In this episode of The Contractor Grow Show, host Mark Lamberth talks with Adam Seim of Urban Exteriors in Brooklyn, New York about how he turned a background in finish carpentry, cabinetry, and metalwork into a niche business renovating tight, hard‑to‑access backyards behind 100‑plus‑year‑old brownstones.
Adam explains what makes NYC row‑house yards so challenging—no alleys, 20x40‑foot spaces, everything carried through high‑end kitchens and living rooms—and how that’s forced him to operate as much like a white‑glove service company as a contractor, with meticulous dust control, protection, and logistics.
He dives into why he prefers welded steel frames with Ipe, concrete curbs, and permeable resin‑bound stone over traditional pressure‑treated framing, how sun, shade, mildew, and freeze‑thaw cycles punish outdoor work in New York’s climate, and what “sustainable” really means when you want a deck or fence to last 30+ years instead of rotting out in ten.
What you’ll learn on this episode:
How narrow, 150‑year‑old Brooklyn row‑house backyards create unique construction and access challenges
Why Adam treats outdoor work like finish carpentry plus logistics, with dust‑collection, zip walls, and floor protection
How welded steel frames with Ipe decking and wood infill fences dramatically extend the life of exterior projects
Why climate, orientation (sun vs shade), and hyper‑local conditions matter more than product brochures suggest
What resin‑bound stone patios are, how they’re built, and where they make sense as a permeable surface
The trade‑offs between pressure‑treated lumber, tropical hardwoods, and metal when you care about sustainability
How working with high‑end clients and designers shapes material choices, detailing, and expectations
Why most of Urban Exteriors’ work comes from word of mouth and long‑term relationships that carry into winter interior projects
16 mins