To build or to buy exisiting?

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I am new here and have a question. We are presently renting a house

and looking to either build a new healthy home or buy an existing

home and make it healthy. I have a 10 year old son with autism and

his health, reducing his toxic load, and reducing his exposure to

future toxicities is my primary motivation and goal.

We live in western, PA, about 25 miles outside of Pittsburgh.

My concerns with building a healthy home are two: stress/time/the

huge learning curve which I think would strain our marriage beyond

what it could stand, and cost.

My concern with buying an existing home are fear of the unknown

toxicities inherent in it, and costs and hassles of getting it

healthy.

What would be the most hassle free (relatively speaking of course, as

I know there will be hassle) of getting my family into a safe

nontoxic home? I am concerned with all toxins, as I believe he has

an impaired ability to detoxify everything: heavy meatls, VOCs,

pseticides, molds, and other allergens.

One well known healthy home advisor suggested only buying an existing

home built prior to 1950. My husband will absolutely not do this as

his main concern is lead paint dust which would be stirred up from

almost any renovation. Also he is not willing to " get out the

toolbelt " for all the labor and upkeep of a house that old. This is

a totally non-negotiable item for him, please do not ask me to

convince him otherwise. If we buy existing, he is only agreeable to

a house less than 10 years old.

I looked a little at prefab green homes, but at $250/square foot,

they are quite staggeringly expensive. A custom built home here in

western PA by comparison is $120-$150/square foot (using traditional

materials of course).

Thank you for any advice.

Beth