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
The $2,000-a-Hole Window Myth with Ashley Selzer
Everyone’s heard it: “A quality replacement window should run you two grand per opening, or you’re buying junk.” That pitch (often delivered after hours of kitchen-table arm-twisting) convinces too many homeowners to sign for triple-pane glass and monster price tags they don’t actually need. Mikki’s latest guest, licensed GC Ashley Seltzer of Wallaby Windows, dismantles that narrative, along with the pushy sales tactics behind it, one NFRC label at a time.
Ashley explains how quotes balloon, why “energy-efficiency” buzzwords get abused, and the questions that separate a real consultative pro from a chuck-in-a-truck. From deposit math to pocket-vs-full-frame installs, she gives listeners a playbook for sane pricing and sound decisions.
Inside the Episode:
- The one number on an NFRC label that matters more than the flashy triple-pane upsell, and how to read it in 30 seconds
- Why a 1970s house with zero air-sealing upgrades rarely benefits from “most energy-efficient window ever” packages (save your second mortgage)
- Pocket install or full-frame? The 15-step, OSI-certified process that keeps water out, plus where cheap caulk shortcuts doom a window from day one
- Ashley’s 15 / 45 / 40 deposit rule that protects both sides and kills the “pay half up front” headache before it starts
- Red-flag tactics to walk away from: porch-light pressure sales, same-day sign-or-lose-the-price ultimatums, and one-window-fits-all showrooms
When a window quote tops your last roof bid, hit pause; these insights might save you five figures and a lot of shattered expectations.
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