In this episode of the Build Better Homes Podcast, hosts Royal Mortier and John O’Shea explore the world of wood construction, from its long-standing reliability to the modern innovations shaping how we design and build homes today. Royal shares insights from the engineering side while John offers a builder’s perspective, creating a balanced discussion around value engineering, how to optimize performance, control costs, and avoid common pitfalls without compromising quality. They cover everything from lumber types, engineered wood products, and framing systems, to real-world stories about foundations, load paths, and lateral resistance. If you’ve ever wondered how the right engineering decisions can save thousands on a project while improving long-term durability, this episode is packed with takeaways.
Value engineering isn’t about cutting corners, it’s about building smarter. By understanding material behavior, code changes, and structural systems, builders and engineers can create stronger, more cost-effective, and longer-lasting homes.
👉 Learn more at pliris.co
🎧 Follow the Build Better Homes Podcast for weekly insights on smarter homebuilding.
In this episode of the Build Better Homes Podcast, hosts Royal Mortier and John O’Shea explore the growing adoption of Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) construction and what it means for the future of homebuilding. They break down how ICF systems stack up against traditional wood framing, where the technology shines, and the lessons learned from years of hands-on experience in the field.
From energy efficiency and storm resistance to long-term performance, Royal and John share why ICF could be the next big step forward in residential and commercial construction.
Whether you’re a builder, designer, or homeowner curious about smarter ways to build, this episode gives you real-world insight into why ICF construction is worth paying attention to.
ICF is a practical evolution of how we build. By combining strength, sustainability, and energy efficiency, it’s paving the way for smarter homes and better construction practices.
👉 Learn more about PLIRIS and our work at pliris.co
In this episode of the Build Better Homes Podcast, Royal Mortier and John O’Shea explore the world’s most enduring building material — wood — and how it continues to evolve with technology, energy codes, and modern construction methods.
From conventional stick framing to advanced engineered systems, they unpack the science, sustainability, and design principles behind how homes are actually built. Learn why over 90% of residential structures in North America still rely on wood, what’s changing in manufacturing and energy standards, and which innovations are redefining the future of construction.
Expect to learn:
This episode blends deep technical insight with real-world building experience, ideal for contractors, designers, and anyone passionate about smarter, more sustainable homebuilding.
🎧 Hosted by:
Royal Mortier – Founder of PLIRIS
John O’Shea – Construction Expert, COO of PLIRIS & Co-Host
How Robots Are Revolutionizing Homebuilding | Brent Wadas of BotBuilt
AI isn’t replacing builders, it’s changing how we build smarter, safer, and faster.
In this episode of Build Better Homes, Royal Mortier sits down with Brent Wadas, founder of BotBuilt, to talk about how robotics, automation, and AI are transforming the way homes are framed and constructed.
Brent shares how his team reuses industrial robots, builds panels 24/7, and solves one of construction’s biggest problems: the growing shortage of skilled labor. From his time in the military to his mission to make construction safer, Brent’s story shows how innovation can make housing more affordable and accessible for everyone.
In this episode:
Visit us at pliris.co for more information!
#homebuilding #constructiontechnology #buildbetterhomes #robotics #engineering #innovation #automation
In the first episode of the Build Better Homes Podcast, host Royal Mortier (Founder of PLIRIS) and co-host John O’Shea(Chief Operating Officer of PLIRIS) share their personal journeys through the construction industry, from sweeping floors and working concrete crews as teenagers, to leading teams that manage complex residential and commercial builds.
Royal discusses how his early work in concrete, mentorship under seasoned builders, and passion for structural engineering led him to found PLIRIS, a solutions company providing permit-ready plans, engineering services, and construction technology for builders. John reflects on his path from small contracting jobs to running crews on 10,000-square-foot custom homes and later managing production pipelines for regional and national builders.
Together, they explain why practical, hands-on experience combined with academic training produces stronger builders and better homes. They highlight the importance of relationships with contractors, inspectors, and developers, and share lessons on scalability, systems, and simplifying engineering to support both custom and production homebuilding.
This debut episode sets the stage for the Build Better Homes Podcast, a series dedicated to helping builders, designers, and developers create smarter, faster, and more efficient homes.