Episode Intro & YouTube Notes
Yes. So something that we just thought about, too, is that we have done some little napkin sketches throughout this. And if you have any interest in that, we are also on YouTube. If you guys are listening to this podcast, we’ve got a bunch of other videos of other projects that we’ve done in the past. And yeah, we’ve been excited to make these videos and we’re excited to continue doing that.
Hi, my name’s Jordan.
Oh, my name is Rhiannon. Hello.
And this is “Better Building With Buck.” This is episode 4.
What We Mean by “Boxy” (and Why It Matters)
Today we’re going to be talking about “boxy” houses and why that’s important to high-performance homes—and also what that looks like and how you get this very basic designed house and how you add architectural details to it to turn it into something you can be proud to call your home.
That starts in the planning stages and understanding what type of house you’re going to be building. Not every house is the same; there are so many options now that having some goals set up with whoever is going to build your house is really important.
We’re probably going to say “boxy” a lot. It sounds bad, but a “boxy house” is simply planning a house so it can achieve net-zero status or passive-house status.
Codes & The Path Toward Net-Zero Ready
There’s a big push with local governments right now to hit certain steps. Right now we’re at Step 3; moving to Step 4 and then Step 5 (“Net-Zero Ready”) will likely happen roughly every five years, depending on the government. There’s also the introduction of carbon load on houses, which will affect how homes are designed—in a positive way.
Experiencing High-Performance vs. Conventional
It’s hard to understand a high-performance house until you live in one. Like cars before “luxury” was a category, you drove what was available; now we’re being pushed to high-performance homes, and that will change what architecture looks like.
We’re going to see a return to a more boxy look because fewer corners are more energy efficient. That’s not a bad thing—you can add layers: different roof peaks, overhangs, a separate garage to create an L or a bump for interest.
Adding Character to a Simple Form
When you’re working with a basic structure, think of ways to embellish it: a great porch with a cute shed roof, a Colonial vibe (super boxy with pillars), or modern styling. Avoid jut-outs and bump-outs that penetrate the walls; those put your house at risk of being lower-functioning.
Why Corners Are Weak Points
Every corner is a weak point in the assembly. The goal is maximizing livable square footage inside the rectangle relative to wall square footage—because walls are where you lose energy to the outside. The more usable area you fit inside, the better your “score,” so to speak.
Solar Heat Gain: Overhangs, Shading & Big Windows
Expect more detailed overhangs to manage solar heat gain—blocking high summer sun while admitting lower winter sun. In Europe, exterior blinds with solar sensors adjust as the sun moves. People love lots of glass, but windows are the worst spot thermally, so we’ll need systems or design changes to manage heat.
Accent/skirt roofs can break up a two-story facade, transition materials at a belly band, and add shade while keeping the main box intact.
Deep Energy Retrofits: Hard but Possible
Retrofitting to Step 5 (“Deep Energy Retrofit”) is tough—especially achieving airtightness without gutting to studs. Airtightness is “origami”: laps and ties that have to connect everywhere. If you do an exterior air barrier (often best), siding comes off and the whole exterior is made airtight—but ceilings (“the lid”) with pot lights and penetrations are tricky. AeroBarrier (aerosolized sealant) can reduce leakage up to ~½" gaps; bigger gaps still need detailing. Attic access helps for sealing from above.
Wall Assembly, Flashings & Moisture Management
On a foundation with exterior foam and walls with exterior insulation, you use a flashing at the transition to kick water out. Typical layers: framing, exterior air/water barrier (your airtight layer), exterior insulation (foam/rockwool/hemp/mushroom/wool, depending on carbon goals), rainscreen, bug screen, and cladding. A portion of water will get behind cladding; the rainscreen drains and dries it.
Decks, Ledgers & Thermal Bridging
Attaching a deck through exterior insulation creates thermal bridges. One approach: run a beam parallel to the house with posts so joists frame to it; minimize or eliminate the ledger connection. Some high-performance homes fully decouple the deck from the structure with additional posts/pads.
Industry Shift: Craft Over “Paper Contracting”
Raising performance requirements should favor qualified builders with technical training over “paper contractors.” When you must plan how to get from design point A to B while meeting airtightness/thermal goals, leadership and know-how matter.
Interior Planning: Mechanical Space & HVAC Strategy
Plan space for a mechanical room—often overlooked. Crawlspaces can help, but dedicate room for HRV/ERV, heat pump equipment, and distribution. We may move further from forced air toward mini-splits and smarter room-level control via HRV balancing and sensors that heat/cool spaces you actually use when you use them. The tech isn’t fully there yet, but it’s getting cheaper fast.
Cost & Build-Time Advantages of Boxy Designs
A boxier home is more cost-effective whether or not you’re chasing high performance. Every inside/outside corner adds trim, cuts, labor, layout, and straightening. The squarer the house, the faster it frames and finishes—and the more usable area you get for the same perimeter. You could cut roughly 10% of costs depending on how square you keep it. Complex forms (octagons, many angles) drive up layout complexity, engineering, concrete, beams, and truss packages. Simpler Part 9 designs may even avoid engineering sign-off.
Longevity, Maintenance & Practicalities
Fewer penetrations and corners mean fewer places for water to sit, less repainting, longer life, and easier future work (painters/scaffold can run long straight sections instead of hopping around). Simpler forms are easier to maintain and upgrade.
Closing Thoughts
Don’t be scared of boxy houses. With the right builder and designer—and your ideas—you can create something you wouldn’t even call “boxy,” but an architectural beauty. We’ve seen awesome passive homes.
We appreciate you watching/listening to Better Building With Buck. Check out previous episodes on YouTube or wherever you find podcasts. YouTube now has a podcast section; ours is separated there. Thank you, everybody—bye for now, and have a great night.
