Making a splash in the bath — while using less water — is increasingly the goal of “green-minded” homeowners embarking on a bathroom remodel. And with good reason: According to WaterSense, a voluntary public-private partnership program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency, each American uses an average of 100 gallons of water per day at home. By installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances, usage can be dropped by about 30% — which shaves an average of $170 per year off... more

With energy bills on the rise, water conservation is a major concern for homeowners. Did you know, toilets make up about half of a home’s water consumption? Americans flush nearly five billion gallons of water down their toilets each day. To help conserve water, years ago the federal government required builders to install toilets that used no more than 1.6 gallons of water per flush. Although these new toilets met the government’s requirement, they often performed poorly. When low-flush toilets... more

Whether you are remodeling a kitchen or bath or upgrading an existing home, there are many options and decisions to consider. What are the latest trends, and will granite countertops still be in vogue 10 years from now? However, I am pretty sure rough-in plumbing won’t make the top of anyone’s design to-do list. Choices in plumbing products used to be left up to the professional plumber, until now. With the increasing popularity of the PEX tubing, plumbing has changed and is turning green due... more

Several companies manufacture rubber roofs from recycled tires. These products are durable (many come with 50-year warranties), as well as fire and wind resistant. Metal Roofing With a long life, metal roofs keep composite material out of our landfills. Also 100% of the material used is recyclable. Solar-Powered Attic Fan Make your home more energy effcient and save money too. Attic fans operate by solar power from sunrise to sunset at no extra cost. It’s possible to reduce the workload on... more

There is something reassuring about being helped in a plumbing and electric store by a friendly salesperson who actually has knowledge and experience with the project you are about to tackle. This is the way it used to be in all building supply stores, and remains that way today at A-Boy Plumbing and Electric. The family-owned business is, at its roots, a neighborhood plumbing, electric, and hardware store.... more

The Sanivite gray water pumping system from SFA Saniflo Inc. is small enough to fit inside a kitchen cabinet or under a sink, yet powerful enough to handle discharged wastewater from a variety of plumbing fixtures and kitchen and laundry appliances. Like the other models in the Saniflo line of macerating systems, the fully automatic Sanivite drains... more

McGee Salvage Can a person have a passion for hardwood flooring? Yes, and Tobey Parsons, owner of McGee Salvage located on the south edge of Scappoose, has it bad. Parsons’ main gig is reclaiming high-quality wood flooring from gyms, dance floors, old warehouses, buildings, and homes. Parsons also stocks old growth clear vertical-grain 3 1/2″ fir that graces most of Portland’s older homes. Parsons specializes ... more

When we last visited with Zach and Beth Collins, they were in the middle of a major remodel on their 900 sq ft bungalow. The scope of the work included adding a complete second floor with two bedrooms, a bath, a sitting area, and veranda. In addition, they were adding about 150 sq ft to the main floor, tearing out the existing bathroom and building a new one, adding a full-length front porch. As if remodeling were not enough of a challenge, the couple was also expecting their first child. Beth... more