Renovation / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

...renovations and repairs So, the question is – what should we do about condensation? How do we fix and prevent condensation in our homes? Condensation in homes – the basics So what is condensation? Condensation in its purest form is caused when humidity in the air comes in contact with a cold surface and it condenses ...

Are laminate counters good? Laminate countertops were a long-time staple of residential kitchen and bathroom construction, but they started to fall off in popularity around the time rockstars stopped wearing spandex, which was somewhere in the 80s. A trend started at that time towards alternatives to laminate counters,...

Larson truss wall systems for new green home building & renovations for max wall insulation A Larsen Truss is a type of lightweight & non structural double-stud wall assembly that allows for thicker insulation, is ideal for dense-packed cellulose insulation wall systems and a very high R-value building envelope...

Vapor barrier + air-con = damp moldy walls So here's a little known fact that most HVAC installers won't tell a potential new client for central air; Polyethylene vapor barriers in combination with air conditioning in homes can rot walls because of the condensation they may cause. This is why if you have a newer home w...

...renovation beginning with breaking and removing the existing concrete floor. Most older basements have very limited head room and owners are often reluctant to lower it even more by adding insulation to the floor. It also allows for the addition of a radon evacuation stack, which is the perforated tube and T-junction i...

...renovation by River Woodworks © Ecohome Custom green kitchen renovation by River Woodworks © Ecohome Formaldehyde-free kitchen cabinet renovation by River Woodworks © Ecohome Green kitchen cabinets in a Custom kitchen renovation by River Woodworks © Ecohome  

Being safe to breathe, natural oils are suitable and safe for pretty much  everyone, but of particular value in the homes of pregnant women, young children and newborns, and anyone with respiratory issues or chemical sensitivities. Food safe oils are a great choice for sealing cutting boards or butcher-block counters, ...

Wood ceilings - what's the the skinny? Ahhh, the charm of a wood ceiling, seriously, what's not to like? The intent of this page is less about talking you out of installing gypsum board (drywall), and more about giving you a little encouragement if you are hesitantly considering a wood ceiling. It’s a natural product t...

...renovation. Even professional contractors tend to underestimate the costs and duration of a project. Get advice from multiple professionals if you can, to get a variety of views as to whether or not your project is feasible within a certain time frame and budget. Separate the different stages of a project and apply you...

...renovation project? PR - Obviously it is important to be rigorous in monitoring costs at every stage. It’s not enough to establish a detailed budget – you need to comply with it, and track all the expenses during construction and renovations to ensure that the established budget is respected. This is where beginning wi...

The most common kitchen counters you will find in homes are traditional laminate countertops. And they certainly live up to the adage ‘you get what you pay for’, as most of them still contain a lot of formaldehyde and they aren’t very durable. Maybe the latest generation of laminate countertops for green kitchens and b...