Episodes
Floors & Carpets
"Today we're talking floors and closets. Is it possible to turn a concrete slab into a healthy work of art? Can a dilapidated old sheep barn work again as a second floor? Is it possible to build closets that are great and green? You'll find out today that the answers are yes, yes, and yes."
— Building Green host Kevin Contreras
Beautifully Green Concrete Floors
Because Kevin has chosen the concrete slab as the primary flooring on the first floor of his new green dream home, he will need to finish it with nontoxic stains and sealants. Concrete flooring is a great choice because it requires very few materials and it does not trap allergens like carpets can.
Kevin brings in Michael Rottapel to discuss healthy staining choices for his concrete floors. Michael explains that once the waterproofing materials are applied to the concrete floor, non-toxic tints can be added to a product called HLQ-125, which will give the floors a nice finished look.
Kevin's floor finish subcontractor, Michelle Arconti, takes care of the sealing and finishing process; first using a penetrating sealer called Sinak, then going back over with a cutrom black stain. Then the joint and score marks get grouted and everything is covered with a layer of beeswax and buffed out.
Kevin brings in Rudolf Reitz to discuss his hardwax for floors. The turpentine has been removed from Rudolf's product; instead, it is made from citrus extracts, conifer wax and linseed oil.
Saving Green
Kevin has saved a significant amount of money by using the concrete slab as his flooring. Even the most basic flooring costs $5 per square-foot. Because Kevin's floor is 2,000 square-feet, he has saved an estimated $10,000.
Green Carpet
Kevin's daughters want carpet in their bedroom so that they can have sleepovers, so Kevin visits Taja di Leonardi at EcoHome Improvement in Berkeley, Ca. to discuss natural, non-toxic carpet.
Taja shows Kevin Earth Weave and Nature's Carpet, two products that, unlike traditional carpet, do not off-gas any toxic chemicals.She also shows Kevin all-natural jute underlayment for the carpet.
These carpets cost between $4.29 and $5.99 per square-foot, which is comparable to the cost of a mid-range traditional carpet.
Kevin chooses Nature's Carpet and the jute underlay for his daughter's bedroom. It installs like any other carpet but is safe for infants, children and others who are highly sensitive to toxins.
Second Floor — Repurposed Wood
Kevin visits Daniel Harrington from Eco Timber at the Green Materials Showcase in San Francisco to find flooring for his second floor.
Daniel shows Kevin a number of choices, including bamboo and recycled woods, and Kevin chooses a recycled jarrah, which comes from deconstructed wool barns in Australia. It costs him under $7 per square-foot. The fact that it comes from Australia means it is not the greenest choice, but no trees were chopped down to provide it.
Stains
Building Green health expert Alyssa Alvord explains that, typically, wood floor finishes have been highly toxic; however, today there are a number of water- and oil-based finishes available. Some of these products can even be used to seal in out-gassing from floors that are not non-toxic.
Kevin notes that you should always ask for the MSDS (material safet data sheet) before buying a product, so you can ensure it is safe for your family and your subcontractors.
After the floors are stained a hardwax is applied and then buffed out.
Closets
The floors and baseboards are installed and when Kevin sees that there is leftover wood, he decides to have shoe racks made for his closets from the remaining pieces.
Typically, closets are made from sheetboard, which can be hazardous for your health. Luckily, we can now purchase formaldehyde-free plywood, OSB, and other substitutes for these products.
Easy Step
Clean out your closest. Kevin talks with interior designer Vanessa Grant. She explains that cleaning out and organizing closets helps reduce unwanted stress.
Closet Drawers
Kevin decides to use tool chests in his closets as drawers. They function very well and are very economical.
Next week on Building Green: Lighting
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