The Holistic Homes Podcast

Christine Cimabue | Holistic Construction Consultant
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Welcome to The Holistic Homes Podcast, the place for homeowners who are considering a new build or renovation and are ready to take the power of their home’s health into their own hands. Building failures are happening everyday, Yes! even in new construction. I don’t want that for you, so I’m here as your holistic construction resource to guide you thru it all. I’m your host Christine Cimabue, and I’m a licensed contractor and holistic construction consultant. Everyday I hear stories about people moving into their dream home, only to realize months later that faulty construction is negatively effecting their health. This situation breaks my heart and I believe in empowering people to speak up in every step of the process. This podcast is where real, confident and stress free healthy home building begins! Best of all, you don’t have to learn how to be contractor to effectively communicate your healthy home vision to your contractor or design team. I’ll show you how! Join us as we chat about everything from mold prevention to the effects of different lighting on your health. What should you be asking your contractor? What's the best performing building materials? and how to spot red flags during construction? We’re walking through it all together. So whether you're interested in understanding the health risks in modern builds, creating a healthy bathroom, or finding the right contractor for your holistic home build, I’ve got you covered. It's time to create a safe and healthy home that aligns with your vision. Tune in to the Holistic Homes Podcast and start your journey towards your dream healthy home.

  1. 7H AGO

    Building a Healthy Home: What Actually Drives Cost | Ep. 20

    Build a healthier home with aligned professionals nationwide using our free Holistic Homes Directory 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Want to apply to be listed in the Holistic Homes Directory? DM me APPLY on Instagram 📩 https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine If you think building a healthy home is just a small upgrade from a standard build, you may be underestimating the real financial decisions in front of you. I’ve seen families focus on chandeliers and tile while ignoring the attic, basement, and exterior walls — the very places that determine whether your home stays dry or slowly turns into a mold problem. Today, I’m sharing what it actually costs to build a healthy home — where the numbers increase, what drives those costs, and how to make strategic decisions before construction even begins. In 2025 alone, I’ve consulted on projects across multiple regions where build costs ranged from $300–$600 per square foot — and what shocked most homeowners wasn’t the range itself, but what those numbers actually included. Most baseline builder quotes are driven by finishes, not performance. And when we start upgrading critical systems — like converting a ventilated attic to a fully sealed and conditioned attic — I routinely see that line item increase by 30–40%. Exterior enclosure upgrades, rigid insulation, rain screens, and robust basement waterproofing can raise specific scopes by 20–30% depending on the starting point. I walk you through what really moves the needle in cost: attics, exterior wall assemblies, and basements. For example, shifting from a standard ventilated attic to a sealed and conditioned attic often means essentially building two roof systems. That’s more labor, more material, and more technical precision — but it dramatically changes performance. The same applies to exterior walls. A code-minimum house wrap is not the same as a multi-layered, water-managed wall assembly with rigid insulation and a rain screen. The biggest mistake I see is homeowners allocating budget to interior finishes while leaving the exterior enclosure at baseline code minimums. Swapping out a chandelier in five years is easy. Re-excavating your foundation to fix failed waterproofing is not. A healthy home budget isn’t about spending more everywhere — it’s about spending intentionally where it matters most. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why cost per square foot ranges feel so frustrating (and what they actually mean)The real cost increase of sealed and conditioned attics (30–40%)How exterior wall upgrades can shift budgets 20–30%Why basements and waterproofing deserve more attention than finishesHow to strategically shift budget from interiors to performance Connect with me: Instagram

    20 min

  2. FEB 10

    The Holistic Homes Directory: Finding the Right Builder Matters | Ep. 19

    Build a healthier home with aligned professionals nationwide using our free Holistic Homes Directory: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Want to apply to be listed in the Holistic Homes Directory? DM me APPLY on Instagram: 📩 https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine If you think finding a contractor is just about checking reviews or choosing the lowest bid, you may be setting yourself up for one of the most costly and heartbreaking mistakes in home building. I’ve seen families spend hundreds of thousands of dollars only to end up with homes that make them sicker — not safer. Today, I’m sharing why I created the Holistic Homes Directory and how it’s changing the way homeowners and builders connect. In recent years, I’ve consulted on projects across the country for families navigating mold exposure, chronic illness, failed renovations, and toxic building practices. I receive daily messages asking for trusted architects, contractors, and inspectors who actually understand healthy homes — and the lack of alignment between homeowners and professionals is one of the biggest reasons projects fail. I walk you through why this directory was so desperately needed, including the story of a family with a young child battling leukemia who trusted the wrong contractor after mold remediation. What started as a necessary health-driven renovation turned into a devastating, expensive failure that left them worse off than before. That story is not unique. I see it weekly — homeowners with clear health goals paired with professionals who don’t share the same standards, expectations, or priorities. Even the most beautiful homes can hide serious issues when water management, air quality, and building science are ignored. This episode breaks down how the Holistic Homes Directory creates a better starting point — a vetted hub of architects, builders, and inspectors who value quality, accountability, and health. It’s not about perfection. It’s about alignment, transparency, and finally giving homeowners a place to begin without feeling lost or alone. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why homeowners struggle to find truly aligned buildersHow misalignment leads to failed renovations and health risksThe story that solidified the need for this directoryWhat makes the Holistic Homes Directory differentHow to use this free resource to protect your project Connect with me: Instagram

    14 min

  3. FEB 3

    The Building Defect Crisis: Why Homes Are Failing Families | Ep. 18

    If you think building a home today means you’re automatically getting quality, safety, and durability, you may be dangerously wrong. Families are spending $1M+ on homes only to face six-figure mold remediation, water intrusion, and structural defects that never should have existed in the first place. Today, I’m sharing why we’re in a full-blown building defect crisis — and what homeowners must do differently if they want to protect their health, their money, and their families. In 2025 alone, I’ve consulted on projects across multiple states, including Southern California, Utah, and large production communities where entire neighborhoods are now dealing with foundation failures, water intrusion, and uninhabitable homes. I see the same issues repeated over and over — leaking windows, failed showers, condensation inside walls — not because they’re unavoidable, but because prevention is not the industry standard. I walk through why the homebuilding industry mirrors our healthcare system — reactive instead of preventative. Just like healthcare focuses on treating illness instead of preventing it, homebuilding waits until mold, leaks, and defects appear before acting. By then, homeowners are left with massive repair bills, litigation, and health consequences. I share real examples from production and custom builds where homeowners are still paying mortgages on homes that are unsafe to live in. There are entire industries built around mold inspections, remediation, and construction litigation — all profiting after failure instead of preventing it. Then I break down what actually works. Proactive planning. Detailed architectural drawings. Contracts that clearly define expectations. Third-party quality control, leak testing, and accountability during construction — not after damage occurs. Building a watertight, healthy home should not be considered “luxury” or “difficult.” It should be the baseline. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why the homebuilding industry is reactive instead of preventativeHow building defects became normalized — and why that’s dangerousThe massive financial and health costs homeowners are absorbingWhy contracts and warranties fail to protect youHow to take control of your build and protect your investment Connect with me: Instagram

    16 min

  4. JAN 27

    Maximize Your Build Budget: Where to Spend, Save, and Splurge | Ep. 17

    If you think spending more on finishes automatically means a better-built home, you may be setting yourself up for a very expensive failure. I’ve seen families pour hundreds of thousands into marble, cabinetry, and fixtures, only to discover water intrusion, mold, and structural issues hiding behind the walls years later. Today, I’m sharing how to actually maximize your build or renovation budget by knowing where to spend, where to save, and where cutting corners will cost you far more in the long run. In 2025 alone, my team consulted on projects ranging from small renovations to multi-million-dollar custom homes across multiple states. I routinely review builds quoted anywhere from $300 to over $1,000 per square foot, and the biggest failures I see have nothing to do with square footage and everything to do with how the enclosure, roof, and moisture systems were prioritized. One of the most common mistakes I see starts early, when builders quote a cost per square foot without clearly defining what’s included. Most of the time, that range is driven by finishes — appliances, fixtures, hardware — not by the performance of the exterior walls, roof, or foundation. That’s dangerous, because those are the parts of your home you’ll likely never rebuild. I walk through a real, high-profile $22 million Los Angeles home that became the center of a major lawsuit after the buyer discovered active water intrusion and mold — issues caused by aesthetic-driven exterior decisions and minimal waterproofing. The home looked flawless, but it wasn’t built to manage water. That single oversight turned into a catastrophic financial and legal situation. What actually works is reversing how you think about budget. Start from the outside in. Prioritize one-and-done systems like basements, roofs, exterior walls, and waterproofing. Then allocate what’s left to interior finishes, especially the ones that are easy to upgrade later. This approach protects both your investment and your health, and it prevents the kind of failures I see every single week. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why cost per square foot is a misleading budgeting toolThe “one-and-done” systems you should never cheap out onWhere healthy home upgrades actually matter mostWhich finishes you can safely save on (and upgrade later)How to have smarter budget conversations with architects and builders Connect with me: Instagram

    21 min

  5. JAN 21

    Why Building Code Isn’t Enough: The Case for Third-Party Testing | Ep. 16

    If you think passing building code means your home is protected, you may be trusting a system that was never designed to safeguard your health. I’ve seen brand-new homes with leaking windows, trapped moisture, and failures that cost families tens — sometimes hundreds — of thousands of dollars to fix after move-in. Today, I’m sharing exactly why third-party testing is the most important step you can take when building or renovating a truly healthy home — and why it rarely happens unless you demand it. In 2025 alone, I’ve consulted on residential projects across California, Texas, and the East Coast, many with 30–40+ windows per home. Time and time again, I’ve watched projects rely solely on 30-minute city inspections — inspections that are designed to check boxes, not detect water intrusion, flashing failures, or enclosure defects. Even with modern materials and premium windows, failures are common when no independent testing is performed. I walk you through two real projects that illustrate the stakes. In one, we coordinated third-party leak testing at the mock-up stage — testing the first few windows as soon as they were installed. When issues showed up, the team corrected them immediately before the remaining 40 windows went in, saving months of delay and enormous cost. In another project, testing was postponed until after all windows were installed. Within minutes, the first two windows failed. Water entered the home, revealing incompatible sealants and missing flashing details. The result? Every window had to be corrected, construction paused, and difficult accountability conversations followed — all of which could have been avoided. I also explain what proper testing actually looks like: controlled, standards-based testing (ASTM / AAMA), not garden hoses and guesswork. This process stress-tests your home under pressure, revealing failures before drywall, stucco, or brick locks problems in place. It’s proactive quality control — not reactive remediation. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why building code is the bare minimum, not a quality benchmarkWhat third-party testing actually is (and what it isn’t)When leak testing should happen during constructionReal-world examples of window failures and how they were caughtHow to budget and plan for testing without derailing your project Connect with me: Instagram

    26 min

  6. JAN 13

    2025 Wrap-Up: How We're Making Healthier Homes in 2026 | Ep. 15

    If you think renovations are the “safer” or more affordable path to a healthy home, you may be setting yourself up for one of the most devastating mistakes you can make. I’ve watched families plan for a $20,000 remodel only to face $300,000+ in hidden damage, years of displacement, and ongoing health issues. Today, I’m sharing what 2025 taught me — why my firm focuses almost exclusively on custom new builds, what actually works, and the painful realities I see behind the scenes when renovations go wrong. In 2025 alone, my team consulted on nearly $100 million in real estate projects across 15+ states, from 1,000 sq ft homes to 30,000 sq ft estates. Less than 2% of that work involved renovations — and that number is intentional. Renovations often uncover failing plumbing, deteriorated building paper, leaking windows, and slabs without vapor barriers, turning “small projects” into unlivable homes. I walk you through a real Southern California project that spiraled from a simple remodel into a full interior gut, leaking brand-new windows, and the looming possibility of stripping the entire exterior. The emotional toll on families — especially those with sick children — is something I see every single week. I also peel back the curtain on what does work: pre-construction planning, third-party leak testing during construction (not after failure), data-driven design decisions, and builders who welcome accountability instead of resisting it. These strategies are how we prevent mold, water intrusion, and catastrophic failures — not Band-Aid fixes after the damage is done In today's episode, we're talking about:Why renovations fail far more often than people realizeThe hidden risks in older homes no one budgets forScope creep and how it destroys families financially and emotionallyWhy third-party testing during construction changes everythingHow proactive planning creates truly healthy homes Connect with me: Instagram

    30 min

  7. 09/17/2025

    S2EP18: The 5-Step Process to Ensure Clean Lumber in Your Custom Build

    If you think you can just tell your contractor "no moldy lumber" and expect perfect results, you're setting yourself up for a nightmare scenario. You don't want to be standing in a 90% framed house that's riddled with visible mold and no way to fix it without starting over. Today, I'm sharing the exact step-by-step process I use to ensure clean lumber gets installed from day one. Because I've witnessed firsthand what happens when this conversation doesn't happen early enough, and it's devastating. Here's the reality: some lumber is more susceptible to mold than others, and certain structural components like trusses can't just be rejected and returned like a bundle of 2x6s. If custom-fabricated trusses show up moldy, you're often stuck with them unless there's a structural defect. That's why this conversation needs to start with your architect during the planning phase, not when the lumber truck pulls up to your job site. I'm walking you through the entire process, from architectural planning to lumber yard tours, from contract negotiations to being present during that critical first week of framing. This is about preventing problems, not trying to fix them after the fact. In today's episode, we're talking about:Why trusses and structural lumber are the biggest risk The lumber yard tour that could save your project How to get your expectations in writing The pre-framing meeting that sets everyone up for success Why you must be present during the first week of framing Connect with me: Instagram

    30 min

  8. 09/10/2025

    S2EP17: Draftsman vs. Designer vs. Architect: What You're Actually Getting for Your Money

    If you think all architects are the same or that hiring a "designer" will give you the same results as a licensed architect, this episode could save you from making a costly mistake that derails your entire custom home project. Today I'm breaking down one of the biggest mistakes I see in new build journeys: hiring the wrong type of professional to design your home. This isn't just about semantics. The difference between a draftsman, designer, design-build contractor, and licensed architect can literally make or break your project. I recently worked with a client who learned this lesson the hard way. They hired what they thought was going to give them professional architectural services, only to discover they were working with someone who couldn't provide the level of detail needed for a healthy, custom home. They ended up having to start over completely, losing both time and money in the process. Your plans are your contract. What's on those drawings is what gets built. If those plans are light on details or missing critical specifications (like avoiding spray foam or implementing proper window flashing), you're setting yourself up for constant phone calls, change orders, and a home that doesn't meet your expectations. The person you hire to create your plans is literally responsible for documenting your vision and expectations. In today's episode, we're talking about:The critical differences between draftsmen, designers, and licensed architects Why design-build contractors might seem convenient but often deliver underwhelming plans The hidden costs of hiring the "cheaper" optionWhat makes a robust set of construction documents Why hiring an architect separately from your builder Connect with me: Instagram

    29 min
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About

Welcome to The Holistic Homes Podcast, the place for homeowners who are considering a new build or renovation and are ready to take the power of their home’s health into their own hands. Building failures are happening everyday, Yes! even in new construction. I don’t want that for you, so I’m here as your holistic construction resource to guide you thru it all. I’m your host Christine Cimabue, and I’m a licensed contractor and holistic construction consultant. Everyday I hear stories about people moving into their dream home, only to realize months later that faulty construction is negatively effecting their health. This situation breaks my heart and I believe in empowering people to speak up in every step of the process. This podcast is where real, confident and stress free healthy home building begins! Best of all, you don’t have to learn how to be contractor to effectively communicate your healthy home vision to your contractor or design team. I’ll show you how! Join us as we chat about everything from mold prevention to the effects of different lighting on your health. What should you be asking your contractor? What's the best performing building materials? and how to spot red flags during construction? We’re walking through it all together. So whether you're interested in understanding the health risks in modern builds, creating a healthy bathroom, or finding the right contractor for your holistic home build, I’ve got you covered. It's time to create a safe and healthy home that aligns with your vision. Tune in to the Holistic Homes Podcast and start your journey towards your dream healthy home.

Information

  • Creator
    Christine Cimabue | Holistic Construction Consultant
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Christine Cimabue | Holistic Construction Consultant
  • Show Website
    The Holistic Homes Podcast

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