Building New: Planning a Healthier Home From the Ground Up
You Have Time and Options — Use Them
Building new is the rare chance to get the envelope right before anyone lives in it. Decide the wall assembly first, then choose a builder who can execute it, then hold them to a written standard. Get those three in the right order and most air-quality problems never start.
1. Choose the build option first
The wall system shapes everything downstream — how the house dries, how it can be inspected, and how much chemical load it carries. Start with the build-option picker to narrow to a fit for your project, budget, and sensitivity, then read that option's full scorecard.
2. Screen contractors before you commit
A great assembly built carelessly is still a problem. Interview builders on moisture detailing, material substitutions, and ventilation — not just price. The builder interview checklist gives you the questions and the answers to listen for.
3. Bring the standard into the contract
Verbal intentions drift; written specs hold. The Good Air Build Package gives you the full standard, a decision worksheet, and spec packs you can hand to a builder so the requirements are explicit and enforceable.
4. Understand how scoring works
Every recommendation on this site traces back to the same four-axis scoring rubric. Reading it once means you can evaluate any material or assembly a builder proposes, not just the ones we have scored.
Last reviewed: August 2026