www.buildgreen411.com The Portland metro area has continued to make headlines around the world for its innovation in the field of green building. As the buzz around sustainability continues to build in the region, more and more homeowners are looking to go green with their new construction and remodel projects. With so many individuals interested now in greening up their home projects, the need for appropriate information on choosing the best green materials, comprehensive design, and professional... more

Caulk is a pliable sealant. Caulk prevents air leaks that allow energy to escape and rain and snow to damage wood and insulation. Entering moisture can make a breeding ground for mold spores. Open spaces allow bugs and noise to enter. When you caulk before painting, your exterior painting project will last longer. Caulk eliminates the edges on gaps that allow water to seep under paint and start the peeling process. When you caulk before beginning your interior painting project your finished project... more

Chances are that if you are reading this magazine you either own, or have a strong interest in, old houses. What is it about old houses that fascinate us so much? Is it the sense of history (if these walls could talk)? Is it the romance of living in an environment that was designed and built in another time (a sanctuary from the daily grind of modern life)? Possibly it is the idea of working with good old-fashioned solid materials (who can pass up the beauty of clear fir)? “Old School” is a column... more

It’s no secret that the best place to go for lighting needs in Portland is Sunlan Lighting, Inc., a small, non-descript store on N. Mississippi Avenue, Portland, OR. While the windows of the shop display a jumble of lights, and a retro-looking sign bearing an image of a large, single bulb juts out of the top of the gray-shingled building, the exterior gives little indication of the treasures to be found inside. “We’ve been in this location for 17 years,” says owner Kay Newell. “And if there’s... more

The tool box is a thing of the past. Tool “storage” is in. No more dumping and digging for tools. A place for everything and everything in its place. The line-up of tool storage bags from Veto Pro Pac, short for “vertical tool orientation, protected and packed”, is the ultimate expression of this concept, with the design and build of these bags something that must be seen to be believed! Roger Brourard, a carpenter of 25 years, was frustrated by the poor quality of tool carriers. His design,... more

The simplest thing everyone can do to make a difference in global warming is to replace incandescent lightbulbs with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent lightbulbs. These lightbulbs produce more light than heat with the electricity they use. As a result, they can provide the same amount of light as standard incandescent lightbulbs but use only one-quarter to one-third as much energy, and they last up to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs have come a long... more

Art deco started as a sophisticated French style in the early 1920s. It was soon promoted by Hollywood as the “style of the stars.” Motion pictures and the burgeoning worldwide media transformed art deco into a universally understood symbol of glamour and excitement. The term “art deco” comes from the “Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratif” — a comprehensive exhibit of the latest in applied arts held in Paris in 1925. The use of “art deco” as a descriptive label, however,... more

Renovation and historic preservation can pose dilemmas for sustainability-minded owners of older homes. That’s especially true if you have a lot of exposed ornamental woodworking clad with many layers of accumulated paint. If you can barely make out the finer details of your old doors, windows, and molding, it’s probably time to have the wood stripped of its multiple layers of paint, stains, or lacquers. First step Manolis works with a chair in the first main vat. After the finish starts to... more