1. Site & Ground Systems
Managing water and soil gases before they touch the structure.
A. Grading & Water Management
The Problem: Hydrostatic pressure forces water through concrete; poor grading floods basements.
Exterior Weeping Tile + Dimple Mat
Full plastic dimple membrane wraps the foundation wall, creating an air gap so water falls instantly to the drain pipe. Swales divert surface water 10ft+ away.
Positive Grading + Damp Proofing
Ensure soil slopes away from house (5% grade) and spray a bitumen coating on concrete walls.
Gutter Extensions
Buy flexible plastic tubes to attach to downspouts, pushing roof water 6ft away from the wall.
B. Radon Mitigation
The Problem: Radioactive soil gas (lung cancer risk) enters airtight homes.
Active Sub-Slab Depressurization
Fan constantly sucks air from gravel layer under basement slab and vents above roof.
Passive Rough-In
Install pipe through slab/roof but cap it. Add fan ($300) only if test shows high levels.
Airtight Seal + Dilution
Seal basement cracks with caulk. If levels high, crack a window to dilute gas.
2. Structure & Sheathing
The Shell: Resistance to Loads, Wind, and Thermal Bridging.
A. Foundation
The Problem: Load transfer and thermal loss into the earth.
ICF (Insulated Concrete Forms)
Foam blocks stacked and filled with concrete. R-22+ performance insulated inside and out.
Poured Concrete + Interior Blanket
Standard poured walls with interior framed wall insulated with batt.
No Option
Check for musty smells which indicate foundation leaks.
B. Framing & Sheathing
The Problem: Structural rigidity and air/water sealing.
Engineered Lumber + ZIP R-Sheathing
Straight engineered studs (LSL/LVL). ZIP R-Sheathing has integrated foam and air barrier, eliminating house wrap.
2x6 Stick Framing + OSB + Tyvek
The standard code. 2x6 allows more insulation than old 2x4 walls.
Selection
Select concrete buildings for sound isolation.
3. Building Envelope
The Control Layers: Heat, Air, and Moisture.
A. Insulation
The Problem: Heat flow (cost) and condensation.
Exterior Continuous + Spray Foam
Wrapping outside keeps studs warm. Spray foam seals all gaps.
Flash-and-Batt
1 inch spray foam for air sealing, followed by fiberglass or mineral wool.
Window Film
"Shrink wrap" plastic kits create trapped air pocket for glass insulation.
B. Windows
The Problem: The "hole" in the wall. Thermal loss and drafts.
Triple-Pane Tilt-and-Turn
R-7 value (European style). Multi-point locking mechanism seals like a bank vault.
Double-Pane Low-E
Argon filled with "Warm Edge" rubber spacers (not metal).
Thermal Curtains + Bubble Wrap
Heavy velvet curtains stop drafts. Reflective bubble foil for heatwaves.
C. Flashing (Waterproofing)
The Problem: Leaks at joints/seams.
Liquid Applied Flashing
Thick rubbery paste painted on sills. Forms a seamless, monolithic boot.
Acrylic Flashing Tape
ZIP Tape or 3M. Superior to asphalt; sticks to wet surfaces and doesn't dry out.
Visual Inspection
Look for water stains at top corners of windows.
4. MEP Systems
Life Support: Air, Water, and Power.
A. HVAC (Heating & Cooling)
The Problem: Comfort and efficiency.
Cold Climate Heat Pump
Air-to-Air (Mitsubishi/Fujitsu). Works down to -30°C. Individual zoning. No gas required.
Central Heat Pump + Electric Backup
Ducted system. Electric resistance strips kick in for the coldest 5 days of the year.
Portable Dual-Hose AC + Vornado
Dual-hose prevents negative pressure. Vornado fan mixes air to break hot/cold spots.
B. Ventilation (IAQ)
The Problem: Stale air, CO2, and chemicals in airtight spaces.
ERV - Dedicated Ducting
Extracts from wet rooms, supplies bedrooms. Recovers 80% heat & moisture.
HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilator)
Transfers heat only (not moisture). May need humidifier in winter.
CO2 Monitor + HEPA
Watch Aranet4 monitor; if >1000ppm, crack window. Run HEPA for dust.
C. Water Heating
The Problem: High energy use (2nd highest).
Hybrid Heat Pump Heater
Steals heat from basement air. Dehumidifies as side effect. 300% efficiency.
Standard Electric Tank + Timer
Simple, durable. Timer restricts heating to off-peak rate hours.
Recirc Test
Run tap. If hot water takes >30s, recirc line is missing.
D. Electrical & Data
The Problem: Powering the digital/electric future.
400 Amp + Solar Ready + Cat6a
Conduit to roof. PoE Ethernet to every room and camera location.
200 Amp + Smurf Tube
Blue flexible conduit from panel to attic for future wire pulling without cutting walls.
UPS (Battery Backup)
Battery backup for router/PC to maintain internet during micro-outages.
5. Finishes (Skin)
Durability and Maintenance.
Flooring & Siding
The Problem: Wear, tear, moisture, and curb appeal.
Engineered Hardwood + Yakisugi
Thick wear layer wood (stable). Charred Cedar siding (rot-proof, no painting for 50yrs).
LVP + Fiber Cement
Stone Polymer Composite flooring (waterproof). Hardie Board siding (fire resistant, paint every 15yrs).
Area Rugs + Thick Underpad
Covers ugly floors and provides critical acoustic dampening.
Drywall & Interior
The Problem: Fire safety and sound transmission.
5/8" Type X Drywall
Used everywhere. Thicker, better soundproofing, straighter walls, higher fire rating.
1/2" Light Drywall + Solid Doors
Save on walls, splurge on solid core doors to block noise.
Acoustic Panels/Art
Canvas art with foam backing to reduce echo.
6. Micro-Stressor Management
Physiological Health Hacking.
A. Water Quality
The Problem: Chlorine, heavy metals, hardness.
Whole Home Carbon + UV + Softener
Bottled quality from every tap. UV kills bacteria.
Under-Sink RO
Reverse Osmosis for perfect drinking water at kitchen tap only.
Shower Filter + Countertop RO
Reduces skin irritation and microplastics (e.g. AquaTru + Sprite).
B. Lighting
The Problem: Circadian disruption (blue light at night).
Lutron Ketra
Automatically matches color temp of sun throughout day (Human Centric).
Dim-to-Warm LEDs
Bulbs get warmer (orange) as dimmed, mimicking sunset.
Smart Bulbs (Hue)
Program to turn red/orange automatically at 8:00 PM.
C. Acoustics
The Problem: Noise pollution (Cortisol spike).
Resilient Channel + QuietRock
Drywall decoupled from studs via metal clips to absorb vibration.
Safe-n-Sound Insulation
Stuff interior walls with mineral wool batts instead of leaving hollow.
Mechanical White Noise
Physical fan (Dohm) creates sound blanket masking elevator/hallway noise.