When choosing green home improvement projects, you have many options. Especially in the kitchen. Consider green and eco-friendly materials should you be thinking about a kitchen remodel. Especially your countertops. It's one of the first things people notice in the room and it can change the whole look of your decor.

One of the most popular green building materials for kitchen counters is recycled glass. It's a fantastic look. Ice Stone countertops are made from recycled glass and concrete. Ice Stone surfaces have similar durability to quarried stone, while reducing waste and CO2 emissions. Have a look at www.icestone.biz.

Bamboo can provide an excellent alternative to hardwood countertops. This  beautiful, all-purpose material can be half the cost of many other countertops, too. It's durable and and completely renewable. A good resource for bamboo countertops is: www.teragren.com.

Another material to consider is reclaimed wood. This is great for the environment. Recycled paper compressed into a solid block then covered in a natural resin is another green strategy for counters. It incorporates paper and reclaimed wood. Check it out at: www.paperstoneproducts.com.

Recycled aluminum is another great option. Companies that produce these countertops use 90% recycled aluminum. Some companies even use recycled abrasives and recirculated water to finish the production of their countertops. The best thing is, these materials can be recycled should you ever want to remove them.  How green can you get?!

If your home is in need of window replacements, your options are retrofit windows or new construction windows.  Retrofit windows are installed rather quickly by removing existing window glass and sliding in a new window frame assembly within the existing frame. However, homeowners should be aware that if the existing windows have moisture problems, more than likely, retrofit windows may not slove the problem. Thsi is when new construction windows should be considered.

New construction windows require that the entire window assembly (glass and frame), be removed prior to new window installation. Flashing, building paper, and sealants muast all be reapplied. Additionally, stucco or siding may need to be cut away during installation and replaced upon completeion. Obviously this requires more time, effort, and cost than a retrofit, but often it is the most economical and best choice in the long term. Updated windows are a key to maintaining your home's value and energy efficiency. Therefore, it's important not to cut corners.
 

Landscaping elements give you a great opportunity to use salvaged or recycled materials. Lumber made of recycled plastic or recycled composite lumber makes very durable landscape edging. Broken concrete can be used to create attractive paths or retaining walls, as can tumbled glass.

Use slavaged or recycled-content for hardscapes (planter beds, patios, edging, walls, walk-ways and driveways). You can also use FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council) sustainably harvested wood, though this can cost a bit more.
 
For landscaping and hardscaping, composites and recycled plastics are generally more durable than wood since they don't rot, crack, splinter, or require wood treatments like staining.
 
The Forest Stewardship Council website has many resources on green building suppliers and the FSC-certified program:
Visit them at: www.fsc.org
 

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), an attached garage (which most of us have these days), is one of the biggest contributors to poor indoor air quality in your home. Car exhaust contains many known cancer-causing chemicals, and it can migrate into living spaces through doors, or cracks in walls or ceilings adjacent to the garage. Other pollutants commonly found in garages include benzene from lawn mowers and power tools, pesticides used in your garden, toxic cleaning agents, and the chemicals contained in paint and adhesives. One or all of these items are probably sitting in yours right now!

But properly designed and sealed garages can keep this polluted air out of your home. You can also use foams, caulking, or weatherstripping to create a barrier between the garage and your living spaces. Be sure to completely seal garage walls and celings adjacent to the interior. Doors should have full wetherstripping and sealed thresholds. If using a spray-applied foan, be sure it creates a complete air barrier. 

As an additional measure, install an exhaust fan in the garage on th eopposite wall from the door into the home. It can be triggered by an electric garage door system and put on a timer to run after the door has opened or closed.


 

Solar water heating systems use solar panels and water storage to collect and store heat from the sun for home hot water use or space heating. Solar water heating systems are typically used to deliver preheated water to a standard water heater. Solar water heating is more cost effective than ever as a result of newer technology, reliable products to choose from, and rising energy prices.

Homeowners should choose only those solar water heaters that are SRCC (Solar Rating and Certification Corporated) certified. Before selecting equipment, ensure that there is a sufficient south-facing roof surface on which to place the solar collector panels, that the roof will accomodate the system's weight, and that tehre is enough area near the water heater for for any additional equipment needed (storage tanks, pumps, pipes, and controllers).

There are Federal tax credits available for installing solar hot water systems. Your tax advisor should have information on available programs, as should your contractor ,or the solar energy equipment installer you work with.  You can also visit the California Energy Commission's website:

www.consumerenergycenter.org.

Sanitary sewer systems handle 3 kinds of waste: used water, human waste, and toilet paper.  To prevent back-ups and keep these sytems working properrly, here are a few do's and dont's to keep in mind. They may seem like common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people "do" the "dont's" !!

Don't pour grease, fat, or oil down your drain.
Instead, collect grease, fat, or oil in a container and dispose of it in the garbage.

Don't use the sewer to dispose of food scraps.
Instead, put food scraps in the garbage or start a compost pile.

Don't use the toilet as a wastebasket for garbage or chemicals. These items can kill "good" bacteria used for sewage treatment, and can enter the bay with harmful affects.
Instead, place a wastebasket in the bathroom to dispose of solid waste items. This includes disposable diapers and personal hygiene products.

Also, avoid planting trees with shallow, spreading root systems new your home's sewer lateral. Tree roots seek water sources such as cracked sewer lines. Once tree roots have penetrated the sewer lines through cracks, they can create a dense web and trap materials causing costly, messy back-ups.

Maintaining Proper Water Pressure

Water pressure is controlled by the internal diameter of the pipes. The smaller the diameter, the lower the water pressure, and the greater the velocity of water moving through it. 

In order to ensure proper function, there is a standaardized system of building codes that control many aspects of plumbing including:  

• Internal pipe diameter that must be used for a particular function
• Amount of slope or downward drop that drain pipes need to function properly

Water Supply

In most homes, water comes from one of two places; a private well (not so common in our area), or a service pipe that connects to the city's water main.

For homes with private wells, a pump pushes water up into a pressure tank where it is stored for use. Homes with city water have a water supply line that is connected to the city's water main. Water passes through a water meter that measures the volume of water used in the house. In case of repairs or emergency, both systems usually have a shut-off valve located near the start of the incoming line that enables the water supply to be temporarily cut off.

Water supply lines are generally made of copper, chlorinated polyvinyl chloride plastic, (CPVC), or galvanized steel. Pipes that carry cold water branch out from the main pipe. Some water is directed to the hot water heater for heating, and hot water pipes originate from there.

Where Does Wastewater Go?  

When wastewater goes down the drain, it forst passes through a trap; a U-shaped curve in the pipe that retains a small amount of water so that sewer gas cannot come up through the pipes and enter your home. It then passes into the main waste drain pipes.

The main component of the waste drain is the soil stack, a vertical stack of pipes taht is connected to the outbound sewer line. The stack has a vent which extends vertically through the roof, allowing gases to escape and promote drain flow by drawing air inward. It's very important to keep this vent clear. Plugged vents can trap dangerous gases and inhibit drainage.

Anytime your air conditioner or furnace is running, it's using valuable energy and costing you money.You can cut down on the energy and cost of these appliances by doing the following:

1) Install a programmable thermostsat. This will allow you to set different temperatures for different times of the day so you are only heating and cooling your home as needed. Keep the thermostat turned down when you are away and when you are sleeping.

2) Change your filters. replacing them every 3 months will keep your furnace and air conditioner running efficiently.

3) Install a high efficiency furnace. New furnaces are 90%+ efficient, and can pay for themselves in reduced energy bills.

4) Shade your interior compressor. It will stay cooler and not have to work as hard.

5) Install a Radiant Hydronic Heating system, the most efficient and healthy way to heat a home.  Hot water runs through plastic tubing in your floor which radiates heat into a room instead of having warm air blow, which uses more electricity and spreads allergens.

Have a question? Need some more tips? Feel free to contact us: info@cwwrightconst.com

C.W. Wright Construction hosted the San Carlos Chamber of Commerce June business mixer. We had a great time; great food & drink and enjoyed the company of over 75 members of the local business and political community. It was a wonderful evening in our beautiful office courtyard.  Guest included San Carlos Assistant City Manager Brian Moura, Architect Dave Kastrop, and  members of local media. We were grateful to be be able to host such an active and professional group of people in our community.  


                                                   

                                                   

For homeowners considering a remodel, it is first essential to prepare a preliminary budget. The purpose of creating a budget is to both understand and control costs. There are many resources available to help you with creating a budget, however, it's important to understand the nature of the beast; the hard and soft costs associated with your project and some examples:

Hard costs include the fundamental materials and labor involved in building. The  nuts and bolts structural work as well as work needed to improve the site per City or County codes. Below are some examples of the hard costs you will need to budget.

1) Building costs: Cost of construction as it relates to the structure

2) Site improvements: on site costs such as grading, sidewalks, drainage, etc.

3) Landscaping: most local juridictions require a landscape plan

4) Contingenies: This is an amount budgeted in a construction loan to pay unanticipated costs incurred during construction. The amount typically ranges from 5-10% of total cost for new construction and 10-20% for remodel work.

5) Change Orders: When changes to the scope of work are implemented upon agreement by the architect, homeowner and contractor or subcontractors. Change orders are common to most projects, and very common with large projects.A Change Order is work that is added to or deleted from the original scope of work of a contract, which alters the original contract amount or completion date.

 Common causes for change orders to be created are:

- The project's work was incorrectly estimated
- The customer or project team discovers obstacles or possible efficiencies that require them to deviate from the original plan
- The customer or project team are inefficient or incapable of completing their required deliverables within budget, and additional money, time, or resources must be added to the project
- During the course of the project, additional features or options are perceived and requested.


Soft Costs are slightly more flexible items including the costs associated with your design work, the finishes chosen, appliances,  and the like. These costs also include permits and fees, which can change, off-site improvements such as sidewalks & traffic lights, and equipment such as security systems, sound systems, etc.

 There is always a cost range which correlates with the  products and materials chose to work with. For exapmle, choosing Green building products or high end appliances will add to the cost of your project. Here on the Peninsula, a good cost range rule of thumb is anywhere from $200/square foot and up.

Knowing the hard costs and then budgeting for soft costs will help you understand the feasibilty of your ideas as well as allow you to identify your project's priorities, recognize trad-offs, and revise your estimates.