Quality Building Is High-Performance Building with Josh Salinger

Josh Salinger doesn't see any daylight between quality building and high-performance building. Design it well, use the right materials for the project, install them correctly, and test it when you're done. To Josh, that's just quality, and it gets you a building that lasts longer, is healthier, more resilient, more comfortable, and naturally energy efficient. In this conversation on Build It Forward, recorded in the Building Science Corporation Test Hut at Summer Camp 2026, Nick Falkoff sits down with Josh, who runs Birdsmouth Design-Build in Portland, Oregon, and teaches the PHIUS builder training across North America. It's a fitting place for it. Josh got into building through the carpenters who moved into his rental house and the customers across the bar who asked if he'd build them a fence. Years later, a conversation in this Test Hut led to writing for Fine Homebuilding and Green Building Advisor, and he traces his career back to the spot where he was standing. Josh and Nick also get into how Birdsmouth Design-Build approaches retrofits, balanced ventilation in a leaky old house, why the firm went design-build, what's changed in the PHIUS builder training, and why giving away everything he's learned has only helped his business. Thank you to Betsy Pettit for graciously hosting us. Connect with Josh Salinger and Birdsmouth Design-Build: https://birdsmouthpdx.com | IG: @birdsmouthpdx Thank you to our production partner Benjamin Obdyke. Build Better™ with samples of their roof and wall products: https://benjaminobdyke.com/get-a-sample-build-forward-podcast Work with Auburndale Builders on your high-performance build: [email protected] 00:24 The Test Hut and what it was built for 01:29 The passive house tour that changed his path 06:56 From bartender to builder 09:35 The Test Hut conversation that changed his career 15:06 Speaking up when something isn't right 19:03 Why Josh went design-build 24:36 What's changed in the PHIUS builder training 29:00 Where to start on a leaky old house 35:19 Building a retrofit report around client goals 42:16 Giving away everything you've learned 48:45 Quality building is high-performance building Music: Welcome to the Johnsons from the album Bird Mode by E*Lightning aka Jon Erickson, CPHB https://open.spotify.com/artist/0J8B8c2DKgBKOopmjXK3E8 Made with @PRMEABL at the Building Science Corporation Test Hut #BuildItForward #AuburndaleBuilders #PassiveHouse #HighPerformanceBuilding #BuildingScience #DesignBuild #Retrofit #GreenBuilding #NetZero #JoshSalinger #BirdsmouthDesignBuild #BenjaminObdyke #BuildBetter