Shape Homes · Green building standard
Green here means the air inside it
Everyone points at the solar panels. What actually changes how a house feels to live in is what it is made of, and what those materials keep giving off for the next ten years. Twelve decisions, standard on every plan.
The panel
Kiln-dried framing lumber, low-VOC adhesives and sealants throughout. Every part is cut and labeled before it reaches the wall.
Dry assembly
Panels arrive finished, so the work on your lot is screwing and sealing. Nothing gets mixed, sprayed or wetted out in your side yard.
Insulation
ROCKWOOL Safe, sheep wool or dense-pack cellulose. No added formaldehyde, anywhere.
Lumber
FSC where we can source it, kiln dried, borate sill plates. Any board that shows mold goes back on the truck.
Drywall
No-added-formaldehyde board, natural gypsum, low-VOC joint compound.
Paint
GreenGuard Gold, EcoLogo or EPA Safer Choice. Primers, sealers and caulks clear the same bar.
Floors
FSC wood, water-based finishes, low-VOC thinset. No vinyl and no PVC in the house.
Cabinetry
Solid wood or NAUF plywood. No urea-formaldehyde MDF, including the drawer boxes.
Air
Balanced ERV on MERV-13 or better. 300 CFM hood ducted out. Bath fans exhaust straight to the outdoors.
Moisture
Non-asphaltic weather barrier, polymer shower membranes, French drains on the downslope side.
Water
PEX or copper, never galvanized. Lead-free fixtures. Pipes run through walls so they stay serviceable.
Proof
VOC testing before you move in, moisture mapping in the wet areas, cut sheets on every product.
Substitutions need written pre-approval and test data. That is the only way a specification like this survives contact with a schedule.
Start with the address.
We pull your parcel, your town's ordinance and a street view of the driveway before the call.
Book a free consultation