Archive of posts tagged moisture
The Green Countertop Dilemma
During a visit to Eco6Design in Half Moon Bay, California, I was drooling over all the fabulous “eco” options for countertops. Serious eye candy! Vetrazzo, Fireclay Tile, Stone Age, IceStone, Fuez. I was itching to go home, rip out my pale-avocado-tile-with-black-grout counters and start afresh. After all, at 30-plus years old, they’re beyond dated, they’re […]
A Green Bathroom Remodel Brings Many Benefits
Bathrooms are the second most heavily used rooms in the house, with the first being the kitchen. The wear and tear in bathrooms necessitate repair or remodel. As the economy recovers, albeit slowly, bathrooms are the prime targets as more homeowners think about remodeling their homes. A green bathroom remodel is not necessarily more expensive. […]
Truths and Myths of Wool Carpet
I have previously written why I like wool carpets. Here are some more thoughts on common misconceptions. MYTH: Wool carpet stains easily. TRUTH: Because of its unique molecular structure as you can see by the picture, it has burrs that keep moisture spills and stains from soaking into the fiber. This is what the synthetic […]
How I Came To Love Wool Carpet
Here is a microscopic picture of a wool fiber. The burrs keep it from staining and keep it looking beautiful for 25 years. As a designer I love it for how it feels in a home. It actually creates negative ions, just like if you put a waterfall in a room. Also the colors in […]
How to Choose an Advanced Water Heater
Choosing a water heater is getting to be a little more complicated than in the old days, but it’s worth it because the right choice can save you money. Water heating is a fast changing field. Electric heat pump heaters are getting a lot of attention. Condensing gas tank and tankless heaters are gaining in […]
Choosing A Whole-House Ventilation System
Increasingly, because of either code changes or customer demand, builders are having to take a closer look at whether the new, tight houses they build have adequate ventilation. Many builders would like to provide something better than just a few bath exhaust fans but aren’t sure how to design a simple ventilation system that is […]
How to Choose Energy Efficient Appliances
Energy efficient appliances can offer energy and money savings. While it may not be economical to replace a piece of appliance, when the appliance is reaching the end of useful life or when new appliances are purchased during a remodel, choosing an energy efficient model is the perfect time. The energy efficient model may cost […]
Insulation
Insulation should be applied in: Attic, or roof if there is no attic Crawlspace External facing walls Around ventilation ducts (to at least R-8) Insulation should be applied after careful air sealing to close off all places for air leakage. Except for closed cell foam which acts like a sealant, most insulation materials allow air […]