
Concrete Costs, Fuel Spikes, and Survival in Construction Right Now
From The Deconstruction Podcast by Jobtable
April 15, 2026 · 1h 3m · Episode 64
About this episode
This episode discusses the current challenges and strategies in the construction industry with guest Steve Baklarian.
The construction industry is shifting fast—and if you're a contractor, you're feeling it. Rising material costs, fuel volatility, tighter margins, and more competition are forcing business owners to adapt or fall behind. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Baklarian of S&P Developments to break down what’s really happening on the ground. From pricing pressure and “race-to-the-bottom” competitors to how fuel spikes and supply chain issues impact your jobs, this is a real look at construction business today. We also dive into practical strategies: how to protect your margins, why educating your clients is more important than ever, and where the real opportunities are in today’s market—from niche commercial work to infrastructure-driven growth. 👉 Learn more about Jobtable: https://www.jobtable.com Subscribe for weekly conversations with real contractors building smarter, more profitable businesses. Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Intro & Customer Review 02:00 – State of the Construction Market Right Now 06:30 – CN Tower Inspiration & Industry Pride 08:00 – Pricing Pressure & Competing in a Tight Market 12:00 – Why Educating Clients Wins More Jobs 16:00 – Fuel…
People in this episode
Host: Jobtable
Guest: Steve Baklarian
Topics covered
- construction industry
- material costs
- fuel volatility
- business strategies
- client education
- market opportunities
Keywords
- construction
- contractor
- pricing pressure
- fuel prices
- supply chain
- margins
- niche markets
- infrastructure
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: S&P Developments, Jobtable
Places: CN Tower
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