Sweaney Construction | ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition | Elcano Family | 2004

Leadership When It Mattered Most

In 2004, Sweaney Construction, now Sweaney Custom Homes, led by Todd Sweaney, served as the local builder responsible for organizing and managing construction of the Elcano family home rebuild in Bakersfield for ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

With less than a week to complete what would ordinarily take months, Sweaney developed the construction plan and coordinated hundreds of local trade professionals, suppliers and volunteers through an around-the-clock building effort.

The Return of the Master Builder. One Vision. One Team. One Accountable Leader.

The Elcano Family Project

After the tragic loss of her husband, Glenn Elcano, in a car accident while returning from a hay delivery, Jennifer Elcano and her two young children, Michael (11) and Ashley (6), were working to keep their 20-acre alfalfa farm south of Bakersfield afloat. ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition selected their family for a complete transformation.

Sweaney Construction was contacted about a month before production began. Todd Sweaney and his team developed the construction plan, coordinated trades, suppliers and hundreds of volunteers, and managed an around-the-clock building effort that condensed what would ordinarily take months into less than a week. The undertaking extended beyond the family home to improvements across the working farm, requiring multiple construction activities to move forward simultaneously. With television production occurring alongside the build, the project demanded an exceptional level of planning, coordination and adaptability from everyone involved.

Watch the Full Episode

ABC - Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Season 2, Episode 8 - The Elcano Family

ABC Extreme Makeover home Edition Elcano Family

Todd Sweaney, Randy Travis and the Elcano family.

Project at a Glance

Project

Elcano Family Home Rebuild

Program

ABC's Extreme Makeover:

Home

Original Air Date

November 21, 2004

Season / Episode

Season 2, Episode 8

Location

Bakersfield, California

Led By

Todd Sweaney

Role

Local Builder - Construction planning, coordination and management

An Extraordinary Construction Effort

Detailed planning, precise scheduling and extraordinary coordination made it possible to compress months of construction into less than a week.

LESS THAN ONE WEEK

To complete a project that would ordinarily take about six months.

15-MINUTE SCHEDULING

Used to coordinate the accelerated construction sequence

300+ PEOPLE

Involved at the project during peak activity

4 DAYS, 9 HOURS

To substantially complete the home

What ABC's Producer Said

"Sweaney Construction was the absolute best."

Conrad L. Ricketts

Senior Producer

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

Quoted in Bakersfield Magazine, 2004.

Ricketts praised Sweaney's focus, understanding of the family's needs and ability to approach the project as a real home rather than a television production.

Behind The Build

A selection of original photographs documents the Elcano family home rebuild in Bakersfield—from demolition and around-the-clock construction through completion and the final reveal. As lead builder, Sweaney Construction organized and managed the construction effort, coordinating hundreds of local trade professionals, suppliers, businesses and volunteers who came together to make the project possible.

Explore the complete collection of 68 original project photographs on Houzz →

A Legacy That Builds Forward

The leadership, planning, coordination and accountability demonstrated on this extraordinary project continue to guide Sweaney Custom Homes today. Discover the Master Builder approach behind the SCH Experience.