Friday, November 20, 2015

Butcherblock Countertops


Have you considered butcherblock?


Butcherblock countertops bring elegance and warmth to any space. The natural characteristics of wood create a timeless option for any countertop surface or a contrasting island.

All of our butcherblock tops are locally sourced from Oregon and are either responsibly grown or salvaged wood from the Northwest, West coast or Rocky Mountains.

https://www.ghsproducts.com/store/p/169-Madrone-Butcher-Block-Countertop.aspx
NW Orchard Walnut Endgrain

Finishes and Maintenance


Your butcherblock should be finished before installation. Due to the nature of wood you want to seal all exposed surfaces of the butcherblock so that you prevent warping or splitting down the road. We can provide installation instructions and tips if you are thinking of taking on a butcherblock top without an installer.

https://www.ghsproducts.com/store/p/170-Laurelwood-Butcher-Block-Countertop.aspx
Myrtle Sidegrain
NATURAL OIL finished tops are food safe. You can cut on them like a cutting board if you choose but they will show the wear and need to be refinished more regularly.  Because wood is a natural, living material, it continually absorbs more oil, so regular re-oiling will be necessary to maintain its luster.  Re-oiling is simple -- just spread oil evenly over the surface, allow it to soak in for about 5 minutes then wipe the excess off with a clean rag.

MARINE GRADE finishes seal the wood making it waterproof.  For this reason, this finish is great around sinks but is not designed for cutting on (you don’t want to cut through the protective finish).  Marine Grade finished butcher block doesn’t require regular re-oiling but might need to be refinished down the road.


Styles


Side Grain | Great for high use islands, worktops and cutting surfaces.  Moderate to very hard depending on the species.
·          Standard thickness: 1-1/2" thick is most common, custom up to   12”



 End Grain | Very hard, perfect for heavy use cutting surfaces and chopping blocks.
·         Standard thickness:  2", 2-1/2”, 3”, 4” thick is standard, custom up to 12”


Plank Style | Medium hardness, intended for furniture-grade table or counter surface.
·         Standard thickness: 1-1/4" and 2-1/4" thick are most common





Showroom Samples

We have a wide variety of wood species available including  maple, madrone, beetle kill pine, juniper, fir, walnut, redwood, myrtle and oak.


Lead time for butcherblock depends upon availability and is typically 2-4 weeks.


For more information please go to ghsproducts.com or to see samples, please visit our showroom.






Thursday, May 28, 2015


Clayhaus Ceramic Tile



Located in Portland, Oregon, Clayhaus tile is owned and operated by Jason and Megan Coleman. They ensure that their products are beautifully made of the highest hand-crafted quality, and with the smallest possible manufacturing footprint.

Clayhaus conserves resources by using 100% renewable energy to run their studio and production facility. The material they use to package their product is made of recycled corrugated paper and cornstarch “peanuts”. In the production of their tile they reuse clay and glaze whenever possible. They also recycle everything that they can which includes the seconds and usable broken tiles being donated to local school art programs.

                
                 


Clayhaus ceramic tiles come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The tiles are hand cut and glazed for the highest quality. There are 48 glossy colors and 24 matte colors that you can view in our showroom or on their website, at clayhausceramics.com.


The Topo collection, which was designed specifically for Clayhaus by a local Portland designer, has a raised, topographical, pattern that repeats on each tile. These 6x6 tiles are available in all of the Clayhaus colors, matte and glossy.











The Futura Collection is more modern with simple shapes and styles that give a high-end look to any space. Futura tiles are available in any of the Clayhaus colors and come 3”x3” sheeted.









The Clayhaus website has a fun “You Design” tool to help you visualize different options and color blends. You can choose each color and the percentage of each color in the blend. They also have many different mosaic tile patterns to choose from to show your blend. It's a great way to instantly bring your idea to life! 


To see a recent bathroom remodel featuring Clayhaus 2”x4” tile in Clover visit our Houzz.com webpage! 

If you live near the Seattle area, we encourage you to come in to our showroom and see their beautiful colors in person! We have display boards in a wide variety of shapes and colors for you to browse. We also offer samples for you to check out and take home.


For more information or pictures of installations visit their website: Clayhausceramics.com.


Tuesday, January 13, 2015


Sustainable Lumber Company


Sustainable Lumber Co. offers handcrafted hardwoods from Montana. They specialize in recycled, reclaimed, salvaged and certified wood sourced within a hundred mile radius of their facility. Much of their salvaged wood comes from dead timber left from wild fires and insect infestation. Removal of the dead timber helps to prevent forest fires in the future. All of their wood fiber not used in their product lines is donated for animal bedding and/or used as clean biomass energy to heat their facility.

Douglas Fir Flooring


The Canyon collection is wire brushed and skip planed, producing a naturally aged appearance. The floor is finished with a 7-step finishing process including a hand rubbed penetrating oil and durable protective finish coat.



 





The Mountain collection is circle-sawn,  creating a worn Western look. This collection includes the same 7-step finishing process with hard rubbed natural oils.












The Vintage collection is hand scraped along with the 7-step finishing process. When they say “hand scraped” they are literally hand scraping the boards unlike many companies today who offer a hand scraped look, produced by a machine.





To complete their flooring collections they also offer matching base molding, casing, trims, transitions and stair treads and risers.



Sustainable Lumber also offers reclaimed barn wood and recycled pallet board wall paneling. It is prefabricated onto ¼” thick plywood backing with a offset top and bottom, ship-lap design, to make it easy to install for a professional or the weekend warrior.

~ Panel size: 1" thick x 12" tall x 48" wide
~ Staggered and interlocking ends
~ Interior applications only
  

Beetle Kill Ponderosa Pine
Unlike most beetle kill pine on the market, Sustainable Lumber Co. hand selects their pine from old growth trees that are typically 200-400 years old and have been standing dead in the forest for 4 to 5 years.


Their beetle kill pine is available with the same finish styles as their Douglas fir flooring. They offer Canyon (wire brushed), Vintage (hand scraped), Mountain (circle-sawn) as well as finished smooth.

~3/4" thick
~Widths available: 3 1/8", 5 1/8", or 7"
~This image shows the Vintage finish



“At Sustainable Lumber Co. we believe in doing business the right way first, which is obvious since we've never advertised or attended any trade shows. The bulk of our business comes from referrals and repeat customers. Technology and automation are good things but we truly believe it will never replace true craftsmanship and good’ol common sense”.

Come in to our showroom and see the quality of their products first-hand!


For more information on Sustainable Lumber Co. or their products, visit ghsproducts.com.



Thursday, October 23, 2014

PaperStone

What you should know about PaperStone countertops!


What are paper countertops?
PaperStone is really paper! It is made of recycled paper and resins, layered and compressed, so it is very rigid and dense. It is a 'food safe' surface and it can be used in cantilevered designs, like a bar top.  It is available in 11 dark to medium tone colors. 

Come in to our showroom to see PaperStone installed and in use! We have large samples of each color and provide smaller color samples available to check-out and take home, for your convenience.

Why is it green?
PaperStone is composed of 100% post-consumer recycled paper and phenolic (non petroleum based) resins. It is certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards by the Smartwood program of the Rainforest Alliance. PaperStone can be credited towards LEED* certification points. It is manufactured in Washington state.

Is it tough? 

PaperStone handles heat to 350 degrees making it ideal for kitchens. If you do cut or mar the surface it is easily repairable. Blemishes can be sanded and refinished. The nonporous nature of paper composite means it has a lifetime resistance to staining. Pigments, instead of dyes, are used for uniform color throughout the slab. Over time, PaperStone will develop an attractive patina making it unique to your kitchen.

Is it hard to install?
PaperStone is softer than granite or quartz so it is installed using woodworking tools, making it a viable option for the do-it-yourself homeowner. Even edge profiles can easily be created with a router.

Is it expensive?

Starting at only $17 per square foot for material, it is an affordable option for your space
PaperStone is sold by the slab and is available in 5'x8', 5'x10', and 5'x12'. The thicknesses of the slabs range from 1/4" to 1 1/4" giving you plenty of edge profile options.

What can I use it for?
PaperStone is a very versatile material and can be used for kitchen counter tops, restroom vanities and partitions, furniture, lab and desk tops, food carts, cutlery handles, cutting boards, backsplash, window sills, thresholds and even decorative wall panels!


What's Coverply
Coverply is thin layer of PaperStone bonded to an FSC-certified plywood core. This product is much lighter in weight than solid PaperStone and can be less expensive as well.

Coverply is a good option if you're looking for something simple but with a unique flare. This edge profile could look great in a modern, industrial-inspired, or rustic space, as well as many others.
For more information on PaperStone you can visit their website, paperstoneproducts.com, or feel free to check out our website for additional information and other sustainable products offered at ghsproducts.com!



Here, at Greenhome Solutions we strive to provide quality and sustainable options to both homeowners and contractors. 

*LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

10 TIPS FOR AN ECO-FRIENDLY PROJECT

1. Choose local (or at least U.S.-made) materials:

· The closer to home your project’s parts and pieces are made, the less energy and gas it takes to transport them to the job site.

· Buying locally-made products supports the local economy. With so many jobs being outsourced overseas, manufacturing jobs here in the U.S. can only continue if we vote for them with our purchasing dollars.

2. Separate waste:

· Keep as much of your demolition and on-going waste from the landfill as possible by establishing separate bins or piles for different types of materials from the start of the project. You can often save money on dump fees and/or get a little payback for some of your recyclable waste like metal or glass.

· Look for local salvage companies who take useful products to resell: cabinets, plumbing fixtures, working appliances, leftover tile or flooring and so on can be sold or donated.

· Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore Outlets accept donations to resell as a method of fundraising to help them build more homes for people in need (www.habitat.org/shop/).

· List your items on Craig’s List or FreeCycle, or try the Building Materials Reuse Association’s website: www.bmra.org/listings/ and “browse by state.”

3. Consider end-of-life implications:

· Think about what will happen to the products your are choosing when they have stopped being useful. Look for products that are biodegradable and non-toxic, such as wood which has been treated with a natural, non-toxic finish, or marmoleum, wool carpet, or cork. And while recycled-glass tile might not decompose, it won’t leach chemicals into groundwater like a petroleum-based, plastic product might.

4. Look for durability:

· $1.99/square foot may sound like a good deal, until you consider having to replace the product in a few years because it’s cheaply made and doesn’t hold up. Not replacing something is the greenest way to go, so look for items that can be refinished on-site or which are tough enough to withstand wear and tear for a long time.

· Is there anything in your existing space which is reusable? Perhaps your old kitchen cabinets can be moved into the garage for storage, or the wood flooring you are tearing out can become a piece of furniture. Consider refinishing or painting surfaces to give them new life, or even tiling an old laminate countertop rather than tossing it in the landfill.

5. Think about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ):

· Off-gassing does not only occur when a product is newly installed. Many products continue to emit particulates into the air for months or even years. Textiles like upholstery and carpet are especially guilty of this because we touch and abrade them during normal use, potentially releasing chemicals into the air and onto our skin. Choose products which have not been treated with harmful chemicals such as polyvinyl alcohol, chlorine bleach, benzidine, or toluidine (all common in the conventional textile manufacturing process). A good source for more information about environmentally sustainably-made textiles is http://www.oecotextiles.com/.

· We carry several brands of wool carpeting, which naturally cleans the air, because it absorbs humidity and therefore pollutants in the environment. The products we carry are not treated with harmful chemicals –wool is already stain- and fire-resistant, so it doesn’t need them. One of our wool carpets even uses a natural rubber adhesive rather than petroleum-based, with jute or hemp backing. The dyes in our carpets are also natural. Basically our wool carpet products are perfect for people who are sensitive to chemicals.

· You’ve probably heard of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), and know to look for no- or low-VOC products in the paint and flooring finish categories. However, you might not know that many pressed wood products like plywood, particle board, and engineered flooring are made with adhesives which can contain added urea-formaldehyde, one of the most common and dangerous VOCs in building products. Ours don’t. Be sure to look for products with water-based adhesives and finishes, not petroleum-based. We select all of our flooring products, cabinets and finishes based on their non-toxicity, high IAQ attributes.

6. Choose a green team:

· As you interview contractors, ask about their experience doing environmentally-friendly remodels. Many people will say “sure, we can do green” and then when you start the job they’ll steer you towards the old methods and materials they’ve used for years. They need to trust the processes and products they know in order to warrantee their work, so it’s important to know up front that they are comfortable and experienced with your eco-friendly selections.

· If you are doing a smaller job, and just need an installer, again, make sure it is someone who knows the product. If you live in the Seattle area we have some excellent installers we can recommend for the products we sell.

7. (Don’t) shop till you drop:

· Shopping on-line can save gas and be much more convenient (who doesn’t love shopping in their jammies?). However, obviously you can’t choose your new flooring from a web-site photo. Be sure to ask us to send you a sample if you’re trying to decide.

· As you look for products, you may end up with quite an assortment of samples. If they’re not already labeled when you get them, try to note where they came from so you can return them, rather than tossing them out (to a landfill). Or if returning them is too time-consuming, consider donating them to a local Interior Design school for students to use in their projects. The same goes with the pile of product brochures you no longer need.

· Canvas bags are not just for groceries! Bring them in with you when you shop for samples in person or make those inevitable trips to the hardware store. Anything to reduce using plastic bags is a good thing for the environment.

8. Do an energy audit:

· You may have countertops made of recycled wine bottles and cabinets made of coconut husks, but if your furnace is heating the outdoors, that’s a longer term problem for the environment. Visit this website to learn about doing it yourself, or hiring a professional. http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/

· A whole-house systems approach includes the various energy-using components in your home such as appliances, heating and ventilation, and lighting, as well as the built structure and how it retains heat and cooling, such as the roof, windows and insulation. Paying attention to these areas can not only save money in energy bills and resources for the environment, but can also improve comfort and acoustics as well as the durability of your home.

9. Install water-saving plumbing fixtures:

· Dual-flush toilets use less water than an old, traditional 5 gallon toilet, generally 1.6 gallons for a full flush or .8 for a half flush. We carry Caroma and Kohler toilets: http://www.caromausa.com/; http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/.

· Fluid makes a wide range of low-flow faucets and shower heads, including some pretty interesting shapes like Penguin and Emperor that fit a very contemporary aesthetic.

· Consider a water heater which heats on demand. Just as you probably wouldn’t keep a tea kettle going all day just to make a cup of tea in the evening, why maintain a tank of hot water for your morning shower? Tankless water heaters can also save space.

10. Prioritize your goals:

· If you’re feeling overwhelmed and confused, that’s understandable. Going green is complicated, because there are several facets to the sustainability movement. Think about what’s important to you: ensuring indoor air quality, supporting the local economy, choosing recycled or repurposed products, avoiding chemicals and petroleum, saving energy and minimizing shipping or harmful manufacturing processes are all worthy goals in an eco-friendly project.

· Once you’ve picked your personal priorities, you can more easily decide between products which are green in different ways. For example, bamboo flooring comes from China, but shipping it in large cargo ships is more energy-efficient than trucking smaller quantities of, say, oak across the U.S. The oak, however, supports U.S. jobs and might come from an old trestle bridge, rather than being harvested from a bamboo plantation. Equally important issues, it’s up to you to choose!

· In other products, it’s a little clearer which choice to make. Granite mostly comes from China or India, and is mined out of the side of a mountain in very destructive and petrol-intensive ways. All of our countertop products, on the other hand, are made in Oregon and Washington out of locally-sourced recycled materials and water- or bio-based binders. Some are even template-poured, resulting in almost no waste to go to a landfill. Which countertop would you choose?

· We currently have a client who has decided her priority is to purchase 75% U.S.- made products. Another family has a child with extreme chemical sensitivity, so they need wool carpeting with no chemical adhesives or backing and cabinets with no added urea-formaldehyde in the plywood boxes. A third client has designed her kitchen countertops with recycled glass, waste fly-ash, and pieces of shell and beach glass she picked up on her property. Once you decide your goals, let us help you have fun being creative with earth-friendly solutions!

Welcome to our new Blog!

We hope the articles and product information here will help you make some good choices for your next remodel or building project.

If you live in or visit the Seattle area, please stop by to visit our showroom to see new products and our expanded space. Nationally, we are able to ship many products, so give us a call and let us offer you our best pricing.

Our mission is to help homeowners and builders, designers and architects make earth-friendly choices. We hope to work with you soon!

The Greenhome Team,
Tyler, Cameron, Erin & Tess