I build the package contents with rpmbuild and create the .deb file with dpkg-deb. This allows me to use a single .spec file for both debian and redhat systems

I build the package contents with rpmbuild and create the .deb file with dpkg-deb. This allows me to use a single .spec file for both debian and redhat systems. It's still necessary to create the changelog and control file in exactly the right format to appease dpkg-deb, but it's easier than dealing with all the dh_ commands.