Steps to a Green Home Remodel

Hiring a properly trained contractor makes the renovation process itself "green".

Some of the steps a green home remodel must include:

Controlling Potentially Harmful Dust

Since the dust can contain asbestos, lead paint and other particles you don't want to inhale, your remodel company must use barriers.  Plastic to cover doorways and plastic tarps to cover the work areas should be used.  Wetting down surfaces before sanding and scraping should be a standard procedure.  

Providing Proper Ventilation

Installing flooring and carpeting or painting can emit pollutants. Remodelers should provide ventilation during these activities and for at least 72 hours afterward. 

Controlling Radon

Radon-resistant new construction (RRNC) is designed to draw radon from the soil and vent it through a pipe to the roof, preventing it from entering the house. This technology is routine.

Using Recycled Materials

Choose recycled glass for beautiful and unique countertops, tiles, and even flooring. Doors and lighting fixtures in a green home remodel are often repurposed flea market finds. Many homeowners like the look of reclaimed weathered wood from old barns and farmhouses for floors or ceiling beams.

Picking Sustainable Materials

Consider quick-growing bamboo for floor or cabinets in your home's green remodel. Cork and Eucalyptus are other sustainable flooring materials. You can also choose wood from sustainably managed forests that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

Ensuring Indoor Air Quality

Look for products that have low or no Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Carpeting, paint, or wood finishing products are often sources of VOCs. They can trigger asthma and contribute to other health problems. Emissions from them can often linger, even when the area has been ventilated during and after installation. Excessive moisture can cause mold which may trigger allergies or asthma. This needs to be taken into account when you plan a green home remodeling project.

Contact us or call 239.963.4093 (Naples) or 239.728.2143 (Fort Myers).