Looking for a High Performance–Home Builder in Western Washington
Artemisia
| Posted in General Questions on
I am trying to get organized for an age-in-place build. Won’t break ground for a year yet. I am intending to build a tight envelope, perhaps not quite Passive House level. Had been considering a pole barn home, but am seeing the wall/roof systems are tricky with the condensation issue. Does anyone know of any technically savvy builders in this area I can speak with? I have a plan/silhouette ready, but sure would like an experienced builder. I am in the Mt Vernon area. Thank you, in advance!
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Someone here may have recommendations of people they’ve worked with in your area, but the PHIUS site should also provide a good start:
https://www.phius.org/find-a-professional/find-a-phius-certified-builder#W
https://www.phius.org/find-a-professional/find-a-phius-cphc-#W
Thank you jkonst! That is an awesome list, very helpful.
You could check with Small Planet Supply in Tacoma. They supply high performance building products and should be able to provide a qualified builder list.
https://www.smallplanetsupply.com/
PS I have also looked at the BUILD GREEN certification program, which lists some members in my area as well.
Excellent idea, Doug. I am not familiar with them, but will look.
Thank you
:)
I too had the day dream of turning a pole barn into a high performance home. It turns out pole barns are designed with a single goal in mind. That goal is to provide a dry space to park a tractor for the lowest possible cost per square inch. To reach that goal almost every choice made is the polar opposed of the choice that would be made for a high performance building. If you build a pole building and try to make it into a high performance building you end up redoing everything or building a new building inside the pole building either way it costs more than if you plan and build a good building.
Walta
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I was recently researching high performance timber frame homes and I think a similar approach could work for a pole barn. Basically the Timber Frame is wrapped in SIP panels creating a continuous exterior insulation. If the insulation is thick enough, (GBA has an article on how much exterior insulation is required) condensation would not be an issue. Additionally there are some builders like Brian Hayes at Bellweather Craftsman in VT who are taking high performance timber frames even farther by creating vapor open assemblies using Gutex (check out 475 building supply) as exterior insulation.
I would also think that the metal siding could be installed on furring creating a vented rain screen that could have continuous ventilation all the way up the walls and roof, allowing the structure to dry out.
While a beautiful hand built timber frame would be a wonderful thing, a pole barn is a much more affordable option and I think its a great idea! Add some insulation under the slab and I bet you have a pretty efficient home.
https://www.tclegendhomes.com
These guys have been featured on this site before and are in your area.
Passive House Canada also has a directory of members.
https://www.passivehousecanada.com/members/
There are a number of prefabrication and modular companies in BC, Canada that could provide the building envelope and make the general contractor's high performance experience a little less important.
Passive House Accelerator had two excellent events on prefab.
https://passivehouseaccelerator.com/articles/prefab-summit-hits-great-heights
Tomaz Stich is a passive house designer and prefab importer from Europe.
https://stichpassivedesign.com/
Start with a detailed and ranked list of your goals and needs for the home and property and let that help select your building standard and or green rating system.
Was wondering if you had any luck or could share your experiences?
Old post, but for anyone stumbling across this looking for an answer I'd hit up Aaron Westgate at https://www.westgatedesignworks.com/ in Bellingham WA.
He's a designer, but specializes in energy efficient designs so would know who in the area can tackle building well while incorporating green details.