Most builders, even those considered good, promote the fact that their homes meet “code” but provide no details regarding the critical performance elements of their houses. However, building codes represent the lowest acceptable level of construction permitted for these critical elements. Codes never require the use of the latest building science or the best materials and rarely address the performance benefits possible today. In fact, building to meet only the minimums required by code is a good way to guarantee an inferior house.

Questions for a prospective builder

1. Are they licensed as a new home contractor or home improvement contractor and are they fully insured?
2. Do they have recent references?
3. Can you see photos of their work?
4. What types of training and certifications do they have?
5. To which professional organizations do they belong?
6. What conferences have they attended and training have they received in the past two years?
7. Do they build to meet or to exceed code?
8. Do they have a philosophy about their work?
9. Have they built any homes to ENERGY STAR® standards or similar? If not, why not? If yes, when and where?
10. Have they built any homes to ALA Health House standards or similar? If not, why not? If yes, when and where?
11. Who does the actual engineering of the plans?
12. What are that person’s credentials?
13. Who will be the project manager for your project?
14. What are that person’s credentials?
15. What percentage of his or her time will that person devote to your project?
16. What measures do they employ to ensure a dry foundation?
17. Do they believe in air-tight exterior walls?
18. If yes, what strategies do they use to make the house air-tight?
19. Do they install siding over a breathing space?
20. How do they flash window and door openings and with what?
21. Do they use any special strategies to make their homes energy efficient?
22. Do they use any special strategies to improve the IAQ in their homes?
23. Do they use any special strategies to increase occupant comfort?
24. Do they use 2x6’s at 24” on center? If not, why not?
25. What areas do they insulate?
26. What insulation products will they use in your house?
27. How much insulation will they use in each location?
28. Are any air ducts routed through unconditioned spaces in the house?
29. Do their subs use sheet metal air ducts, or flex duct/ductboard?
30. Do their subs use mastic to seal the air ducts?
31. Do their subs install return or transfer ducts in rooms with doors?
32. How do they control the relative humidity in their homes?
33. If they use central humidifiers, do they guarantee that microbials will not grow inside the ducts and air handler?
34. Do they make any modifications to the way the home is built if someone in the house has asthma, dust allergies, or MCS?
35. How do they ensure adequate ventilation air for the home’s occupants?
36. Will they guarantee adequate ventilation air for the home’s occupants at all times
37. What is their strategy to prevent microbial problems?
38. Do they use low VOC building materials whenever possible?
39. Do they guarantee the energy usage of their homes?
40. Are their homes rated for energy usage?
41. What rating are they willing to guarantee?
42. Will they guarantee the comfort of their homes?
43. What is their strategy to prevent radon gas infiltration?

(back to top)