Earth buildings are structures that are made from earthen materials, such as straw or adobe. An earth building can range from a simple garden shed to a residential dwelling that is large enough to be called home by multiple people. Earth buildings are environmentally sustainable, affordable, stable, strong, comfortable, and are appropriate for a variety [...]
The classic American dream for many people has included buying a house to call your very own instead of renting an apartment. But demand for homes in the Portland metro area has gone up while available inventory has declined, therefore it is currently a seller's market and increasingly costly for potential buyers to purchase homes. [...]
Recycling construction and reusing salvaged materials not only helps to conserve natural resources, but also saves money. According to Metro (oregonmetro.gov), as much as 90 percent of construction waste could be recycled or salvaged for reuse at a lower cost compared to disposal. Garbage disposal fees in the Portland metro area are approximately $94 per [...]
Sick Building Syndrome comprises of various non-specific health symptoms that appear to be related to spending time in a building (EPA, 2009). To learn more about SBS and the contributing factors of SBS, please see our previous article. Various buildings across the globe have been surveyed for SBS and studied further. An example of a [...]
Contagious illnesses, such as the common cold, tend to travel rapidly in office environments, partly because of people working so closely together in the same building. But people in some buildings have also reported an increase in other ailments, such as headaches and allergies. Source: Mold Solutions NW In the late 1970s, it [...]
After the completion of the updated foundation, it was time to focus on the floor plan of the house. The first floor had been the original main entry to the house and sometime in the house's recent past, the previous owner had modified the original floor plan making the first floor a strange [...]
Preparing for winter in the Pacific Northwest means more than just buying warm coats, drinking hot cocoa, and knitting fluffy scarves. It also means getting your home ready for wet and cold weather. Winter weatherization is maintenance for your home that can help prevent costly repairs and save on heating bills. Below are winter [...]
Bronze Construction Services was chosen to provide a full remodel of a two story, older home with a full attic in the small Vernonia, Oregon. Vernonia was a small logging town in the Cascade mountains of Oregon which has since become a pleasant vacation community with a rich history. Hopefully restoring this house will help [...]
The often rainy, yet beautifully green Pacific Northwest has a surprisingly accommodating climate for a wide variety of plants to grow and thrive. Tropical-looking, but cold tolerant palms and banana trees have been grown here as well as plants that require chilly temperatures, such as apples, lilacs, and tulips. Despite the ability to grow such [...]
Solar power can lead to financial savings in the long run as well as being beneficial for the environment. The yearly reduction in carbon from generating electricity from the average 4 kilowatt home solar power system is equivalent to the amount of carbon absorbed by half an acre of trees. There are four primary [...]
