Screening questions to find a builder who can deliver a “Pretty Good House” (~25 % better than code) in Zone 5A – GreenBuildingAdvisor

Hi Everyone,

I’m starting design and builder interviews for a custom home in Oakland County, MI (Climate Zone 5A) — a 1-acre clearing on a heavily wooded 15-acre parcel. The goal is to build about 25 % better than current code following Pretty Good House principles: comfort, durability, reasonable cost, and solid building science rather than chasing certifications.

Before committing to a builder, I’d like to vet whether they actually have the knowledge, subs, and mindset to meet those goals. Below is my first draft of screening questions (with the help of ChatGPT) I’m planning to use, and I’d love feedback from this community. Also, how the HECK do I even find one!?! The only seemingly qualified builders I’ve seen are out of my area in Ann Arbor. 

My intent is not to intimidate builders, but to identify the ones who already think in these terms — and to learn how to spot red or green flags early.

If you were interviewing builders for your own PGH-level project:

👉 What key questions would you ask?

👉 Which of these might make a good builder roll their eyes (i.e., signal I should phrase it differently)?

👉 Any regional considerations specific to SE Michigan’s climate and humidity that I should include?

Envelope / Airtightness

• Where is your primary air barrier located, and how do you ensure continuity through transitions?

• What air-tightness results (ACH @ 50 Pa) do your recent projects achieve, and do you perform blower-door testing mid-build and at completion?

• How do you typically insulate and detail wall assemblies in Zone 5A to reach roughly R-30 effective?

• What’s your approach to exterior insulation, WRB choice, and rain-screen detailing behind cladding?

Mechanical / Ventilation

• Do you routinely install ERVs or HRVs? Who designs the ventilation system and verifies balance?

• How are duct runs kept within conditioned space or otherwise sealed/insulated?

• What’s your process for Manual J / S / D calculations and HVAC sizing?

• Are you familiar with cold-climate heat pumps and low-load homes?

Moisture / Durability

• How do you handle below-grade waterproofing, capillary breaks, and slab insulation?

• What detailing do you use to manage bulk water at roofs and wall penetrations?

• Do you build with a dedicated drainage gap / rain screen on most homes?

Verification / Process

• Will you document insulation values, product specs, and air-sealing steps?

• Are third-party energy raters or HERS providers part of your standard workflow?

• How do you coordinate between trades to avoid compromising the envelope?

• Can you provide one or two references from clients who prioritized efficiency or blower-door results?

General Philosophy

• How do you balance first-cost versus long-term performance when a client requests “better than code”?

• What do you see as the most cost-effective steps to move from code-minimum to Pretty Good House performance?

• Are you open to simple energy modeling or comparing shell vs. mechanical trade-offs?

Thanks in advance — I’ve learned a ton from this community and want to make sure I start these conversations on the right footing.