Building science research, material evaluations, guides, and references — everything you need to understand healthy home construction and demand better.
of your time spent in an environment most wellness spending ignores
We spend billions on supplements, gym memberships, and organic food — yet ignore the single largest factor affecting our health: the buildings we inhabit 90% of our lives. This is the gap Domus Salus was built to close.
Read the Full ArticleStandard construction materials don't just underperform — they fail predictably. These four articles trace how each failure leads to chemical treatments that compound the health problem.
In the 1970s, you had 17 minutes to escape a house fire. Today it's closer to 3. The synthetic materials that replaced natural ones burn faster and release more toxic gases.
Read Part II · WaterMoisture intrusion isn't a worst-case scenario in a modern home — it's a scheduled event. The question isn't whether it happens. It's what your walls are made of when it does.
Read Part III · ChemistryFire retardants, fungicides, pesticides, preservatives — each treatment solves one failure mode while introducing continuous chemical exposure into your living space.
Read Part IV · PestsWood-frame homes are buffets for termites, carpenter ants, and wood-boring beetles. The industry's answer is more chemistry. The Domus answer is different materials.
ReadEvidence-based deep dives into modern construction's health impacts and the Salus Standard alternatives. New articles appear here automatically.
Every material evaluated against all five Domus Principles. Use these assessments when specifying materials or evaluating a builder's proposal.
Naturally fire-resistant, vapor-open, zero VOCs, inherently mold-proof. Achieves equivalent R-values to spray foam without chemical off-gassing.
Inorganic, mold-proof, fire-resistant, zero formaldehyde. Replaces OSB as structural sheathing without the moisture and off-gassing vulnerabilities.
Formaldehyde off-gassing, highly susceptible to moisture and mold colonization, requires chemical fire retardants. Fails three of five Domus Principles.
Isocyanate off-gassing, creates vapor barrier trapping condensation and enabling hidden mold, requires chemical fire retardants. Fails Salus Standard.
Copper compound and quaternary ammonium off-gassing, measurable soil and air contamination. Fails indoor air quality and pest resistance principles.
Good mold and fire resistance, 30–50 year lifespan. Requires careful moisture management at joints. Conditional pass — Domus-grade with proper installation.
Ready-to-use documents for homeowners, builders, and architects specifying Salus-grade construction.
The complete framework behind how we evaluate every material — the five Domus Principles, their principle-by-principle assessment process, evidence standards, and verdict criteria.
A ready-to-use specification template for builders and architects. Lists Salus-approved materials by category with minimum performance requirements and acceptable substitutions.
Walk through any new construction or resale home and identify standard-grade materials before you buy. Covers framing, insulation, sheathing, finishes, and ventilation.
Spreadsheet tool comparing standard-grade vs. Domus-grade materials across initial cost, maintenance, replacement cycles, and estimated health impact savings.
Not every build can go full Domus-grade from day one. This guide presents tiered material options — the minimum viable Salus-compliant choice at every price point.
Exact language to use when asking builders about materials, moisture management strategy, and ventilation design. Know what answers to accept — and what answers are red flags.
The peer-reviewed research, government data, and industry standards behind the Domus Salus framework.
The primary federal agency responsible for indoor air quality research. Source of the 2–5× indoor pollution statistic central to the Domus Salus thesis.
The engineering standard that defines minimum ventilation rates for residential buildings. Referenced in all Domus Salus ventilation specifications and critiques.
The most rigorous building performance standard for energy efficiency and indoor air quality. Passive House buildings achieve extraordinary ventilation and air quality outcomes.
The Declare label is a transparency platform for building products — essentially a nutrition facts label for construction materials.
The research behind the wellness economy data used in our Blind Spot article — demonstrating consumer willingness to pay for health outcomes across every category except housing.
Answers to the questions we hear most often from homeowners, builders, and skeptics.
New material evaluations, building science research, and practical guides — delivered free because this knowledge shouldn't have a paywall.
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