The Holistic Homes Podcast

Christine Cimabue | Holistic Construction Consultant
  • 5.0 (46)
  • How To
  • Weekly

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. 13h ago

    How to Know Your Healthy Home Is Built Right? | Ep. 54

    Building a beautiful home doesn’t necessarily mean you’re building a healthy home. Even homes that pass every required city inspection can have hidden construction defects, water intrusion, and mold issues that go unnoticed until years later. While building codes establish minimum requirements, they don’t guarantee that your home is watertight, airtight, or built to the higher standards you may expect. In this episode, I share my personal experience discovering hidden mold in my first home, explain who’s actually responsible for verifying construction quality, and walk through the additional inspections and testing that can help protect your investment before it’s too late. Planning a healthy home and want help with your project? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - Why passing city inspections doesn’t guarantee a healthy home - The gaps between architects, builders, and building code requirements - How architectural construction administration helps verify work - Why independent home inspections are worth considering - The importance of window leak testing and additional quality control - When to schedule inspections before insulation and drywall - How to protect your investment with a “trust but verify” approach Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  2. Oct 20

    10 Steps to Building a Healthy Home from Design to Move-In | Ep. 53

    Planning a healthy home and want help with your project? Tell us more 👉🏼 here. Building a custom home involves hundreds of moving parts, but staying on track comes down to a clear sequence of priorities. Overlooking critical planning phases early on can easily lead to costly surprises or compromised indoor quality. In this episode, I break down the 10 essential steps of a healthy home project from initial design through final finishes. I share why pre-construction engineering matters, how to approach contractor pricing, and where independent quality control fits into the build. In this episode: - Hiring an architect versus a draftsman - Pre-construction mechanical engineering and layout planning - Early contractor selection and feasibility pricing - Prioritizing the dry-in construction schedule - Independent inspections before insulation and drywall Find healthy-home building professionals in your area with the Holistic Homes Directory 🏡🌱 Learn more about our consulting on our website and follow me on Instagram.

  3. Oct 13

    The Window Test Every Healthy Home Build Should Have | Ep. 52

    Windows are one of the biggest contributors to indoor water damage, yet standard building codes only require visual observations rather than actual water testing. While an entire industry focuses on investigating leaks after building failures occur, verifying performance proactively during construction offers real peace of mind. In this episode, I explain why formal window leak testing is essential for new builds, how to locate qualified forensic testing agencies, and the proper construction sequencing required to catch defects early. Planning a healthy home and want help with your project? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - Why building codes fail to catch leaking windows - Transitioning forensic leak testing from defect litigation to construction - Limitations of informal garden hose testing methods - Finding commercial and ASTM fenestration testing agencies - Proper sequencing for window testing before insulation and drywall Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  4. Oct 6

    Why Luxury Home Builds Need More Oversight, Not Less | Ep. 51

    When you are planning a luxury home with a substantial budget and a top-tier builder, it is easy to assume you do not need extra quality control. With complex architecture, larger teams, and more moving parts, having independent oversight is critical to protect your investment. At the core, a healthy home must first be free of building defects. In this episode, I explain why luxury builds require extra quality control, why code inspections are not enough, and how independent testing protects your home. Planning a healthy home and want help with your project? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - Preventing building defects in luxury homes - Pre-construction quality assurance and goal alignment - Why municipal code inspections are insufficient - Independent inspections and exterior leak testing - Holding healthy home standards during construction Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  5. Sep 29

    Who Is Actually Checking Your Healthy Home During Construction? | Ep. 50

    One critical gap in conventional home construction often gets overlooked: quality control. While your builder focuses on implementation and city inspectors only check minimum code requirements, neither ensures your healthy home details are built properly. In this episode, I explain how to protect your build during construction. I cover why you shouldn't rely solely on municipal inspections, how to involve your architect on-site, and the third-party inspections and standardized window leak testing you need before drywall goes up. Planning a healthy home and want help with your project? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - Quality control gaps in conventional construction - Architectural construction administration site visits - Independent new-construction home inspections - Standardized residential window leak testing - Catching building defects before drywall installation Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  6. Sep 15

    The Construction Budget Trap: Allowances | Ep. 49

    One word in your construction contract can completely change what you ultimately spend on your home: allowance. An allowance is essentially a placeholder number. And if too many major parts of your project are still allowances when you sign your contract, your “budget” may be much less certain than it looks. In this episode, I explain what allowances are, where they make sense, where they can become risky, and what you should try to firm up before construction begins. Planning a healthy home and want help understanding your project before you build? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - What an allowance actually means - Why early cost-per-square-foot estimates can be misleading - Which allowances carry the biggest financial risk - Where allowances are reasonable - How to get firmer pricing before signing your contract Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  7. Sep 8

    The Problem with Spray Foam Insulation | Ep. 48

    Few building materials create as much debate as spray foam insulation. It can air seal, insulate, and control vapor extremely well, but it can also create concerns around installation quality, moisture, off-gassing, and what happens when something goes wrong behind the wall. In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of spray foam, situations we’ve encountered on real projects, and why this decision should ideally be made long before construction begins. Want help making healthier material and building-system decisions for your project? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - Why builders like spray foam - Open-cell vs. closed-cell - VOC and off-gassing concerns - Moisture and installation risks - Alternatives and hybrid approaches Find healthy-home building professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

  8. Sep 1

    How to Avoid Moldy Lumber When Building | Ep. 47

    Moldy lumber is one of the most common concerns I hear from homeowners building healthy homes. Some people say mold on framing lumber is harmless, while others want absolutely no visible mold anywhere in their framing package. So what can you actually do about it? In this episode, I walk through how to reduce the risk of moldy lumber from the moment your framing package is ordered, what to look for when it arrives, and what to do when rain hits during construction. Building a healthy home and want support through decisions like these? 👉🏼 https://form.typeform.com/to/cRQhjt5i In this episode: - What kiln-dried lumber really means - How lumber should be stored and inspected - Why rejected lumber needs to leave the job site - What to do when framing gets wet - When mold inspection or remediation may be worth considering Find healthy-home professionals in your area: 🏡🌱 https://holistichomesdirectory.com/ Follow me on Instagram: ✨ https://www.instagram.com/holistichomes.bychristine

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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
    75
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Christine Cimabue | Holistic Construction Consultant
  • Show Website
    The Holistic Homes Podcast

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