Wondering how to get your hands on cheap building materials for your home remodel or new home? Construction materials are expensive, but I’ve got a few ways for you to save big bucks when remodeling or building a house on a budget. Hint: You don’t have to be a contractor to get the contractor discount!
Recycled Materials
Environmentally conscious homeowners enjoy buying items made from recycled materials (like glass, plastic, paper, and rubber). By repurposing such materials, you're not only incorporating unique conversation pieces into your home, you're also enhancing the home's resale value as well as the environmental impact of the house. Here, homeowners share their personal tips and advice for choosing recycled products and recycled building materials when remodeling or building a home.
Tiny Homes With Character: The Pros & Cons Of Shipping Container Homes
Shipping container homes are popular. But are they really less expensive & easier to build than other houses? Some good & bad things about these tiny homes.
7 Clever Home Remodeling Tips To Save Money
I asked family & friends for their cost-cutting home remodeling ideas. I combined those with my own tips to create this list of 7 money-saving remodeling tips.
Choosing The Best Types Of Insulation For Your Home
Wondering about the best insulation material for your home? See which residential insulating products can be added to your attic. Attic insulation 101!
A French Drain System Made Easy With EZflow Pre-Engineered Drainage System
The EZflow French drain system is an innovative product consisting of 90% recycled content. It counts toward LEED credits, is easy to install, saves time & money.
EcoStar Roofing Tiles: These Synthetic Slate Roof Tiles Earn LEED Credits
By using synthetic slate roof shingles that are made from recycled materials, you can earn LEED credits. EcoStar Majestic Slate roof tiles are one example.
Envirotiles: Recycled Rubber Tiles And Rubber Pavers For DIY Deck & Patio Projects
Have you heard about using an envirotile as an alternative to traditional pavers? Envirotiles are rubber tiles – or rubber pavers – that look great for a deck or patio! They’re produced from 100% rubber tires diverted from landfills. As a passionate DIYer, I’m giving you the best information including where to buy, the pros of using them, and the downsides to installing rubber pavers.
Eco Friendly Carpets: Recycled Carpet Lines That Are Highly Rated
Selecting carpet that was derived from recycled materials is easier than ever and it’s a great product to boot. There’s not much reason to purchase any other type of carpeting product on the market today.
BreezeDry: An Eco-Friendly Indoor Laundry Drying Cabinet
Drying all of your delicate laundry has been made simple and economical with a very cool product. It’s an indoor laundry drying cabinet that uses outside or inside air to effectively dry your clothes as gentle as possible.
Eco-Friendly PaperStone Countertops Are Hard To Beat
PaperStone is one of a handful of brands of eco-friendly, post-consumer recycled paper countertops. It’s durable, hard as nails, versatile and much more. Get the scoop to make an better decision on your next home building project in the kitchen or bathroom.
Eco Friendly Countertops: Are Paper Countertops A Good Eco-Friendly Choice?
Thinking about picking out a new countertop in the near future? Add paper countertops to your list of types of materials to consider. Paper composite countertops are rock solid and do not harbor bacteria. It’s a serious contender amongst other green materials used and it’s green in many different ways.
Aluminum Tiles Made From Aircraft Cladding Create A Unique & Sleek Kitchen Backsplash
Aluminum tile as a green homebuilding material? Yes, it’s true. But only because they are made from retired aircraft cladding. Recycled and reclaimed = green.
Save Money and Conserve Water At Home By Installing A Dual Flush Kit In Your Toilet
A simple way to conserve water and save money at the same time is to install a dual flush kit on your old toilets in your home. They’re pretty cheap and they work as advertised. My comparisons will help you decide which brand to choose. A look into high-efficiency toilets (HETs), too.
Damaged Windshields See A New Life As Unique Green Home Building Products
Damaged and junk windshields come to life once more through a unique process combining both art and science to create beautiful building products. Seeing is believing.
What Do You Do With Your Old License Plate?
You’ve got to see this garage that’s covered in old license plates from all over the country. It’s definitely not something that you see everyday.
A Fantastic Glass Tile Backsplash Idea: Plus Tips On DIY Installation
Glass tile mosaic backsplashes are a spectacular way of adding color to your kitchen. Here are ideas, a How-To video and some eco-friendly makers of recycled glass tile.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Recycled Plastic Lumber
Recycled plastic lumber has many useful attributes such as being impermeable to water. But there are some disadvantages to go along with the advantages of this green building material. Find out what those assets and liabilities are right here.
Reasons to Choose Reclaimed Wood Flooring
Reclaimed and salvaged wood flooring adds a huge dose of character when installed in homes. Reclaimed flooring from old barns, factories and houses is one recycled building material that is probably worth more now than when it was new and well worth the effort in locating it.
Pros (and some cons) of Recycled Glass Tile
Recycled glass tile is versatile, has unique properties, is recycled and recyclable and it is absolutely beautiful when it’s installed as a kitchen backsplash, as flooring in a foyer or bathroom and as an accent in and around a pool. See..I told you it was versatile.
Cellulose vs. Fiberglass Insulation
While fiberglass insulation remains popular, homeowners should consider cellulose insulation for their next home improvement project. Not only is cellulose insulation a sustainable material, but it can save up to one fifth of the energy costs when compared to fiberglass.
Sustainable Roofing Choices for Homeowners
Sustainable roofing choices are more abundant than ever before. Spend a few minutes finding out what is best suited for your green roofing solution.
A Green MLS Makes Your Eco-Friendly Dream Home Search Easy
Looking for a Green Home? ListedGreen is a Green MLS that only lists green-certified homes in your area or worldwide…your choice.
Advantages of Using Cotton Insulation in Residential Construction
Cotton insulation is an eco-product worth considering in today’s construction market. It’s eco-friendly due to it being a recycled product and it has insulating characteristics that are comparable to fiberglass. Consider incorporating cotton insulation into your home building plans for its’ many advantages.
Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling Made Easy
Properly disposing of spent fluorescent light bulbs, CFL’s and HID bulbs is your responsibility. Learn where to recycle your old bulbs with these helpful links.
Eco Friendly Flooring + Other Ideas For Your Renovating Kitchen From A DIY Expert
Paul Ryan, from the DIY Network, shares some of his insight on green building ideas and materials that you can use for your kitchen renovation project.
The New American Home Offers New Ideas For Energy Efficient Home Building
The New American Home for 2007 is all about cutting-edge energy efficient home building ideas, techniques, materials, design and technologies. Here are a few of the highlights.
Reclaimed Antique Terra Cotta Roof Tile Installation On This English Cottage Style Home In The Making: Part 6 In A Series
Reclaimed antique terracotta roof tiles from Europe are just one of the crown jewels of this English cottage-style home. Terra cotta roof tiles are in very high demand these days so it makes this roof that much more valuable. It is a sensible choice for a home such as this because it is architecturally in character and it will last the life of the home with proper maintenance, much like many of the materials being used in this home-in-the-making.
Insuladd: An Insulating Paint Additive That You’ve Got To Try
Insuladd is an insulating paint additive product that has been available since 1996 that WILL reduce your heating and cooling bills substantially and only costs 6 cents per square foot. It can be mixed with ordinary house paint or can be used in commercial applications. It was developed by NASA to help insulate buildings in close proximity to launch sites. It is safe, non-toxic and environmentally friendly so what’s the catch…none that I could find.
Green Home Building Resources
Green homebuilding has come a long way. Here’s a little bit of insight and some hugely useful links if you plan to build a green home. I’ve listed some green links that will bring you up to date on some of the latest green issues in today’s world. Have a look.
