Green Remodeling

The movement to be environmentally friendly in all areas is one of the major concerns that we all share in today’s world, and that extends to the kinds of cars we drive, where we work and spend our leisure time, and now more and more, where we live. It follows, that this green way of thinking would also extend to the remodeling we do to the places we call home.

First of all, it’s a good idea to work out all the details in advance. The job of any general contactor is to bring the experience to the project and if you’re committed to going green, your contractor should know about this in advance. As well, when considering any general contactor, it’s essential that you work out any details in advance like the time they will start work and of course the general costs for the labor and materials on the project. Remember that the more detailed the understanding between you and the contractor, the less room there will be for any unpleasant problems at the end of the job.

And there are quite a few little tips that you can use along the way that don’t really include the general contractor or one of the trades and that is the kind of outside lighting that you will use. Try compact fluorescent bulbs to light the areas outside your home. Remember that one compact fluorescent bulb saves the same amount of energy over its lifetime that it takes to drive car from coast to coast. Solar lighting is another great option that I will discuss at a later time in a separate article. There are many other things that you should know about remodeling from even the outside. Many of these tips will save you money and the aggravation of having to do a job over.

One of these concerns is the roof. While there are a great many things that will make the roof more efficient and ecofriendly, one of the more practical doesn’t involve the roof at all but the overhangs and the siding. Experts suggest that you let the overhangs protrude at least two feet as this keeps the walls cooler in the summer, which helps too, with air conditioning costs. You should also consider wrapping the house with 30-pound felt wrap prior to the siding installation; that acts as a very good insulator. As well, consider using a type of flex wrap around the outside of the windows that will divert water away from the windows and prevent any further problems associated with excessive moisture. Of course, the roof will be one of the biggest concerns.

Here, it is suggested that you use hail and fire resistant 50-year composition shingles. Because there are few true green products on the market, the conservationist here should go with the one that lasts the longest.

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