Employee Spotlight: David Moize, PHIUS CPHB, Construction Manager
David Moize, PHIUS Certified Passive House Builder, Bucktide Construction Manager
David Moize joined Bucktide as construction manager in 2019, having previously worked together with Alex at another custom home builder. He holds ongoing certification through the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS) and has a reputation as the high-performance envelope wizard. David is the one we call when we need a swift thinker with a steady, low-drama approach to solving tricky problems.
This month, we're turning the spotlight on David and highlighting his path into construction and his approach in the field.
Since a young age, David's been building. His first job gave him both deep and wide construction experience in every phase of building, and everything was custom-built, from board-formed concrete and custom windows to framing, flashing, and skim-coating. When Alex founded Bucktide by building his grandmother's house—the project that started it all—David built right alongside him.
Alex, Bucktide Founder:
"He is a great problem solver, has a lot of experience, welcomes difficult tasks, and is a great friend." Asked about David's superpowers, Alex says: "Quickly diagnosing problems and generating solutions. He's great at communicating with architects and homeowners. He is a flashing master."
Robert Arlt, Architect, SHED Architecture:
David's been the on-site lead on framing, window installs, and envelope work across several of Robert's projects. "Just an excellent communicator, problem solver, and builder/fabricator," Robert says. "It's been great to work collaboratively with David, talking through executing high-performance details at all scales, and doing it with a sense of humor." Asked to sum him up in one word: "David is a pro."
David and team working alongside architect Daren Doss of chadbourne + doss installing windows at The Nook House.
Q&A with David Moize
How did you get into building? I went to the same church as a friend who built homes for the architect Cutler Anderson. It was 2006, I was 20, and I figured I’d work for one summer. I learned the trade from the ground up, and it stuck with me. Real board-formed concrete, custom-built windows, the works. These days, if something's different or tricky, I enjoy jumping in and figuring it out.
What is it about building you like? I’ve always been a tinkerer. I built remote-control cars out of wood as a kid—I was always making something. I didn't find out until later in life that I have ADHD, but it’s my superpower on jobsites: so many tasks, so many problems to solve. I like staying active, moving, climbing around, putting things together.
What do you like about high-performance building? I didn't work on high-efficiency construction until Bucktide. Now I’ve taken courses through PHIUS, and it's become one of my favorite things to think about. My approach: outcomes first. Not every client has the budget for full Passive House performance, but nobody wants a building that leaks air like a sieve. Knowing when to use a liquid water-resistive barrier (WRB), a smart membrane, or an aerosolized silicone barrier—and understanding why—lets me meet people where their goals actually are. Older buildings were built to be leaky on purpose, so moisture wouldn't get trapped. Modern envelopes are tighter, which means air exchange and vapor movement matter in a whole new way. Get the wrong product in the wrong climate, and you're growing mold behind the walls instead of keeping people warm.
What do you like about working at Bucktide? Less ego, less blame. If there's a problem, the mentality is “let's fix it.” I’ve worked places where one big personality calls all the shots. Here, it's a team solving problems together. The old construction culture can promote dominance, yelling, and fifty-hour weeks that break people down. At Bucktide, it's more about the value you bring.
What do you want people to know about your role? I’ll do anything the job requires: Dig a ditch, frame a wall, consult with an architect mid-build—whatever's needed. But nothing gets done halfway. High expectations, low stress, and a lot of thinking ahead so problems get caught early.
Any advice for someone getting into construction? Get good at math. Building is as much a mental trade as a physical one, part artist, part mathematician, part craftsman.
Favorite part of the job? Framing. It’s the bones of a building going up. A good framing crew is like a ballet, all working in unison.
