Renovations / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Basement and crawl space encapsulation: a homeowner's and pro's guide Basement and crawl space encapsulation is a comprehensive moisture management strategy designed to seal the foundation from the damp earth. Whether you are dealing with a dirt floor crawl space or an older concrete basement floor lacking a vapor bar...

...renovations Choosing the right air sealing materials Understanding ventilation and moisture AeroBarrier air sealing spray for homes The essential takeaways: Air sealing Why airtightness matters for older homes Beyond saving on your energy bills, creating a continuous air barrier in an older home provides a host of oth...

...renovations that would disturb it, the safest option is to leave it in place and seal it off. You can read here how to know if vermiculite insulation has asbestos and what to do about it. Choosing attic insulation: which is best? For insulating an old home attic, blown-in insulation is an ideal choice for both profess...

...renovations and modifications can either delay the need for seniors to transition to care homes, or avoid it altogether for the more determined (stubborn) or courageous. There are basically three options available – either prepare homes for selling in order to downsize, modify homes to extend the time seniors can spend...

...renovations to add exterior insulation start with the fact that you longer have a stone exterior to your home. After that reality sinks in, other challenges include the fact that the roofline might not accommodate the thicker wall, nor will windows and doors. That means building out window and door frames to match the ...

...renovations to the expected increase in property value. Sustainable home features, like efficient insulation, can improve energy efficiency, which may increase the home’s resale value. However, consider the upfront costs and long-term benefits to determine whether the investment is worthwhile or when can insulation be ...

...Renovations often come with unexpected expenses, which can strain your budget. Financing challenges: Some lenders may be hesitant to finance a fixer-upper or may require a higher down payment or interest rate. Living in a construction zone: Depending on the extent of the renovations, you may need to live in a construct...

...renovations and want to avoid any unwanted repairs and costs then we say invest in a ventilation system if you don’t have one, there are countless benefits for health, durability and energy efficiency.  Now you've learned all about interstitial condensation in walls and roofs, why it happens and how to prevent it, ...

Make a realistic building budget and schedule This is, without a doubt, the starting point to a successful build - don’t underestimate the time and money it will take to complete a build or renovation. Even professional contractors tend to underestimate the costs and duration of a project. Get advice from multiple prof...

...renovations and new builds. Unfortunately some homes are beyond repair and are best taken down; how to determine the right course of action is collectively a logical, financial and personal decision. There is not always a definitive right or wrong answer to which choice is better between renovating, remodeling or rebui...

...renovations. Find out all you need to know about how to carry out successful renovations in the Ecohome Building Guide and these pages here:  Tips for staying on budget during renovations Choosing safe paints to protect indoor air quality Non-toxic natural finishing oil for wood that protect indoor air quality ...