INTERVIEW: Daniels brothers return to Animal Planet as ‘Redwood Kings’

On the new season of Redwood Kings, Ron and John Daniels open up their client list to include another celebrity and many one-of-a-kind opportunities. Their skills of using reclaimed wood to fashion unbelievable tree houses and customized architectural creations are on full display 9 p.m. Fridays on Animal Planet. The twins have been going strong for years, and on the new season of the reality series, they build for fellow reality star Holly Madison and a special project for the largest amusement park trade show.

Recently, Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Ron and John about their show, their adventures and their craftsmanship. Please note: Answers are shared between the two brothers, and some answers have been slightly edited for style.

Here are the Redwood Kings, proprietors of Daniels Wood Land.

Is there added pressure when building a project for a celebrity?

We never want to disappoint a client … celebrity or not. Their money deserves to be well spent. We’re only as good as our last project. Rather than added pressure, I think there is added enthusiasm from the guys. We joked around the shop and asked who was willing to work for free on Holly’s project. … Next thing I know, a couple of the guys jokingly offered to pay us for the privilege!

Where do you attain your reclaimed building materials? What’s your favorite type to work with?

We’re always looking for old ‘stuff’. We get a lot of stuff from farms and ranches … rusty stuff from all around the farms, and maybe we’ll take down an old barn. It’s always different because no two jobs are the same, and there’s never a steady supply for old stuff.

Do you have a favorite among your many projects? Why?

The San Francisco Dungeons project was a walk through, immersive, themed attraction with tons of theming, steel fabrication, wood working, animatronics and more. It was an incredibly challenging project that paid great money, but, more importantly, it challenged our crew to do so many unique things. So the camaraderie and teamwork that was forged during that project was awesome. The DWL crew is like a big family because of this kind of work! What could be more fulfilling at work than that?!

What’s it like working so closely with family? Do you get along all the time?

We’ve been working together our whole lives … since we were growing up on the ranch. Teamwork was a [principle] our parents taught and required of us. With that said, there are definitely moments when we know it’s time to head to separate corners of the shop and cool down after tempers get heated. But when it comes to working together, we wouldn’t have it any other way!

What’s the toughest part of your job?

Without a doubt the hardest part of our job is coordinating man power and planning for everything, including the unexpected because most of what we do is being done for the first time! So our goal in life is to minimize the amount of tuition we end up paying at the School of Hard Knox! Above all else every project must be done right … but we lose a whole lot less money when we get it right the first try!

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• Redwood Kings airs 9 p.m. Fridays on Animal Planet. Click here for more information.