Our plans to build a small addition onto our home went horribly wrong very quickly. With no experience in new construction, my husband and I trusted a friend of ours who claimed to be knowledgeable. He told us that he’d built houses from the ground up multiple times. He said that he’d worked with numerous construction companies across the country and was proficient in both residential and commercial builds. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, energy efficiency is a major concern. We switch between heating and cooling with very little break in-between. The local temperature fluctuates from the negatives to the nineties. Temperature control accounts for approximately half of our household energy expenses. We need a tight thermal envelope, including Energy Star rated windows and doors, proper insulation and sufficient ventilation. Along with energy waste and greater monthly expenses, there’s concerns with the health of the indoor air quality and comfort. Moisture can undermine the integrity of the structure. We need a roof that not only resists moisture but avoids ice dams and excessive snow build up. Not only did our friend delay starting the project multiple times, it soon became apparent that he had no idea of what he was doing. Nothing looked square, sturdy or air tight. He failed to secure necessary permits. We finally went online and researched licensed, insured construction companies. We found a contractor who was willing to take a look at our half-finished addition and give us an estimate. He recommended tearing the entire structure down and starting from craft. We were lucky that some of the materials were salvageable.