Before you build -- The building process -- Elements of a healthy home -- Finishing up -- A guide to sourcing nontoxic furnishings -- Already home?

"We spend 90% percent of our time indoors and consider our homes to be safe havens from the stresses and dangers of the outside world, but what most of us don't know is that the materials used to build our homes can contribute to our ill health. A typical home is filled with chlorinated solvents and 80,000 other chemicals which release into the air we breathe. In fact, three out of four homes have unresolved moisture problems that lead to toxic mold. Everything from lumber, carpets, paints, and adhesives all contain chemicals that can contribute to health issues such as asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancers, and immune system dysfunctions. In Healthier homes, Rusty and Jen Stout, nationally recognized healthy home building experts and founders of JS2 Partners Healthy Home Builders, recognize the need for a fundamental change in the way homes are built and did something about it. From their personal and professional experiences, Jen and Rusty redefine best practices for construction and share how you can build your home to be a safe and toxin free living environment. Whether you're suffering from chronic illness or wanting to maintain wellness and vitality, this book if for you. Healthy Home Builder is a soup-to-nuts guide for builders and DIY-er's starting with the design and site selection, progressing to the materials for the interior and exterior of the home, and addressing the finishing touches of interior design and furnishings - and it includes a gorgeous photo gallery of homes that have been built with health and wellness in mind"--Publisher's description