My wife and I recently did what we told ourselves numerous times we would never do again: we hired an unlicensed contractor. While we knew the risks involved in hiring this guy, he was available, he talked a good game, and, best of all, he was cheap. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

As the weather turns chilly, turning on the heat in your home becomes a ritual of necessity. However, as recent natural disasters and the instability in oil exporting countries remind us, finding an alternative to heating with petroleum fuel is as important as ever. Although taking steps to conserve oil by keeping the thermostat below 68 degrees and adding insulation to your house can lower the use of this finite natural... more

Knowing that you’re doing right by Mother Earth is now as easy as opening a paint can. But not just any paint can. The Horizon line of zero-VOC interior and low-VOC exterior, paint from Rodda Paint, is the only complete line of paint to earn certification from Green Seal® the national organization that certifies high-performing products that are environmentally responsible. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

Designed for Retrofit: No matter when your home was built or what the physical configurations are, you can install radiant heating along with the mini-duct system for high performance heating cooling comfort. Crafted to weave around and through existing construction, both systems provide a perfect solution for retrofit applications. In fact, you’ll find there’s little or no remodeling required.... more

Recycled Flooring McGee Salvage located in Scappoose produces a new line that is professionally pre-finished distressed old-growth fir flooring. McGee can also distress any type of wood like hardrock maple and oak. No sanding or filling is required. The flooring comes ready to install. With this product you can custom order any color stain and the degree of distressing.... more

Retro Fit Radiant Heating Into Your Older Home Imagine yourself curled up at home on a typical cold, rainy Northwest autumn afternoon. You put your feet to the floor, expecting the usual bone-chilling arctic freeze. Instead, your toes touch a warm surface that radiates gentle heat up toward your limbs like asphalt on a summer night. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →

I’m a journeyman-level carpenter, a mason, and I’ve written about construction for a few years now. I was once very scared of the permit process. After years in the construction business, I cannot remember anyone ever complain about how hard it is to build a foundation the right way. But permits, bureaucracy, inspectors – these are the stuff of legendary frustration. I cannot remember any contractor I’ve worked for, any architect I’ve interviewed, nearly anyone at all... more

If lighting is music to the eyes, then lighting fixtures are the instruments playing the tune. Choosing the right ones can go a long way toward creating harmony — and avoiding “off” notes. Just like rock-n-roll calls for drums and guitars while a sonata may be played on a single violin, interiors require fixtures that accurately reflect the composer’s intentions. And you are the composer. This is just a preview...Read the rest... Read More →