Indoor air quality (IAQ) might sound like the kind of thing only scientists worry about, but it turns out we all should be paying attention. After all, we spend over 90% of our time indoors, and it can lead to sneezing, coughing, and in some cases, serious health problems. So let’s talk about what’s floating around in that air and why you should care—particularly when it comes to particulate matter.

First off, particulate matter, or PM, is simply tiny bits of “stuff” (or particles) in the air. Some are natural, like dust and pollen, while others come from less glamorous sources like vehicle exhaust, factory emissions, and your frying pan when you try to make bacon without setting off the smoke detector. Not all particulate matter is created equal, though. That’s where the labels PM2.5 and PM10 come in.

PM10 refers to particles with a diameter of 10 micrometers or less. For comparison, that’s about one-seventh the width of a human hair. PM2.5, on the other hand, is even tinier, measuring 2.5 micrometers or less—small enough to invade your lungs.

What makes these particles so dangerous is their ability to travel deep into the respiratory system. PM2.5 is especially notorious because it can reach the alveoli, the tiny air sacs in your lungs where oxygen gets passed into your blood. The smaller the particle, the deeper it can get into your respiratory system. Long-term exposure to high levels of PM2.5 has been linked to heart and lung diseases. PM10, while less sneaky, can still wreak havoc on your health, causing asthma and other respiratory issues.

So, what’s a person to do? Enter filters!

To save your lungs you can use various types of air filters in your home. Since your HVAC system distributes air throughout your home, this is the first place to start. Many HVAC systems host a MERV8 filter in the system. These filters provide a basic filtration to protect the mechanical system, but do not filter well for humans. Below is a chart to help make a wise and informed decision for the filter in your HVAC system. These filters are simple to replace and can clean the air of these particles while you run the system for comfort.

Additionally, using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter will capture those particles and help not only clean the floors, but also the air and your lungs.

Finally, remember to turn your range hood on while you cook. This captures particles such as grease, smoke and other byproducts that would otherwise be in the air and removes them from the home.

So what’s the moral of the story? Clean air matters and filtering particulate matter can go a long way to help. Whether you’re cooking, living near a busy road, or just trying to relax in your newly renovated house, there are small steps we can each take to help make our home (and the air we breathe) healthier.

Listening to our clients and hearing their needs and wants for their home

Explaining a particular stage in our process so a client knows what to expect next

Creating a mock-up of to portray a realistic visual during construction (see below)

Examples of Communication with our clients

Explaining to a trade partner why we want to change a method or detail of construction

Discussion in our staff meetings regarding a new product we should be exploring

Collaboration around a specific design concept on a project in schematic design phase

Examples of Communication within our immediate and extended team

In the residential construction industry, the amount of information that is handled on any one project can be overwhelming. This is why we believe communication is important enough to be the focus of one of our core values.

We take seriously the role we play in communicating with you, our clients, to hear your wants and needs. We are then able to translate your ideas into our plans and documents, and ultimately to our team of project managers and trade partners who are executing the work on your project.

There are certainly phases of the design and building process that can become overwhelming, but we believe with enough communication and the right kind of communication, we can meet and exceed your expectations.

Here at Metzler Home Builders, we meet with a lot of people. Getting to know new people is continual. Each one communicates in their own way with their unique style. While words are not the only way to communicate, they are fundamental to how we relate to and understand each other. It is one of the primary skills we teach young children. Even in the second half of my life, I hope to expand my vocabulary continually.

Imagine with me for a moment trying to describe the space you live in without using the following words: floor, wall, roof, window, door, kitchen, bath, table, or chair. Try describing a hike without: path, trail, tree, plant, brown, green, or blue. Having words to articulate the meaning we intend is key to allowing others to understand our ideas.

The same is true as we attempt to express our feelings. The more nuance we can share about how we feel, the more others can understand us and respond appropriately. For example, while knowing that you are surprised is helpful, hearing you say you’re excited or shocked provides specific meaning to your surprise. For true understanding, both the person sharing and the person listening must understand the words being used. This is referred to as emotional intelligence.

Stereotypes always fall short, but I’ll use one here. Our society typically allows more freedom of emotional expression to women and men are generally cultured to stifle emotion. This trickles into other areas of our lives. When was the last time you heard a man in your life describe something blue as sapphire or ocean blue?

Emotional intelligence is as vital to us at Metzler Home Builders as building and color intelligence. When you tell us you want your home to be your “happy” place, we want to truly understand. Does “happy” mean a space where you feel content and joyful, or is it a space where you feel optimistic and creative? Is it a peaceful setting where you feel loved? These nuances are important to us as we work together to design and construct houses that you can call home.

Electromagnetic Field

​My wife recently informed me that Electromagnetic Field (EMF) concern has been spreading through social media channels lately. Given its relevance, it’s a great starting point for a discussion. After all, our health is our biggest investment, both in time and money. Unfortunately, it’s also an arena ripe for fearmongering. Each of us reacts differently to external influences, making it crucial to understand how EMF radiation impacts us personally.

Electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation is emitted by numerous electronic devices, including cell phones, Wi-Fi routers, and microwave ovens. This form of energy surrounds us, but prolonged exposure at high levels has raised health concerns. While research on the health effects of EMF radiation is ongoing, some studies suggest links to headaches, sleep disturbances, and more severe conditions like cancer.

The simplest way to reduce exposure is through distance. The exposure levels decrease dramatically as we add distance between us and our devices. Here are a few practical steps to take at home:

1. Limit Electronic Device Use: This can be challenging in our tech-centric culture, but small changes help. Use speaker mode or earphones for calls to keep your phone away from your head. Wear smartwatches only during exercise, and turn off Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular signals at night. This allows people to call if an emergency arises, but keeps your phone from searching and connecting to nearby signals.
2. Optimal Placement of Wi-Fi Modems and Routers: Avoid placing these devices in bedrooms or high-traffic areas. We keep ours in a mechanical room and use a timer to power it down at 11 pm and back up at 5 am. This ensures our bodies are free from this EMF source during our time of mental and physical rejuvenation.
3. Use EMF Shielding Products: Protective cases for phones can significantly reduce EMF exposure. I’ve tested two options: a full case that blocks nearly 100% of EMF radiation and a sticker that is more minimal but blocks around 50%-70%.
4. Avoid Using Devices While Charging: Battery powered devices such as phones, iPads, laptops, and others emit significantly higher EMF radiation when plugged in due to increased electrical activity while charging. In our home, we have a dedicated charging niche to minimize use while charging.

These are just a few simple steps will help reduce EMF exposure and as more research develops, continue to stay informed about the most effective reduction techniques. If you’re interested in learning more, here are resources to visit:

​EMF Guide Lighthouse – this website gives a deep dive into the subject and provides in-depth guides for remediation.

​Microwave News – this website updates frequently with the latest testing and studies being done worldwide.

Additionally, here is an EMF meter that has been very helpful in my understanding of the exposure within my environment.

“Custom Home Builder” is a relatively common way for any residential building company to describe their business. The question becomes what defines custom?

Is it a variety of floor plans to choose from? Plenty of interior and exterior materials and samples to consider? Is it a focus on building large and expensive homes?

We believe being a “custom” builder lies in the value of having Flexibility with our clients.

Each home or project is uniquely yours as our client. We understand that while we have expertise and experience, that needs to marry with the unique goals, objectives and situations that you bring to the table.

It doesn’t matter the budget, size, or style of your home or project. Metzler Home Builders truly wants to approach each project with flexibility in mind. We know that you are investing a lot of time and money with us to create your dream home or space and we want to honor that by helping create a finished product that is uniquely yours.

We are constantly working to refine and improve our processes to keep up with the changes in the industry and in client expectations. However as much as we refine our processes, we understand that part of who we are is having flexibility to adjust from that very process we’ve worked so hard to define.

As I wrote in my previous post, Sanctuary, one of the places that grounds me is being in nature. For me, it is a return to something foundational. While I cannot name what that foundational place is, my mind, body, and soul know it. I notice in this place that I change.

On this mid-summer day, I’m sitting by the Mill Stream at East Lampeter Community Park. I become attentive to the world around me. There is full foliage with its full spectrum of greens that shift and change in the breeze. Amid its swaying, the corn across the stream is calling for rain. A groundhog wanders nearby eating choice leaves from the edge of the woods. Robins and woodpeckers glide from tree to tree and a vulture’s shadow crosses the ground. The humid air smells of sweetness… a sweetness that can be tasted in the raspberries, corn, and other produce of the season.

You may ask why it is important to practice this and other types of noticing. Pausing in silence to allow our senses to become more aware of our surroundings impacts how we relate to each other. When was the last time someone focused on you and you felt truly heard? Not only for what you said, but how you said it, and even what was said in the silence. The skill of deep listening is waning in our culture. The busyness of business and our personal lives leaves little room for noticing.

​Listening well is one of the traits we hope to embody in our work. We haven’t mastered it but hearing what you desire for your home is one of our highest goals. Noticing who you are and what brings you to life is our passion. Take some time today to reflect on the people in your life who truly listen to you.

What’s a Healthy Home?

As our culture has transitioned over the years, people spend a majority of their time indoors. The National Human Activity Pattern Survey (NHAPS), performed by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, found that Americans spend around 87% of their time indoors and an additional 5.5% inside vehicles.(1) This totals roughly 92.5% of our time spent in enclosed environments.

If this statistic feels unsettling, consider another significant finding. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollutants can be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels. In some instances, these levels can exceed outdoor air pollutants by more than 100 times. (2) This indicates that the way we construct our homes, the furniture we choose, and our daily living habits have a profound impact on our health and well-being.

Key indoor pollutants include:

• Radon: A naturally occurring gas that rises from the ground and can accumulate in buildings.
  Carbon Dioxide (CO2): A naturally occurring gas, including that which we exhale, which can also build up indoors.
• Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10):
  • PM2.5: Very small particulates that can penetrate our lungs and skin, including smoke, cooking byproducts, and candle burning residues.
  • PM10: Larger particulates such as dust mites, mold spores, and pet dander.
• Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Radiation: Ubiquitous due to technology, EMF radiation is pervasive in homes and affects everyone, although some individuals are more sensitive to it.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Aerosolized compounds from various sources that can be detrimental to health.

While many of these pollutants can be mitigated through appropriate measures, they remain vastly understudied, leaving much to be discovered. In this series we will be taking a high-level view of these pollutants, what they are, how they impact our homes and what we can do about it. The aim is to inform and empower. Stay tuned….

If you’d like to jump into some of the nerdy details, IndoorChem is one of the leading communities giving attention to actual tests of the indoor microbiome. In the linked Youtube videos, Corbett Lunsford gives a summary of their initial study called HOMEChem.

Late in 2020 I tasked our team with helping to identify our core values. This was about identifying the values we felt we already represented. In my mind, the qualities were there, and it was only the identification and definition of those values that was lacking.

It was simple exercise for our employees — write down the first words or phrases that come to mind when you think of Metzler Home Builders. The leading “value” that came back was some combination of these three words:

fair / honest / transparent

In true Metzler Home Builders fashion, we put our heads together and came up with one word that encompassed this value – Integrity.

What does it mean to have Integrity as a custom home builder?

I believe it means being truthful in situations even when it isn’t comfortable or convenient. It means sharing with a client when we made a mistake, sharing why and how it happened, and offering a solution that is fair to them.

It may look like giving a credit to a client when they don’t even know something they chose cost less.

It could be explaining that a product came in damaged or was mis-ordered, and now our schedule will require modification.

I understand it isn’t popular to talk about the things we may not get 100% right as a business, but I believe if we operate with Integrity in all situations, we will continue to build trust with our clients that lasts a lifetime.

Most of us have experienced it. A feeling of inherent safety. A space where you are seen, known, and loved. This occurs in many ways; with a particular person, being in a familiar place, or noticing a delightful feeling. We can even smell something, like the scent of grandma’s homemade rolls, that brings us a sense of peace. It is a place of refuge and protection: a sanctuary.

For me, I experience sanctuary most frequently when I am in nature. Seeing the wind in the trees, touching a flower petal, hearing the bird song, smelling the coming rain, tasting honeysuckle, or my favorite, being present to the sun breaching the horizon.

You may experience it in the warmth of your favorite blanket, the companionship of a caring pet, or the voice of that special someone.

We each sense sanctuary in different ways. It is beneficial to reflect on and understand where we find refuge and how we feel protection. These are things that allow us to realize peace and rest.

Why might these nuances be important in our craft? Our homes, workplaces, and created surroundings impact us consciously and unconsciously. The built environment can bring us comfort or it can bring us unrest. We are passionate about creating safe spaces. As you articulate what brings you comfort, we attentively listen, aspiring to craft an environment that beckons sanctuary.

A house is like a great piece of music. It takes years of incubation, thoughts and dreams. It invites you in to experience all it has to offer. It’s engaging and sustaining. It pulls on the greats of the past while being influenced by the ones of the present. In the end, you hold out a part of yourself for the world to experience for generations.

a home.

The connection between people and their homes are deep and multifaceted, transcending physical structures and embracing the interplay of memories, identity, and a sense of belonging. “Home” is not simply a place; it’s a sanctuary where the tapestry of life is woven.

I grew up in a family of seven and distinctly remember the rooms, colors and furniture engrained with emotional experiences. The hardwood was lovingly worn from the continual foot travel throughout the circulation spaces. Our kitchen and dining were connected and life took place in this beloved space. We had a formal living room where toys were cleaned up every day, china was kept behind glass doors, and my mom would sit and read when she wasn’t being pulled in six opposing directions. Juxtapose this to the informal living room. Toys were left scattered, siblings argued over games, and the furniture was well worn. Each room echoes with laughter, tears and the quiet moments that defined our experiences. Our homes give testimony to the family milestones, joys and sorrows that shape us.

In part, this is why I chose to design and build homes. A home becomes an extension of its inhabitants, mirroring personalities and providing an expression for identity. Choices made in the architecture, layout, finishes, and decoration reflect individual preferences, values and cultural influences. This alignment between personal identity and physical space influences the deep emotional bond that surpasses basic sheltering needs.

Often when I walk into a home, I see the spaces that are more loved than others. I notice the finger streaks as the kids ran through the hallway and the marks against the door where the dog wanted back in the house. These cannot be replicated in a new home but can be designed to foster the sense of belonging, creating space for new and lasting memories.

Recalling and savoring these memories are wonderful and needed, but I’m also a fan of the “so what” question… the practical application. Or as a friend of mine puts it, “What does this look like on Monday morning?”

Be intentional.

Take time.

Turn the screens off and engage with kids, siblings, friends, and parents.

Play a game.

Start a puzzle.

Or draw inspiration from my daughter’s current muse and craft miniature models of houses (currently a tree house she built – see image).

Create these experiences and let us know what your imagination is launching you into!