Drywall Breakthrough!

I am very excited about a breakthrough in a fairly boring construction product: drywall.  Certainteed came out with a drywall (AirRenew) that pulls toxins and carcinogens out of your air for 75 years with up to 26 coats of paint on it!  Several common household products containing VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) are hairspray, air fresheners, perfumes, and cleaners. In addition to those, remodeling and building materials such as paints and lacquers, paint strippers and carpets, unsealed plywood or particle board and even foam insulation contain formaldehyde.  A new construction home (or newly remodeled area) off-gases the most in the first five years.  When you smell that new carpet smell, it’s actually off-gassing you are smelling. I know it sounds strange and my first concern was if it would make your sheetrock toxic to the touch, but it doesn’t.  It breaks down VOC’s and turns them into safe, inert compounds that remain inside the drywall, never reemitting them in to the air.  Because we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors and in our homes, it is important to improve the quality of our inside air especially to those of us that are asthmatic.  Inside air is often found to be more contaminated than our outdoor air. From a “Green” aspect, 99% of the gyp board is made from recycled material.  It is still just as easy to work with and installs the same as regular drywall.  It has the same weight and uses the same installation materials. What I love most about the product is that you never have to remember to turn it on or replace a filter.  It is maintenance free and is always working.  It is also mold, fire, moisture, abuse, and impact resistant.  It’s genius and I love it!  We just finished our first new construction installation and used it for all of the walls.

Five Reasons to Opt for Custom Cabinetry

Most every home comes with cabinets already built into one room or another, but these pre-made pieces aren’t always sufficient for the homeowners’ specific needs. That’s why we almost always recommend custom carpentry for kitchen remodeling, basement finishing and more. At Green Remodeling, we’ve got years of experience building and installing beautiful wood cabinets. At this point, we can hardly imagine a space that wouldn’t be improved by the addition of some tailor-made cabinet storage because…
  1. They’ll work with your layout.
Even with limited wall space, like in open concept kitchens, there are ways to optimize your cabinetry that your builder may not have thought of. Dedicating an area to a bar or an island, for example, can provide you with lots of additional cabinets and seating without chopping up your home’s sought-after open layout. We can show you how to rearrange your existing cabinets and appliances to gain storage, functionality and a sleek aesthetic.
  1. They’ll add organized storage space.
One simple way to gain space while still keeping everything in the footprint of your old cabinets is to think vertical. We can extend cabinets all the way to the ceiling, adding cubic feet and sometimes two or more shelves in the process. We’ll make sure the shelves are the right height and depth for your belongings and incorporate drawers accordingly. If you’re a little messy, the hidden storage room cabinets provide will make your whole home incredibly easy to tidy up!
  1. They’ll better fit your lifestyle.
A basic pairing of upper and lower cabinets isn’t ideal for every house. If you like to be able to see and easily access everything, for example, glass-front upper cabinets or open shelving elements for dishes and baskets may be better suited for you. For a basement bar or a dining area, you may need a custom wine rack or even a small pantry to be a central part of your cabinetry.
  1. They’ll always be in style.
One of the biggest benefits to cabinet customization is the unbeatable style. You’ll have a say in the exact dimensions of your cabinets as well as their layout, color and finish. Our carpentry at Green goes beyond a fresh coat of paint and some fancy new handles. We’ll install pieces with incredible trim, exquisite borders and corners and rich stains. This kind of craftsmanship will only increase in value over time.
  1. They’re not just for the kitchen.
Not all cabinets are kitchen cabinets. Anywhere you want storage and more architectural interest is a great place for cabinets! In offices and family rooms, a bank of cabinets mixed with shelves give you somewhere to keep media, games, electronics, documents, etc. Plus, since we design cabinet schemes ourselves, we’re able to get you the exact size and style you want. Bathrooms and closets (walk-in or reach-in!) are also great candidates for crafted carpentry by Green Remodeling. Call today to get a quote on your custom cabinets!  

Why is the Schluter system better than the traditional method of tile installation?

Contrary to popular belief, neither tile nor grout (even sealed) is waterproof.  In a standard shower application, a pan liner is used to block moisture.  The pan liner used does not allow for tile to be applied directly to it, so a bed of mortar is used and then the tile is placed on this bed.  Because the water infiltrates through this bed, it can remain saturated with moisture, especially if the mortar weep holes become clogged or the pre-slope wasn’t installed properly.  With this moisture saturation, the possibility of mold and efflorescence or cosmetic staining on the tile, increases tremendously.  Most new construction homes only carry a one-year warranty and unfortunately, this problem may take a little longer than that to appear.  We see many houses where the homeowner is wanting to change the tile in their shower not because they want to change the size, shape, or style, but because there is a bad smell and mold growing throughout. There is a German engineered shower system called Schluter that has a family of products that creates a “sealed” environment which is stated to be even more than water-proof, it’s vapor proof.  The beauty of the system is that it doesn’t allow moisture to permeate in to the mortar bed or solid backing so there is no chance of mildew growing there.  The system allows only the tile and grout to become wet when showering which is able to dry completely between uses.  The system also eliminates leaks, reduces the potential for efflorescence and mold growth in the system, dramatically reduces total installation time and makes shower installation much easier because it is light-weight in nature.  The product may cost a little more, but having a mold-free shower is worth every penny!