Archive | HOME AND GARDEN

ICFs (Insulated Concrete Forms) are becoming an increasingly popular option for eco-friendly homeowners looking for a major sustainable boost. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ICF walls can save homeowners 20% to 25% on annual heating and cooling costs, and they have countless other sustainable benefits as well. Of course, as is the case with any large-scale home improvement project, extra care during the installation process is critical to ensure proper use and prolonged durability upon completion. Here are just a few quick ways to stay safe and properly install ICFs in your home’s foundation.

Cover Up

Before you start this lengthy project, it’s important to suit up. Though this project, in particular, isn’t inherently dangerous, it’s always best to cover up with the appropriate protective gear to avoid injury and damage to the material. Since ICF forms are available in various shapes and sizes, those working with larger or heavier forms may feel safer wearing some sort of protective helmet or headgear. Helmet head liners typically only break in about 5%, but you never know when a helmet could protect you from injury in the event of a bizarre accident.Similarly, if you’ll be working outside during the daytime, it’s always important to protect your eyes from the harsh rays of the sun. About 75% of U.S. adults wear Rx or plano sunglasses, and protective eyewear is essential during any activity that involves you being outside for an extended period of time. Once you’re equipped with the proper gear, you’re ready to get started with the challenge of the installation process.

Mark Clearly and Place Forms

Once your building plan is in place, be careful when making your final markings that indicate exactly where you’re building. The layout on the ground should be to full scale to avoid discrepancies with measurements. Chalk powder is a great resource for marking the layout.

Precise measurements are necessary to dig the trenches as well, and they, too, should be according to scale.

“Once you’ve gotten everything marked, you will need to dig trenches for the foundation footings…The trenches should accommodate the insulated concrete forms securely without a lot of room on either side. With the trenches dug you can place the insulated concrete forms in the trenches,” says DoItYourself.

Don’t Rush Cure Time

Finally, once your ICFs are installed properly, they’ll need to cure for a set amount of time, which is usually around 28 days. Though you’re probably eager to continue the installation process, like rewiring, it’s essential to wait the full time to ensure proper adherence and durability. Don’t compromise the structural integrity of your ICFs just because you’re impatient — the wait is 100% worth it for the sustainable benefits.

Ultimately, installing ICF forms is undoubtedly a major home renovation project. Unless you have significant DIY home improvement experience, it’s always best to leave the job to a professional who’s worked with this material before. But as long as you take the proper care and ensure correct installation, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of your home’s new ICF forms for years to come.

When homeowners think of DIY home renovation projects, they usually think of the work involved with the process itself, not the aftermath that comes with disposing of old materials. But properly disposing of these materials is critical, lest they end up as a space-hogging eyesore in your garage, shed, or basement. Keeping your storage space clear and the Earth in mind after any DIY home improvement project isn’t difficult; it just takes a bit of planning and prior knowledge. Here are just a few tips for properly disposing of the materials for any home improvement project you’re considering tackling this season.

Paints

Once you’ve finished a project involving paint, the last thing you want to do is throw the entire can in the dumpster, especially if there’s still some paint remaining. What you can do is donate any leftover paint to a neighbor, local community theater, or Habitat for Humanity. On average, it costs $30 per ton to recycle trash, and $50 per ton to send it to a landfill, so do your best to make sure no unused paint ends up in the trash.

As for empty paint cans, most are made of steel, which is among one of four of the most common metals used within the construction industry. With this in mind, they can be recycled, along with some other types of steel waste, including pipes and plumbing. If you’re unsure, contact your local waste management center.

Unneeded (But Still Usable) Appliances, Cabinets, Doors, Etc.

There’s a huge list of common home renovation materials that can be recycled. But before you resort to recycling, the U.S. Green Building Council highly recommends doing your best to donate, reuse, or otherwise repurpose these materials, which include appliances, bathroom fixtures, doors, flooring, ceiling tiles, bricks, cabinets, lighting fixtures, windows, pipes, landscaping materials, and more. A quick Google search will also reveal a number of programs designated to sustainably recycling a number of these renovation materials. And if all else fails, simply snap a quick photo of whatever it is you no longer need and post it to Craigslist under the ‘free’ section.

In 2016, the U.S. construction market was worth approximately $1,162 billion, but what’s even more shocking is that an estimated 30% of landfill waste comprises home renovation project materials, according to HomeAdvisor. With these statistics in mind, it should come as no surprise that proper construction material disposal can seriously increase sustainability.

“Recycling debris from a home remodeling project is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for your renovation budget. What you recycle can constitute a tax write-off, and some companies will pay you for the materials. From shingles to bricks, approximately 85% of all construction waste can be recycled, which means those numbers can add up. There are many ecological and economic benefits of recycling, instead of trashing, renovation debris,” says HomeAdvisor.

While disposing of old materials properly is always a smart and sustainable initiative, don’t underestimate the impact that you can have by going full circle and purchasing products made with recycled materials for your next home improvement project. For example, today, more than one-third of new paper is made with recycled fiber. The bottom line is that by keeping the Earth in mind through each and every step of the way, any home remodeling project can be performed as efficiently and sustainably as possible.

NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: Thank you supporting the companies that keep Sweet Greens in business.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————

Artwork is definitely an important element of any room design.  You can easily add interest to plain walls with fun and unique pieces of art.  Artwork can also bring together different elements of a room by providing color inspiration, a focal point or even by being a harmonizer.  Artwork often makes or breaks a new space. Incorporating a work of art is also a simple way to update your space in an eco-friendly way. By hanging a photograph or painting, you will refresh your walls without perpetuating the use of toxic paints or non-recyclable wallpaper. In this post, we’re looking at some of the main ways in which artwork can help improve a room’s design.

Artwork Adds Movement
In most spaces, you can use artwork to help create movement.  In the art world, movement is used by artists to help direct the viewer’s eye.  In interior design, it will also influence perceptions of the size of the room.  Using a piece of art that easily conveys a lot of movement will help create a rhythm between the chosen furniture your new wall décor.  Overall, this is how a room can evoke a certain emotion or convey a specific feeling.

Wall Art Provides Color
If you’re a little stuck when it comes to the color scheme you want to use in your new living space, artwork can help dictate or even enhance a color palette.  Firstly, try selecting a piece of artwork that matches the space and then create a new color palette influenced by the artwork. You can then narrow down accent colors from the work to help enhance it. If you’re bored with your wall colors, adding a piece of artwork is a great way to liven things up without worrying about the environmental consequences of repainting all the time.

Online sites like Fine Art America offer hundreds of thousands of artist’s works, so you can easily browse their expansive collection and find something that catches your eye.

Balance Texture and Scale in Your Room Design
Depending on the type of building you are furnishing, you’ll need to consider how art can help balance scale and textures.  For example, if you prefer sleek, low furniture with a modern design but your space has high ceilings, investing in a bold piece of wall art will immediately make the room feel more balanced as the eye will be drawn upward to the painting. An investment piece of artwork will also last you a lifetime and can be passed down to future generations, making it both eco-friendly and sentimental.

You can also use art to create a more dynamic room design. Textures, patterns and colors can all be pulled together with the right wall art.

Create a Rotating Gallery
If you’re the kind of person who easily changes their mind or gets bored with your space and you’re itching to switch up your décor, introducing a rotating gallery of artwork can be a quick and easy way to keep your walls feeling fresh.  Different pieces of art will help to highlight different furniture or other elements in your space. Since there is always a market for artwork, you don’t have to worry about being wasteful by replacing your pictures and paintings regularly. Instead, donate them to a used art retailer or make a little extra cash by selling them online. Either way, you know your art won’t end up in a landfill; there is always someone who will appreciate a painting or photograph you’re tired of.

Make a Statement with Your Art
Your artwork doesn’t always have the be the main focal point in a room.  You can also use art in subtler ways to add an element of sophistication to your room design.

The main thing you should take away is don’t be afraid to experiment with different art mediums.  Art is always a great investment that will help inspire new room designs.