Sam pulls up a seat at The Builder’s Table podcast to discuss the Carbon approach to construction.
In a recent conversation on The Builder’s Table podcast, Carbon Founder and CEO Sam Fertik spoke with host Jennifer Wilkerson about everything from his unconventional path into building to why the fundamentals of how homes are constructed matter more than ever.
Building from the Guts Out
Sam reflected on his nontraditional journey from cheffing into construction—and the moment he realised that, despite advances in materials and technology, much of American homebuilding still relies on methods that haven’t fundamentally changed in centuries.
That insight led him to focus on what he calls building “from the guts out.” Finishes can evolve, and layouts can be adjusted - but the structure, envelope, and systems of a home are permanent. As weather conditions become more extreme and homeowners grow increasingly concerned with resilience, getting those fundamentals right has never mattered more.
When Efficiency Enhances Experience
For Sam, sustainability and luxury don’t sit in opposition. In the podcast, he discusses how over-insulated concrete homes, paired with efficient systems like heat pumps or geothermal, can dramatically reduce energy use while delivering something clients feel immediately: comfort, solidity, safety, and an almost complete absence of noise. As Wilkerson noted during the episode, it’s often the quiet that makes the biggest impression.
Thinking about the lived experience of a Carbon home, one of the most telling moments Sam shared was from his own home: watching his young daughter lean into the deep window wells of their home in Pound Ridge, pausing to look out at the landscape exactly as the architecture intended, before moving to the next window well to enjoy the experience all over again. It’s a small moment, but one that captures the goal behind Carbon’s work - homes that are not only strong and efficient, but thoughtfully designed for life within them.
Shaping the Future of Homebuilding
Looking to the future, Sam spoke about the opportunity - and responsibility - for the industry to evolve. Today’s clients are more informed, more engaged, and more invested in understanding how their homes are built. That shift, he believes, is essential as the industry responds to climate pressures and a growing demand for resilient, performance-led homes.
You can listen to the full episode of The Builder’s Table here.
