One of the things that has become very important to Leigh and I is the issue of toxins, pollutants, particulates, VOCs, mold, mites and parasites. Part of our concern for these issues is personal. We've both suffered illness and injury due to environmental causes. As with most people working in the trades for many years, we each came to understand that "oh, that finish makes me feel sick" or "I always get a headache during demo". What took longer to realize was that the organic compounds in the finish that made you feel sick continue to be released for years and that dust containing heavy metals and carcinogens can linger on surfaces that may appear clean.
As I reported here before we've just received certification from the EPA to be a Lead Safe Renovation Firm. This is a very important new rule concerning your health and safety. If you own a home older than 1978 (the year lead paint was banned for use), then you really need to be aware of the risks associated with lead exposure and how to protect yourself and your family.
But what about after the old, toxic materials have been removed? It's all good right? Well, that all depends on you, and your contractor. Many of the industry standard materials used today are known to contain materials that are hazardous to your health. Benzine, formaldehyde, urethane and a whole host of volatile organic compounds are widely available on the shelves of your local hardware store.
Fortunately for those of us who want to breath easier there are also an increasing number of products that can do the same job (sometimes better) without bringing along all the toxic baggage.
For Leigh and I our commitment to indoor air quality goes way beyond the products we prefer to use. It's incorporated into all aspects of design and production as well. Choosing materials that don't harbor dust or mold, designing spaces and storage solutions that promote a clean and efficient environment, even in the attention to detail that insures that every seam's been caulked, and the crawl spaces are adequately vented, all of these are steps that we take from beginning to end to ensure that you have a safe, healthy home.
As I reported here before we've just received certification from the EPA to be a Lead Safe Renovation Firm. This is a very important new rule concerning your health and safety. If you own a home older than 1978 (the year lead paint was banned for use), then you really need to be aware of the risks associated with lead exposure and how to protect yourself and your family.
But what about after the old, toxic materials have been removed? It's all good right? Well, that all depends on you, and your contractor. Many of the industry standard materials used today are known to contain materials that are hazardous to your health. Benzine, formaldehyde, urethane and a whole host of volatile organic compounds are widely available on the shelves of your local hardware store.
Fortunately for those of us who want to breath easier there are also an increasing number of products that can do the same job (sometimes better) without bringing along all the toxic baggage.
For Leigh and I our commitment to indoor air quality goes way beyond the products we prefer to use. It's incorporated into all aspects of design and production as well. Choosing materials that don't harbor dust or mold, designing spaces and storage solutions that promote a clean and efficient environment, even in the attention to detail that insures that every seam's been caulked, and the crawl spaces are adequately vented, all of these are steps that we take from beginning to end to ensure that you have a safe, healthy home.
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