Building Science 101 (You’re not a dummy - they are)
The purpose of a home is fundamentally simple: to create a clear separation between your indoor environment and the world outside.
This separation should give you control over the interior conditions, allowing you to maintain a space that is structurally sound, energy-efficient, safe, and healthy—within your budget.
Ideally, you, as the homeowner, decide when to invite the outdoors inside and when to keep it comfortably at bay. Your home achieves this by maintaining a tight, intentional building envelope, consisting of six carefully managed surfaces—floors, ceilings, and exterior walls—and planned openings such as windows, doors, and exhaust vents.
But what happens when the enclosure you trusted secretly betrays you?
Common issues like air leaks, poor sealing around exteriors, improperly sealed ductwork, or missing bath and kitchen vents can significantly undermine your home's protective boundary.
When planning the budget for building homes—whether individually or in subdivisions—tough decisions must be made. Unfortunately, there's often a clear division between "What is Measurably and Actually Good Practice" and "What Sells"—in other words, between Good Housebuilding and Profitable Housebuilding.
Air sealing vividly illustrates this conflict. Proper air sealing includes careful installation and sealing of exterior sheathing, the house wrap or vapor barrier, and penetrations in the attic and walls. Ideally, these layers are meticulously installed without gaps or breaches to prevent air, water, and moisture intrusion. But in reality, house wraps are often hastily stapled on and then poorly taped, creating vulnerabilities that allow damaging leaks. Similarly, attics frequently remain unsealed, despite numerous air-leaking opportunities through top plates, plumbing and electrical penetrations, chimney chases, and complicated (though aesthetically pleasing) design elements like vaulted ceilings and soffits.
Rarely will a builder offer an optional upgrade of enhanced air sealing—even though proper sealing significantly reduces leaks, moisture intrusion, and energy inefficiencies while improving indoor air quality. Instead, builders prioritize aesthetic upgrades such as kitchen counters and backsplashes. Why? Simply put, because homeowners demand and value these visually appealing upgrades. Builders aren't inherently negligent; they respond to consumer preferences. You, the homeowner, have historically rewarded them more for beautiful interiors and decorative details than for functional, performance-based upgrades like proper attic ventilation, sealed ductwork, or effective moisture management.
As Larry Janesky of Contractor Nation humorously notes, "Nobody ever invited you over to show off their attic insulation!" He's right—we love showcasing our new outdoor kitchens, stunning floors, and captivating decor. And there's nothing wrong with that. Aesthetics enrich our lives and reflect our pride. Beauty is part of what makes a house truly feel like home.
However, the issue arises when we've allowed building standards to decline too far, losing sight of essential fundamentals like proper air sealing and ventilation. Our homes have become the talented kid from high school who never reached his potential, now a cautionary tale. Homeowners frequently spend tens of thousands of dollars on remediation, only for the underlying problems to persist because even remediation companies often fail to address the root causes.
Green Check is committed to setting a higher standard. We measure homes against a rigorous benchmark—one that ensures lasting health, structural integrity, efficiency, and peace of mind. It’s time we restore balance, blending beauty with performance, aesthetics with functionality, and comfort with lasting value.
