Make your home energy-efficient and save money at the same time. This unique roof ventilator operates by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost to you. The Fan-Attic™ uses free energy from the sun to provide years of worry-free, no-cost cooling and air circulation. By installing this product it will help remove heat buildup in your attic before it reaches the interior of your home. It’s possible to reduce the workload on cooling and air conditioning equipment by as much as 50%. In... more

Creating a spa experience in the home is the latest bathroom trend. Hard-hitting jets are being replaced with the gentle kiss of air bubbles. Claw foot tubs or soakers are displacing shallow tubs as deep as space allows. Even bathing products that scream wake up! have lost ground against today’s soothing fragrances. American Standard’s Champion Saniflo Macerating Toilet Kohler’s... more

American Clay Plaster What? A can-do-it-yourself plaster product. Bring elegance to your bedroom with a smooth Venetian surface. Surround yourself in your kitchen with the rustic colors of the Southwest. Bathe in the hues of Provence. Or travel to Tuscany each time you enter your dining room. This interior finish is a 100% natural earth plaster, which provides an environment that is... more

In the 1920s and 1930s American architects and builders created a delightful and charming style of house based on medieval farmhouse design of the English and French countryside. Today we call these lovely homes “Storybook Houses” although at the time, they were mostly referred to as “Artistic” English (and sometimes French/Norman) houses. They are distinguished from their more sober English (and French)... more

In Oregon an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 children have lead poisoning. Lead is an invisible hazard that can impose lasting health effects. Lead poisoning often occurs before parents are even aware their child has been put at risk. The parents of a one-year old boy began renovating their newly purchased 1907 house. They all lived in a downstairs apartment during the remodeling work, which included sanding and scraping... more

One of the latest innovations in roofing materials is using recycled rubber tires, and one of the companies that has harnessed this technology most effectively is GEM Euroslate. “The product is a lightweight, rubber-based, tongue-and-groove tile that looks like stone,” says William Sirotak, Sales Manager for Keith Green Construction. The advantage of using a product made from discarded tires is clear: Re-roofing ... more

Advertising has conditioned us to see our painting project finished. You see the painter standing proudly in the newly painted room. The ad copy explains how he only needed one coat of custom-tinted brand paint. In reality, getting to that clean finish can be messy. Spilled paint and the subsequent clean up is no fun. Protect Surfaces When painting rooms remove as much furniture as possible. Any piece, which... more

First in a two-part series. Part Two: Kitchens Aging-in-place bath designs promote self-sufficiency and safety for seniors. Planning a Bathroom Remodel? Aging-in-place bath designs promote safety for entire family. Nearly 200,000 people are injured annually in their bathroom according to the National Safety Council. The most common mishaps are slips, falls, and hot water burns, the same kinds of risks that plague the aging population. Make... more