Your old siding is starting to show signs of wear and tear, and you don’t want to wait for water and rot to invade your home. You’re considering new siding options but you’re not sure how to marry quality siding material, curb appeal, and sustainability into your plans. Here are some common siding materials that are effective and will green up your home: …continue reading Green Wednesday: Green Siding Options

With growing shortages of building materials, preservation of natural resources is becoming increasingly important. Eco-conscious contractors and homeowners are continually on the lookout for green alternatives.

This mindset led to the creation of Planet Reuse, an online classified service highlighted in this article: Classified for Reused Materials. Planet Reuse and other services like them, allow anyone to try to sell their unwanted building materials. Buyers are able to find unique products at discount prices, while recycling products that would otherwise go to waste. Not only does it reduce the amount of landfill waste, but it also reduces the consumption of new resources. Many of these products are in very good condition, and there is no reason why they can’t look spectacular in your home. Choose from everything from furniture to bathroom appliances to rustic timber. …continue reading Before You Remodel: Think Second-hand First

Optimum value engineering (OVE) techniques are the practice of using advanced framing (2×6’s, 24-inch on center) in construction instead of the standard framing techniques (2×4’s, 16-inch on center). As with any introduction of a new concept to an industry accustomed to just one school of thought, OVE techniques have met with some opposition and criticism.

This article, “Advanced Wall Framing Techniques for a Greener Home” posted on Charles and Hudson, highlights the pros and cons of OVE construction, allowing you to reach your own conclusion as to its effectiveness. Some of the pros in support of optimum value engineering framing techniques include their energy efficiency and compliance with green building. They promote the use of less lumber, less labor to build, and the additional room for insulation in the walls allows for greater temperature control. Some of the drawbacks include higher design and engineering costs because of its uncommon use, along with difficulty in finding contractors skilled in and willing to use the techniques. If it requires too much additional time and effort for the contractor, you will be faced with a higher labor cost. …continue reading Green Wednesday: Why Optimum Value Engineering Is Still Uncommon