Starting from the Bottom Up: Green Design

When construction begins on a facility we rarely think about the foundation work. After all, it basically gets buried on the outside by the earth. And on the inside, we turn it into a recreation room with drywall or paneling. A new foam wall system has improved foundation. It uses two layers of foam with reinforcements and the cement is poured between the layers. Before this system, the forms would be pulled away from the concrete wall. Now we leave the foam in place as additional insulation to the lower level of our facilities.

Nudura is a new product that moves this technology from the lower level of homes through the entire building. In locations that are prone to hurricanes and tornadoes, this technology may save lives and prevent
property damage. The walls can withstand winds up to 250 mph and have hurricane anchor systems suitable for roofs. The anchoring elements are surrounded by cement in the concrete walls, so the roof will not break away from the home.

The basis of their product uses foam walls with one concrete wall between to form the foundation all walls within the home. Because the walls are made of highly insulated concrete, they reduce air infiltration that can occur in traditional wood stud homes and reduce sound transfer into the home. They also increase the fire protection over wood built walls for up to 3-4 hours. Concrete would not allow for moisture to get caught between the walls. Once they are cured, they are impervious to moisture and molds caused by moisture forming in the walls.

The wall systems are manufactured with recycled material and produce little waste during the construction phase. Most of the waste during the construction phase of buildings goes directly into landfills. The foam forms are non-toxic and do not emit CFC’s or HCFC’s. They are able to design their forms with 45-degree angles or curved walls so the building materials do not hamper the design. This means a precise layout, reducing costs on labor to layout. Another reduction on costs is in the delivery of the forms because they are able to be shipped flat, so almost twice as many can be shipped on one truck transportation costs and fuel usage is reduced.

In areas of high humidity, winds and termites, the Nudura product would be a logical building material. What do you think? Is your home built with this material? How does it hold up to traditional foundations?

Exterior and Interior Home Maintenance Check Points for Spring

Along with warm weather comes the eyesore of winter wear and tear on your home. Before it is time to plant your flowers and trim your shrubs, take a closer look at the exterior elements of your home. Tuck pointing – or the lack there of – is something that I noticed this season on my own home. When it comes to expansion and contraction, cement feels all the pain. Think of pothole season.

This spring I am working on an exterior home checklist. It may help those of you who don’t know quite how to deal with handyman issues. If you are not capable of doing these things yourself, hire a professional to help. Ask a neighbor for a recommendation. There is nothing worse than feeling used and abused by a handyman!

Hopefully this checklist will assist you in when you are hiring help:

• Check cement for cracks. Temperature changes can implement cracks. Simple cement caulk can mend smaller cracks.
• Use sealants to protect decks, porches, railings and fences from the blistering sun and heat. This also improves their appearance.
• Install ceiling fans to circulate cooler air and help reduce air conditioning costs.
• Clear outdoor drains of debris.
• Clean fireplaces and chimneys using a professional chimney sweep.
• Inspect the roof for wear and tear.
• Service AC unit – coolant levels should be checked.
• Inspect basement and crawlspaces for water damage.
• Check and maintain indoor/outdoor plumbing. Extreme temperatures can cause leaks.
• Evaluate insulation within your home and replace if necessary.
• Clean clothes dryer exhaust duct, damper, and the space under the dryer.
• Inspect and clean dust from the covers of your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
• Change batteries in smoke detectors.
• Clean lights and glass fixtures, especially on outdoor lights. Keeping these clean will ensure optimum light output.

The good news is that although you may have “Spring Fever” now, if you follow a few steps on the list above I can assure you that you will have a happier, longer and more relaxing summer!

What are your Spring cleaning tips? Is there anything I missed that you feel is vital to check and keep up on?

Grey Is Out, Stain Is In! Stained Concrete

Last night I was out to dinner with friends and I was discussing my latest blogging venture. The question came up “Well, what do you write about?” My response used the example of what was beneath our table. Stained concrete.

You probably see it everywhere and it never fazes you – used in large showrooms to small coffee shops and area restaurants. Stained concrete is a great inexpensive solution to flooring. Indoors or out, there is no excuse for that gray concrete slab. New techniques, finishes and color options are being improved to make concrete look less like concrete.

One method is stamped concrete. By using stamped concrete in stairways and pathways, you can introduce a stone-like affect with pattern and texture but not color. Stained concrete embodies your concrete with a huge variety of colors.

Stained concrete is a misnomer. Often when you think of “stained,” I think of a glass of wine spilling on a white sofa. But concrete stain is actually a chemical reaction between the acid stain and the cement within the concrete mix. This bears emphasizing. Concrete is made of both aggregate (rocks) and the binding cement. Because concrete stain works through a chemical reaction between the stain and cement, the aggregate will not stain.

Concrete staining is done on cured concrete and believe it or not, it can be done by you! Here are some simple steps that you may want to test in your basement or garage before you dabble in your backyard pathway or front stoop.

First, you will need to clean the surface. You’ll want to use an organic degreaser at medium strength. Note that because concrete stain is a chemical reaction, surfaces previously treated with acid or otherwise acid-etched cannot be stained. Concrete stain is not going to cover up existing imperfections in the slab, but it may embrace time depending on the style you are after. Rather than selecting one color, you may want to consider a “splattered effect” and select a couple of complimentary colors to lightly splash in areas to make it appear natural or rustic.

Concrete stain can be applied in many ways (mops, brushes, rollers). Depending on the size of the slab, you may want to consider spraying on with an ordinary sprayer such as you might use for herbicides. This provides for a wider, smoother continuation of the concrete stain.

Allow it to dry for eight hours before you walk on it. That is the general curing time, which is much less than a traditional stain that you would use for a wood floor…quite nice to see the time reduced! It is a money saver and if completed properly, it is a wonderful look for an otherwise dull grey concrete slab!

Have you ever stained concrete?  How did it turn out?