Before you build or remodel, read these guides to find out which materials offer the best value and easy maintenance. Check out ways to keep your project earth friendly and which siding is the best choice for your location.
Earth-Friendly Building Materials
You don't have to strain your budget to choose a healthy home. These days, it's easy being green. Here's what's new in environmentally friendly products and materials for the home.
"… density fiberboard) for doors and cabinets. Many building materials have natural alternatives. Select cellulose insulation … quality performance tests on these items to ensure building materials aren't emitting fumes or trapping air, which …"
Articles
Alternative Building Materials
… curing has essentially eliminated those. Special Note: Today's housing market includes an array of alternative building materials and methods. To find out more about each, search the Internet or contact the National Association of Homebuilders …
… involve a lot of materials that can end up in the recycling/reuse stream rather than in a landfill. Most common building materials —wood, plastic, steel, brick, drywall, concrete—can be recycled or reclaimed for future use, so product …
Green Building: Remodeling Ideas
… to minimize impact on the landscape. Take advantage of passive solar gain and shade-tree cooling. Use green building materials . Consider Icynene insulation; millwork certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); remnant granite …
Environmentally Friendly Building and Remodeling Materials
… approach could be harmful to your health. When building materials emit fumes and trapped air creates mold, sick building … and human health. Proponents recommend nontoxic building materials , natural air movement to control humidity, filtering …
… away from chemical-laden building materials and toward healthy, natural … and walnut. Reusing salvaged building materials , from flooring to fixtures … new products, check out used building materials retailers, online exchanges …
… durable and available in a variety of textures and colors. Fiber cement makes special sense near oceans, where building materials must withstand salt air and winds, and in particularly hot, humid climates. It is heavy and can be difficult …
Slide Shows
Real-Life Makeover: Raw-Material Apartment
See how to create an extraordinary home from ordinary, inexpensive building materials .
… dynamic mix of contrasting materials and textures, exposed roof beams, and flat or low-pitched roofs. Juxtaposing building materials and mixing window shapes create architectural intrigue between this home and its addition. Although they were built …
… kitchen into a contemporary masterpiece. Dark wood floors and cabinets are brightened with a punch of red. Unique building materials also make this kitchen a standout. Walls rebuilt from recycled and antique glass allow light to flow through the …
… post tops adds a touch of flair. This deck might have a high-end look, but it uses basic -- even rustic -- building materials . Rods threaded at each end and tensioned by connector fittings create this aesthetically pleasing, expensive look …
House Siding Options: A Visual Guide
… style home, the stucco is textured to give the feel of age and durability. Stone is among the most durable of all building materials . Granite, limestone, slate, and other types of stone are beautiful and nearly impervious to the weather. And …
… clever way. This added gabled dormer may be the new kid on the block, but its incorporation of design elements and building materials make it look original to the home. The crisp white vergeboard highlighting the strong triangular shape over the …
ShareMy Content
