Part Four: The Problem with Paint

January 19, 2012

“Green” certifications that test chemical emissions don’t require compliance until long after the paint is dry

GREENGUARD®, Green Seal and SCS Indoor Advantage Gold. They’re all top third-party certifications designed to help us choose paint that will not make the air in our homes dangerous to breathe.

But while these labels mean chemical emissions have been measured — or in the case of Green Seal dangerous ingredients have been prohibited — none of them tells us what we are breathing at the time the paint is being applied. And certifications that test chemical emissions don’t require compliance with safety limits until 14 days after the paint is dry.

“When it comes to verifying sustainable claims, it may be wiser to start by being a ‘doubting Thomas’ instead of a ‘gullible Pollyanna’ …,” says Michael Mauch, AIA, LEED AP and principal of RWA Architects in Cincinnati, OH. “Third-party verification is supposed to work like Politifact — an organization to sort out the truth. But third-party verification is not a perfect system. In theory, it works, but in reality, there are many influences that can sway the outcome.” (more…)

Better with Age

January 12, 2012

Authentic reclaimed hardwood can have advantages over wood that is made to look old

“Distressed or old?” A designer that I work with was going back and forth about reclaimed hardwood and hardwood flooring that is purposefully distressed to make it appear old.

“I like the idea of reducing wastefulness and landfill mass by making floors from old barns,” she said. “But could this floor be less durable because it is old and had a past life? Or what if it was salvaged after a forest fire or taken from a tree that was killed by beetles? Could it be infested?”

She was thinking it is safer to stick with flooring products that have been made to look old, but are not. This is an example of confusion that has resulted from having too much information. (more…)

Demand Grows for Reclaimed Look

January 11, 2012

“Greenest” hardwood from DuChateau is now distressed to look like barn wood

The time-worn look of reclaimed hardwood is getting so popular that every flooring manufacturer has to have one. DuChateau Floors – which makes FSC-certified hardwood with a natural, nontoxic oil finish – announced its new Heritage Timber collection today.

While the wear layer on these flooring planks is not made from deconstructed barns and buildings, the reclaimed wood is artfully replicated with scrapes, nail holes, notches and saw marks. The company chose to create the look, instead of using barn wood, in an effort to offer a product at a more competitive price. (more…)

The Pioneers Predict

December 26, 2011

Past and present green building trends mean 2012 will bring increased interest in healthy indoor air quality, reclaimed and recycled products, and smaller homes

Residents on the West Coast have been walking the green building walk longer. But even in the Midwest, which often lags behind, people who build or remodel in the New Year likely will be doing more than talking the talk.

From seeking smaller, more energy-efficient homes to using low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) paints, finishes and furniture, healthier, planet-conscious trends have a firm foothold that can only grow in the future, experts say.

“Clients are now asking for sustainable strategies in the first meeting,” says Michael Mauch, architect, LEED AP and principal of RWA Architects in Cincinnati, OH. “We do not have to bring it up. They bring it up. What homeowner does not want clean indoor air? Lower energy bills? And smart design? Now they know they can ask for it up front.” (more…)

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A Healthy Paint Rebuttal, Part IV

 A Solution Made From “Dirt and Water?”

Like other participants in our rebuttal series, Earthpaint disagrees with builders who say low VOC paints don’t perform well.  While this video won’t give you an Earthpaint demonstration, it will give you something that is equally important. Increasingly, science is telling us that there are limits to the amount of chemicals we can safely be exposed to.  Tom  Rioux  is among a growing number of people who have learned the hard way. Watch this video and learn why he developed Earthpaint. And for more information on paint ingredients, click here.

                                                

January 23, 2012 See All Videos

A Different Kind of Amber Alert

January 20, 2012

Yellow cast on new linoleum is no cause for alarm

Q. I wanted to install Marmoleum Click flooring in my daughter’s room because it is supposed to be very good for healthy indoor air quality, and my daughter has allergies. But when the installer from the flooring company started taking the flooring out of the boxes, the color did not look like what we chose. Instead, it looked like the material had yellowed, like something does when it gets old.

The installer said this was normal and that it would go away. But with the price of this product already being higher than many other options, I did not want to take the chance. I sent the flooring back and cancelled the job.

I really wanted this floor. Is it possible that I just got a batch that was defective?

A. The problem you are describing is not a defect. It is called “ambering,” which is a yellowish cast that appears on Marmoleum – and the competing brands of linoleum. As the installer said, it is normal. It goes away entirely after the flooring comes out of the box and is exposed to light for a few days. (more…)

Installation Economics

January 4, 2012

Bargain hunting for flooring installation can cost more in the long run

Q. I thought I was getting a great deal on the prefinished, FSC-certified hardwood floor I want to put in my family room and kitchen, until the salesperson figured in installation. This added about $3 per square foot to the total, and the space is about 700 square feet.

 In today’s economy, combined with the fact that I waited for the slow winter months, I thought I could do better, but I have now checked with three different contractors with very little difference.  With the number of people out there who are in need of work, would it make sense for me to keep shopping?

A. What you should be asking is what the experience level of the installer is, and what type of warranty you will get on the work. You are correct that in this economy, fewer installations are being done, and installers need the work.  But what this also means is that the most experienced installers should be available to do the work. (more…)

When Wood Is Good, Part II

December 5, 2011

Styling, price and performance determine engineered hardwood flooring sales, though environmental attributes abound

If you’re thinking about putting engineered hardwood flooring in your home, style, performance and price – rather than the product’s planet friendliness – are probably the points you are pondering.

“More people in the Midwest are choosing engineered hardwood because of a growing demand for wider plank flooring, particularly the 5-inch wide hand-scraped products,” says Greg Hill, owner of Brothers Floor Covering in Indianapolis, IN.

The fact that these products use less premium hardwood than solid wood floors, along with other green attributes, is not the focus, says Mike Smith, an account manager at ProSource Wholesale Flooring in Cincinnati, OH. (more…)

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