on what really goes wrong in home projects, translating industry talk into plain English and giving you practical steps to avoid common (and costly) mistakes.
After building a multimillion-dollar drywall business and helping countless homeowners recover from construction nightmares, Mikki is on a mission to make sure you go into your next project informed, not blindsided. And Jess brings the perspective of someone who’s been in your shoes and now knows exactly what questions to ask.
Want to renovate smarter and spot red flags before they wreck your project? Hit follow and get ready for real talk, expert advice, and stories that will make you say, “Thank God I listened to this first.”
Submit Your Construction Horror Story: https://chicksinconstruction.com/
Chicks in Construction
How a Bad General Contractor Turned a Mold Mess into a Disaster
The Chicks in Construction podcast is officially LIVE, and we kicked things off straight from the International Builders' Show—recording from the Hydroblok booth! Our very first guest joined us to talk about one of the biggest nightmares in construction: mold.
If you’ve ever dealt with a mold disaster, you know how quickly moisture issues can spiral into a full-blown nightmare. In this episode, we cover:
- A real-life mold horror story that could have been 100% avoided with the right waterproofing solution (spoiler: Hydroblok would have saved the day!)
- Why moisture management is one of the biggest challenges in construction—and how to get it right from the start
- The latest innovations in waterproofing and how Hydroblok’s closed-cell technology keeps job sites (and reputations) intact
- The hidden dangers of biotoxin illness and why mold isn’t just a construction issue—it’s a health issue.
- IBS & KIBS (International Builders Show, and Kitchen and Bath Industry Show) is the largest builder's trade show in the world and the premier event for professionals in the residential construction industry.
- IBS & KIBS draws over 76,000 attendees and features a vast exhibit hall showcasing the latest products, technologies, and trends in homebuilding.
- The IBS & KIBS combined shows are branded as Design & Construction Week and there were a lot of new innovative ideas and lots of bold colors that will be trending into designs for 2025 and 2026.
Mentioned in the show:
- Additional information about the health aspects of mold exposure: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTqDW98qqZoCTHLttzIZS4AnFrpDiTcFPkPbvhDEkx8hGxIS5Iau8aYQS5lTrDEXg/pub
- Learn more about Hydroblok: hydroblok.com
- Jess Abreu with Brick by Brick Media brickbybrickmedia.org
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