Labor of Love

Posted on December 1st, 2009

Our friends Tim and Tiphanie embarked on the ultimate home enriching experience this past summer. With more time on their hands than expected, they decided to dig in to an extensive backyard remodel. Tim’s well known by family and friends for his handy ways and the ability to be thrifty, but he outdid himself w/ this project. They had done some planting, mild improvements and had even built an amazing tree house (coveted by the local teens and, on occasion, furtively used in the wee hours), but they’d always planned to do more.

With an extra large yard to play with, T & T set out to create a tranquil, peaceful Asian-themed family escape- partly in honor of Tim’s mother (who had passed away in recent years), and a good sized dog area for their 3 canines. Mission accomplished…and then some. Tim began by rebuilding the deck entirely, which required some pretty extensive structural reinforcement. No small feat. He disposed of most of the old deck using the free section of Craigslist and got some of his materials for the new deck, free of charge, as well.

They laid claim to a ‘Softub’- a hot tub which Tim extracted- free- also from Craigslist. It’s a unique and very interesting tub…not your standard issue, swirly faux marble, ‘70’s box. It’s shaped like a dome and looks like an orangish-brown version of a ‘Mallomar’ (the cookie w/ the marshmallow top all covered in chocolate). Curiously, it’s one of the most energy efficient models available, even though it’s ancient. The Softub uses an efficient heat recovery system and requires only a standard 115V outlet. It has a high density insulated body and cover, is renewable and recyclable and is produced in a green manufacturing facility where no VOC’s are present. It costs roughly $6- $16 per month to heat. Works like a charm. The whole family piles in often to relax and recover after soccer, running & basketball.

Next, Tim picked up free brick pavers- mostly from Ballard and Mercer Island homes (thank you, Craigslist). After painstakingly hand-chiseling the mortar off of every brick, he artfully arranged some 3,000 of them, creating a zen-like hardscape that’s quite pleasing to the eye. The intent was that the bricks look like rippled water- as if a stone had been cast. I haven’t seen anything like it. Amazing. When they bought the property, the area had been an impersonal sea of damaged grass, laden with tree droppings. Now the space is a visual feast, feng-shui functional, the family sanctuary, low maintenance and sustainable.

The Asian garden encompasses the northern yard, in between the house and southern brick area. It is enclosed by a low, cedar fence and features an elaborate arbor, black bamboo, Japanese maple, water feature, a fire pit, sitting area, the Softub and a plethora of carefully chosen green plants. Almost everything was, again, free. The pictures don’t do it justice. I’ll snap some more photos when the plants are in full bloom.

One of my favorite pieces is the sitting rock that the family lugged back from the Grand Canyon. Happened upon it, curbside, and had to have it. They couldn’t have planned that their brakes would almost fail for the strain, as they stretched down a long expanse of California’s Highway 101. Both family and rock made it back safely, and the slab accessorizes the garden beautifully.

All told, free and/or re-used items included several truckloads of sand, yards of rich topsoil, 3,000 plus bricks, lumber, plants, river rock, the sitting rock and, of course, the Softub. Major coup!

No VOC’s Please

Posted on September 18th, 2009

What do tempura, milk, oil, limewash, clay and latex have in common? Names of earthy crayon colors? Maybe, but more importantly, they are each the base component of various sustainable paint products. Crazy? Not so much. In the last several years, alternative paint products have made solid progress. In the early 1990’s, green paints failed to take hold, but products have improved and green paints much are much more effective, on the whole.

Seattle is, apparently, the green capital of the US. Surely, its mecca reputation has much to do with its love affair for research and thoughtful application. Here’s a strange tidbit for those who are looking at options…Sometimes, no VOC (volatile organic compound) paints are only ‘no voc’ until color is added. Each colorant has its own VOC content, which varies widely and will boost the overall paint VOC’s accordingly. Some brands offer pigments without VOC’s, as well. Several brands have recently come up with this option to compliment the no VOC paints. The rumor mill says ‘Mythic’ brand is a good bet. No VOC’s in their pigments, either. Same w/ Aura’s low and YOLO’s (Greenseal certified) no-VOC paints.

The demand for safer, more environmentally responsible paints has tipped manufacturers and legislatures to offer an array of choices. According to the EPA, concentrations of toxic pollutants inside the home are many times higher than what’s lurking about outside, largely due to lack of ventilation indoors. Asthma, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, cancer and heart disease are all potential side effects of indoor air pollution. It’s no wonder when you consider that common paint additives are fungicides and biocides- to prevent mildew growth and extend the shelf life of paint. Several states have banned oil based paints, known to have higher levels of VOC’s.

Though sustainable paints have come a long way, they have not been perfected. One woman in Bothell had a frustrating experience recently. She has chemical sensitivities and, at the tail end of her recent extensive remodel, had a no-voc product applied in her family’s home. The painters found out that the product did not spray well (a major, well known brand). She had to have everything repainted by hand, which set the timeline back extensively and made for much ado and stress. Ouch.

So how do we weigh ecological and toxicological risks vs performance? While the oil paints off- gas at a much more toxic level, they are reputed to stop emitting after a couple of weeks (where the latex will slow- emit for years) and then last much longer than latex. Many painters I talk with like the oil paints significantly better- they wear well, last longer and look better. That said, I read recently that professional decorators are 40% more likely to develop lung cancer. Ouch again. A local paint supplier told me that homeowners are all over the eco-friendly options. It’s often pro painters that are resistant to changing their established systems and using new products.

Latex and oil are not the only avenues for beauty. Clay paints have an earth tone theme stemming from various blue, white and orange tints. Clay is for indoor application only and can be expensive. Lime paints (formulated via limestone- a calcium based mineral) are an indoor/outdoor product that create an antique look. The limewash sinks into the surface and leaves a coat of calcium crystals. They’re good on porous surfaces, but drywall and paint don’t take the limewash effectively. Milk Paint (casein)- a protein is extracted from milk and mixed with water. Clay and earth pigments form a thick, eco-friendly paint. It’s a form of tempura, which, purchased in powder form, must be mixed with water and used immediately to prevent clumping.

Eartheasy provides a list of low voc paints. Greenseal.org provides a list of certified paints and coatings. LEED and Greenguard certifications are helpful to look for, as well. For the last 4 years, we’ve chosen to apply only no or low voc paints in our home with varying degrees of success. The first attempt many years ago- a no-VOC primer, was a bust. Though I could apply it indoor in the winter, it just didn’t take well or cover like it should have. Since then, we’ve had very good luck, though we have only hand painted and not sprayed any product. We’ll forgo the oil and keep it safe. No to ‘form over substance’! A little messier and much more content.

The Mountain is Out!

Posted on April 30th, 2009

I am so grateful for the several beautiful days we recently had, punctuated by the 2 glorious, perfectly sunny and warm days that followed. We Seattleites really appreciate our good weather like no other.

Back in the day, there was an episode of Northern Exposure where one distinguished elderly gentleman found himself longing for more sun and the happiness that went with. His doctor astutely prescribed a visor that housed a special artificial light that would provide the ailing fellow with enough vitamin D to set him on the path to normalcy (or some form thereof). Said poor soul found entirely too much delight in the visor and abused his prescription by wearing it constantly. He ran around for 3 days and nights making jam and delivering it to everyone he could.

My last year at college someone had, on one fine spring sunny day, made use of the systematically aerated 40 x 40 ‘ section of campus lawn, by plunking fully formed carrots 1/3 of the way down in each uniform hole. Each spring I think of it and giggle a bit. Quirky humor. Why is she talking about the weather’s effects?…I thought this was a green building blog… you might be saying to yourself.

Great weather eventually leads to thoughts of where best to soak up the sun. Decks are an American favorite. In this past week, people have been liberated by warm thoughts of lounging on a deck, favorite beverage in hand, perhaps surrounded by friends and family, the sweet smell of barbeque wafting through the air and quintessential summer sounds (baseball, kids running wild, birds singing). A great deck is the ultimate stage for these common themes.

One client on Queen Anne had Tait, our contractor, build them a beautiful deck using FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified tigerwood. It was sustainably harvested and untreated, so that the surrounding soil and/or water remained uncontaminated. Tigerwood is a pleasing wood in both how it’s sourced and what it looks like. It’s a warm, deep brown with a gold and red hue. It reminds me of Brazilian cherry, but somehow seems more substantial. Feast your eyes on this wood and lovely craftsmanship. Steady on.

Suzanne in Edmonds recently went with the more commonly requested composite decking material (sorry- no pictures, yet). It, too, has many benefits including being made of recycled plastic, exceedingly durable, doesn’t splinter, crafted in various colors and is easy on the eyes. The debate rages between wood purists and composite lovers, as to which is the more environmentally friendly material. One camp points out that no new trees are harvested for production of composite. The other contends that composite can’t be earth friendly since it ultimately ends up in landfill, anyway. That’s the tame debate. Digging deeper, plastic lumber’s content varies widely and some are much more hazardous than others. Try to avoid PS (polystyrene) and PVC (poly vinyl chloride). Polyethylenes are better- though no plastics are desirable, since the common origin of all is fossil fuels. Some recycled plastic decking also contains fiberglass and wood fiber. Best to ditch those, as well. Bottom line is you need to do your research and make your own conscious choice.

At the end of your discoveries, I hope you are blessed with a great deck- upon which can be made a most northwest declaration- ‘The mountain is out’.

A New Nest

Posted on April 13th, 2009

Our Seattle client’s home had gone through various stages of incarnation throughout the years, enduring about 5 remodels, all of which appeared to be going in different directions. The result felt chopped up and incoherant and they wished for a more pleasing, functional, simple, modern palate. After much thought and many years, they decided the best idea was to start from scratch. They have a wonderful view and love their neighborhood. Staying put and reinvesting in their property makes sense.

Lee just completed basic plans- a first evolution- with tweakings still to be determined. I was dabbing the drool from my chin, as the renderings appeared on my screen. It’s beautiful. Brook and Chris requested a 3 story, modern, sustainably built home, and they were crazy about Lee’s style from the start. They’ll incorporate solar pv (photovoltaic- electric) and hot water systems. May just pre-wire and introduce the systems later, but the couple definately intend to make use of solar energy. In addition, the design will include lots of natural light and passive solar design.

Dan will produce a well built structure with a tight envelope- built with SIPS construction (a specific request from Chris and Brook) for the roofing and walls, for maximum insulation and strength. Will insulate the concrete, though may not use insulated concrete forms (ICF’s), per say. They’ll superinsulate, nonetheless, because that’s what they do as a matter of course. A rainscreen siding w/ a 1x material between layers will help provide additional protection from the elements.

Much or all of the flooring will be made of a light weight, finished concrete to create thermal mass. The idea is that there will be a ‘reverse cycle chiller’ (most un-technical term) effect to create hot water in the floors on all 3 levels. The heat should warm up the spaces uniformly, instead of just below the spots where the (water) tubes are. Sounds like it’s based on a system similar to a ground source heat pump. A few options with similar themes to ponder. Brook and Chris will use spot area rugs, but may bring in a little cork or bamboo, or wood- still time to decide. They’ll use non-toxic building products and practices to ensure good indoor air quality.

The project will require demolition of the entire current home, so special care will be given to the process. They’ll employ recycled waste collection practices such as source separated (single stream) or commingled materials (where they are later separated out for material use). They’ll use selective demo and get those items that can be re-sold or re-used to the proper organizations for responsible material use.

Brook and Chris may get the process Built Green certified, but they are building it for their family, don’t intend to move and aren’t concerned with re-sale or branding. They wanted to build a smart, simple, sustainable structure and don’t foresee a move, but may look into LEED certification and/or Built Green. Will break ground this summer. Stay tuned…

SIPS

Posted on March 27th, 2009