Architecture Business Club with Jon Clayton

Architecture Business Club host Jon Clayton interviews structural engineer Sam Dean of Porthouse Dean about common structural design pitfalls in home extensions and how to avoid spiraling costs. They discuss ground conditions as a major uncertainty (especially clay), the influence of nearby large trees and desiccation, and the use of low-cost desktop geological reports based on British Geological Survey borehole data to flag risk. They cover ceiling downstands and why beam position is often a cost-and-aesthetics decision between homeowner, architect, and builder, with installation complexity increasing when first-floor joists run into the beam. Sam explains cantilever “rules of thumb” and how corner bifold-door cantilevers can drive up steel and foundation demands, sometimes requiring columns and large foundations due to uplift forces. They address adding an extra storey and the case for trial holes. They also highlight risks of building onto existing, undocumented steelwork from previous extensions, which can force intrusive investigation or replacement when later loft conversions are planned. Sam explains how the architectural design can affect structural costs and outlines what to expect from a good structural engineering service. They touch on AI-generated architectural information, Sam’s launch of an AI review service, and he shares the software tool his business can’t work without.
Today’s Guest
Sam Dean. He started out as a materials scientist and structural engineer, spent a year in the nuclear industry, then teamed up with his friend Chris Porthouse to start PorthouseDean structural engineering. Sam then got hooked on building business systems and automations - to cut out the boring stuff and let his team do better work. When he’s not solving process problems – he’s cycling to work, playing and watching football, or baking crusty bread and homemade pizzas.
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Episode Highlights
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Introducing Sam Dean
01:38 Managing Risk with Groundworks
03:08 The Clay Problem
04:08 Trees Near Extensions: The Hidden Foundation Cost Driver
04:30 When Is a Site Investigation Worth It? Practical Triggers
05:10 Low-Cost Desktop Geology Reports: A Smart Early Warning
05:49 Designers Missing Key Site Info (Like Trees)
06:59 Case Study: The 20m Oak That Shows Up Too Late
07:55 Using Maps + Clay Likelihood to Spot Risk Early
08:48 Removed Trees Still Matter: Clay Desiccation Explained
10:32 Ceiling Downstands vs Flush Beams: Set Expectations Early
11:33 “Where Do I Put the Beam?” Why Engineers Don’t Always Decide
12:13 Joist Direction Changes Everything (and Can Add Thousands)
13:01 Goalpost Frames & Rear Wall Openings: What’s Cost-Neutral?
14:00 Builder vs Client vs Architect: Who’s Steering the Decision?
14:37 Protecting the Homeowner: Budget Trade-Offs in Plain English
15:36 When Architects Aren’t On Site: How Design Intent Gets Lost
18:06 Roles, Responsibility & the Principal Designer Confusion
19:38 Why Small Projects Are So Cost-Driven (and Getting Worse)
21:07 Cantilevers 101: The Rule of Thumb That Saves Your Budget
23:12 Corner Bifolds + Floating Roofs: The Cantilever Trap
25:23 Engineering Workarounds: Columns, Anchors & Uplift Forces
27:34 Adding a Storey: Foundation Reality Checks
29:32 Building on Existing Steelwork: The Missing Calculations Problem
33:37 Prevention Playbook: Trial Holes, Checks, and Lightweight Options
36:46 Quick Wins to Avoid Spiraling Costs (Wind Posts, Pillars, Layout)
41:45 What Great Structural Engineering Service Looks Like
46:49 The Rise of AI
48:55 The One Piece of Software Sam Can't Live Without
50:18 Final Thoughts
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Key Takeaways
Check the Ground Early to Avoid Big Surprises
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In this episode of Architecture Business Club, Jon Clayton introduces Joshua Ayettey, a chartered architect and founder of JADC Studio and Scattered Hub, a mentorship community for aspiring architects. Joshua discusses his personal struggles through architectural training, leading to his passion for mentoring and creating Scattered Hub. The group focuses on providing support, confidence boosts, and guidance to new graduates navigating the architectural field. The conversation covers the group's organic growth, its impact on members, and Joshua's inspiration and future aspirations for Scattered Hub. This episode also highlights practical advice for building community groups and the importance of tackling failures positively.
Today’s Guest
Joshua Ayettey is a chartered architect and creative problem solver who is passionate about improving the way people live through good design and mentoring the next generation of problem solving designers. He’s also the founder of JADC Studio and Scattered Hub.
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Episode Highlights
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Our Guest: Joshua Ayettey
01:07 Joshua's Background and Scattered Hub
01:45 Organic Growth of Scattered Hub
02:02 Mentoring Journey and Early Struggles
03:09 Helping Others and Building Confidence
04:54 Founding JADC Studio
05:45 Formalising Scattered Hub
06:08 Personal Struggles and Mental Health
07:37 Failures as Catalysts for Growth
08:27 Jon's Struggles That Led To This Show
09:20 Setting Up the Group and Formal Arrangements
10:13 Creating a Peer-to-Peer Platform
11:38 Expanding Beyond Architecture
13:01 Community and Collaboration
14:12 Wins and Success Stories
14:22 Building Confidence and Self-Esteem
17:16 Personal Motivation and Influences
20:09 Future Vision for Scattered Hub
20:49 Collaborative Projects and Ecosystem
24:17 Encouragement to Test Ideas
26:14 Final Thoughts and Takeaways
27:25 Encouraging Young People in Architecture
28:56 Resource Recommendations and Learning
29:40 AI and Future of Architecture
31:39 Connecting with Joshua Online
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Key Takeaways
Don't Be Afraid to Fail
You can learn a lot from your failures, even if you can't see it at the time. Joshua failed his final year and had to repeat it. He also failed his part three exam the first time. But these failures taught him important lessons that helped him later. When you fail, it doesn't mean you should give up. It means you're learning something that will help you in the future.
Help Others Along Your Journey
When you're struggling with something, you can still help other people who are facing similar problems. Joshua struggled during his training, but he still helped other students with their work. By helping others, you build confidence in yourself and create a positive effect that spreads to more people. You don't need to wait until you're perfect to start helping others.
Surround Yourself with the Right People
When you're going through tough times, you need people around you who can support you and remind you of your strengths. Joshua almost quit everything, but people around him helped him see that he was being too hard on himself. Find people who reflect where you want to be and who can help you see things clearly when you're struggling.
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Jon Clayton discusses the issue of burnout with career and wellbeing coach Anna Wolas. The conversation digs into what burnout is, how to recognise its signs, and how it differs from stress. Anna explains the reoccurring nature of burnout and its connection to a misalignment between personal values and external expectations. She also outlines common causes of burnout, such as organisational changes, unrealistic workloads, and lack of recognition. Anna shares her DCP framework (Discover, Create, Perform) that helps professionals recover from burnout, prevent it in the future, and activate their full potential. Through practical strategies and real-life success stories, this episode aims to equip architects and business leaders with the tools they need to thrive in their careers without succumbing to burnout.
Today’s Guest
Anna Wolas is a Career & Wellbeing Coach who helps architects and leaders achieve (& earn) more. Anna's approach helps reduce stress, prevent burnout, and create a sustainable, values-driven definition of success.
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Episode Highlights
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Understanding Burnout
02:02 The Burnout Cycle
05:30 Burnout vs. Stress
06:27 Healthy Stress Management
09:27 Signs of Burnout
09:45 Physical Symptoms of Burnout
10:04 Psychological Symptoms of Burnout
10:32 Behavioural Symptoms of Burnout
11:00 Occupational Symptoms of Burnout
11:25 Personal Symptoms of Burnout
11:51 Common Causes of Burnout
11:56 Organisational Factors
12:42 Personal Factors
13:07 Lack of Recognition
13:47 Fear-Based Performance
14:15 Conflict in Relationships
14:34 Overcoming Burnout
14:55 Ineffective Solutions To Burnout
18:45 Effective Strategies For Burnout
18:55 The DCP Framework
19:34 Step 1: Discover
22:32 Step 2: Create
25:00 Step 3: Perform
28:03 Success Stories Of The DCP Framework
28:11 Case Study: High-Level Professional
29:15 Achieving Clarity
30:55 Promotion and Beyond
31:55 Main Takeaways
32:21 Act Now
33:32 Final Thoughts
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Key Takeaways
Burnout is a cycle, not just tiredness
You need to understand that burnout isn't the same as feeling stressed. Stress can actually help you get things done if you have time to rest afterwards. But burnout happens when stress goes on for too long without recovery. It keeps coming back again and again if you don't fix the real problem. Burnout means you're living by other people's rules and goals instead of your own. When this happens over and over, your body and mind get worn out.
Spot the warning signs early
You can notice burnout in five main areas of your life. Physical signs include feeling tired all the time, headaches, and sleep problems. Mental signs include brain fog, forgetting things, and feeling hopeless. You might also get more emotional, angry, or eat differently. At work, you lose your passion and make more mistakes. In your personal life, your relationships suffer and you feel like you're not doing well anywhere. The sooner you spot these signs, the easier it is to fix the problem.
Quick fixes don't work - you need a proper plan
Taking holidays, doing more exercise, or waiting for a project to finish won't solve burnout on their own. Even changing jobs won't help if you don't fix the real causes. You need a proper strategy that helps you understand yourself, create healthy boundaries, and use your real skills and strengths. Don't wait to deal with burnout - the longer you leave it, the harder it becomes to fix.
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Connect with Anna Wolas on LinkedIn 🤝

Jon Clayton reflects on the challenges and achievements of 2025, highlighting milestones in his podcasting journey and personal life. Jon shares his Christmas break activities, introduces a new service aimed at enhancing your online presence, and outlines exciting updates for the Architecture Business Club in 2026, including fortnightly episodes, YouTube content, and potential sponsorships. He invites listeners to contribute their thoughts and challenges to shape future content, all while offering a special gift to kick-start the New Year.
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Episode Highlights
00:00 Introduction
02:05 Personal Highlights of 2025
02:48 Christmas Break Activities
03:34 Exciting New Service Announcement
03:50 What's New for Architecture Business Club in 2026
05:41 Special Gift for the New Year
07:42 Engage with Us and Share Your Challenges
08:21 Wrapping Up and What's Next
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Key Takeaways
It is good to look back and learn from the past year. Jon shares both the hard times and the happy moments from 2025 - it’s normal to have ups and downs.
Trying new things and making changes can help you grow. This show is adding video episodes, changing how often episodes come out, and offering new services - being open to change can bring new opportunities.
Staying connected with your audience is important. Jon invites you to share your challenges and ideas, and encourages you to subscribe and join in, so you can be part of this community.
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Send a Voicemail to the show (we listen to every message!) 📢
Curious about podcasting? Click here to book a chat with Jon 🎧
Follow or Connect with Jon on LinkedIn 🤝
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Next Episode
Jon is joined by Tim Lewis to explore the difference between AI and Automation.