Spring greening - inside and out!


(NC)-It's no secret that Canadians are passionate about the environment - but what many don't realize is that a green approach is a healthy one too. In fact, you can reduce toxicity by using eco-friendly products, both inside and outside the home. The fewer chemicals brought into the home the less we breathe in - it's as simple as that. Here are some ways to reduce levels of toxicity in your home from The Home Depot:

Inside - clean green

Effective green cleaning products have finally secured a space on store shelves. The Eco Mist Solutions line of cleaning products is one such brand: an extensive line-up of powerful bio-based cleaners made from natural ingredients such as corn, tree sap, and sugarcane. Check out all the varieties available at www.homedepot.ca  or by visiting your local Home Depot where they are available exclusively.

Outside - greenscape

An all natural way to improve the health and appearance of your home, greenscaping practices save you time and money while also protecting the environment.

. Build your garden using native plants - they require less care and use less water and chemicals

. Ban traditional pesticides - The Home Depot offers a wide range of natural lawn and garden products. To determine those that meet your needs, visit the lawn and garden care section at www.homedepot.ca/ecooptions

. Make use of waste - recycle yard trimmings into free fertilizer and mulch

Start small with a few simple steps and, before you know it, you'll be living a greener lifestyle. Happy greening!


Home Décor Q&A: Wood flooring 101

By Barbara Manivet, Mercier Wood Flooring

Q: What are the advantages of prefinished wood floors over traditional installed wood floors?

A: First of all prefinished wood floors are stained and finished at the factory so you don't have to deal with toxic fumes, sanding dust, labour and the long wait required for staining and applying coats of finish at home.

Another advantage is that the finish is applied under controlled conditions, which means that you don't have to worry about dust or other contaminants affecting the finish. Manufacturers can also apply more coats of finish giving you added protection. In fact, the Mercier Generations finish features ten coats applied at the factory with extreme accuracy. It produces a smooth, uniform finish with unparalleled abrasion resistance and beauty. Lastly you save on the cost because it cuts down on the labor required to install.

Q: What is the difference between laminate flooring and engineered wood?

A: Laminate flooring may often look like wood but it's not. It's made of melamine-infused paper glued to a wood chip composite. Engineered wood, much like solid hardwood, is real wood. It is a veneer of hardwood in the species of your choice glued on top of (in most cases) three to five thin sheets of crossbanded wood.

It's ideal for kitchens and basements where 3/4'' solid wood floors are not recommended because of high moisture level variations. Solid wood will expand or contract with heat and moisture, whereas engineered wood flooring, because it's made of crossbanded layers of wood, offers more dimensional stability. Mercier's engineered wood flooring offers optimum stability because it contains seven crossbanded layers of wood. Another advantage of engineered wood flooring versus laminate is that engineered wood can be sanded after scratches and dings develop. Engineered flooring is also a great choice for renovations because it can be installed directly onto most existing floors. More information on wood flooring is available at www.mercierflooring.com .

 

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Concrete is the efficiency kingpin

Home Builder Quick Tip


(NC)-Concrete is king in green construction-and it's in high demand by Canadian home builders who insist on energy efficiency, as well as limiting the use of natural resources. The latest technology developed by Nudura, for example, is reported to provide double the insulation by constructing walls, ceilings and floors with pre-assembled, concrete forms. The Nudura system (consisting of Lego-like blocks of reinforced concrete sandwiched between two layers of polystyrene) makes the building project much quicker to construct, with less waste, and with none of the toxic emissions associated with new buildings. This certified concrete system ( www.nudura.com  ) is now the base for constructing better homes, schools, hospitals, condominiums, hotels, and offices. Money is saved due to durability and energy efficiency - and the resulting structure is reported to be up to nine times stronger, with far more fire protection, far more sound insulation, and with a potential to reduce energy costs of up to 70 percent.


A green home pays dividends



(NC)-Sustainable is the word to remember when choosing materials to build your new home. High performance, sustainable components deliver a return on investment that compounds year after year-a welcome reprieve when the world's finances are in such turmoil. Simply ask your builder to aim for green.

The building industry is, in fact, a leader in sustainable technology. Take a look at Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an organization that encourages and accelerates global adoption of green building and development practices. LEED has set up a third-party certification program providing an international benchmark for the construction and operation of high performance sustainable buildings.

"A green home uses less energy and natural resources," says Todd Blyth at Nudura, the manufacturer of insulated concrete forms. "It creates less waste and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. Equally important benefits include lower energy bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. As a result, the net cost of owning a sustainable home is comparable to cost of a conventional one."

Take concrete, for example. As compared to wood, concrete walls are far stronger, more efficient, and healthier.

"The Nudura system," says Blyth, "uses Lego-like blocks of reinforced concrete sandwiched between two layers of polystyrene. This system cuts down construction time significantly, creates less waste material, and it virtually eliminates mold, mildew and other toxic emissions produced by buildings structured with wood.

Hailed as an award-winning Canadian contribution to 'green' construction technology, Nudura ( www.nudura.com ) is now used for the construction of better homes, schools, hospitals, condominiums, hotels, and offices throughout the country and in the United States. Homeowners save money due to durability and energy efficiency - and the resulting structure is reported to be up to nine times stronger, with far more fire protection, far more sound insulation, and with a potential to reduce energy costs of up to 70 percent.

 

Colour me spring



(NC)-There's no doubt that adding a new colour to an out-of-date room is an easy and inexpensive way to revive your home. So what's big for spring? Frank Turco, the colour, trend and design manager at The Home Depot Canada, has identified three key trend themes for spring 2009. Go ahead: get inspired! Select the theme you like best, work with colours in that theme, and let your creative side take over. It's really that easy!

Architecture
Ornate crown molding, etched apothecary pendant lights, salvaged artifacts and textured fabrics.all of these elements from past eras have a place in the modern home. Give historic architectural details a second life as focal points in today's stylish interiors. Set out to salvage something beautiful and juxtapose it against a bold, rich tone. Think dramatic accents of colour on classic design pieces, like ceiling medallions, for example. Colours that fit into this theme include: rich reds, various shades of grey and deep marine blues.

Grey Matters
Tone and texture come to life in various shades of grey - from colour palettes to finishes, this hue is the new black for au courant interiors and exteriors. Natural elements like marble, pewter, graphite, and weathered wood are all going grey for this look. Stainless steel dominates the kitchen beyond appliances to counter tops, cabinets, seating, hardware and lighting. Grey is centre stage in paint palettes, floor coverings, metallic wallpapers and prints.

Cabana
Bring hot, dramatic hues to your home in time for summer. Tiles and cabinets in playful shades of blue, green, yellow and red are a surprising addition to kitchens and baths. Pop art inspired paint palettes and wallpaper design come alive, while bold colours like red, green, and orange bring rooms to life. And don't limit yourself - take this look outside. Lounges with shades, privacy screens and gazebos fit nicely in this theme. Summertime never looked better!


Tips and tricks for buying a hardwood floor

(NC)-Considering investing in a hardwood floor but aren't exactly sure on what size, colour or finish to choose, or even where to buy from? Here are some quick hints from Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring's resident design expert Todd Cutler, to help make your decision a simple one.

Width of board
Consider the size of the room that the hardwood is going into. Although wider boards may be the latest trend and are appealing, they can often make a room feel smaller. Narrower boards tend to "read" as a texture, thereby helping to expand the overall appearance of a smaller room.

Colour
We have seen a huge rise in popularity with darker/richer colours (browns and greys). Although these colours are dressier and more serious, they tend to show more of the day-to-day debris such as dust, crumbs, hair, etc. With darker colours, your new floor may become one that is cleaned not because you want to clean it, but because you're forced to. We have found that mid-tone colours are easier to keep clean and show less of your family's daily wear and tear. Basically, lighter floors look better longer.
Deeper colours may also have a tendency to date. Although the browns and greys are trendy today, consider how they might appeal to the next buyer when you think about selling your home.

Oil Finishes
We have heard a lot about oil finished floors over the past few years. Although beautiful, this finish requires ongoing maintenance. Unlike easy to maintain urethane finishes, oil finishes need periodic applications which will most likely include buffing.

Manufacturer and Price
Less expensive imports have popped up over the last little while. Although the lower price may be tempting, consider these factors:

Replacement. Is this product going to be available if it needs to be repaired? An accident on a floor may require a minor repair. But, if the product is not readily available, the money you saved up front may be lost to a complete replacement.

Environmental impact (carbon released from transcontinental shipping). Eco-friendly products tend to be the ones that are grown and manufactured closer to home.

Does the manufacturer stand behind this product? What kind of warranty is associated with this product? Most offshore manufacturers do not warrant the product as they have no representation in Canada. And, even if they do, the manufacturer's reputation may be a questionable one.

Canadian company Satin Finish offers solid and engineered products in a vast array of species, colours, styles and sizes to suit your style. More information is available online at www.satinfinish.com .