Review: Construction Instruction App

About a year ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Mark Laliberte, a building science guru, speak at a seminar here in Austin, TX. Tons of good info(mainly about what not to do) was shared. One of the cooling tidbits I walked away with was a free app called Construction Instruction. Mark has teamed up with some of the biggest names(mainly vendors) in the business to offer a very detailed and extremely visual dummy guide to building science. This includes numerous animated cross sections of wall systems, flashing methods, and best practices. 

My favorite part is that app can be shown to workers in the field via a tablet(like i-Pad). Talk about making it easy to transmit great information(as well as break language barriers). Big thanks to Mark and his team for putting this new resource at arms reach to builders all over the world. Oh, the beauty of technology and the internet..!! Two big thumbs up!! Check out Construction
Instruction
at this link, and if you like it, please spread the word!!


Doug Cameron
 is a Healthy, High-Performance Builder & Remodeler with EcoSafe Spaces, LLC in Austin, TX.

 

Product Review:Sansin Enviro Stain- Glacier Clear


I love working with non-toxic stains, but I also love the way oil based products set up and coagulate so evenly. The Sansin Enviro Stain: Glacier Clear (for interiors) is both, because it is a non-toxic water/plant oil based hybrid. 

  • Another great feature of this product, is the fact that it does not Amber in UV light like traditional oil based finishes (something architects seem to love)!! 
  • In terms of application, this product is sprayable, another big plus. 
  • We picked it up locally at Treehouse, and give it a big thumbs up!! See the video below for more details:

 

Doug Cameron is a Healthy, High-Performance Builder & Remodeler with EcoSafe Spaces, LLC in Austin, TX.

Perfect Weather…What’s the Problem?

Something I think about a lot..especially on days when the weather outside is perfect, oddly enough is “indoor air quality.” Here’s why..
 

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Construction Contracts

 
 
Construction contracts can be confusing, especially to clients(who probably don’t deal with them every day like we do). My firm typically operates with two different contract options: Cost-Plus Fixed Rate & Fixed Rate. Here is my best attempt to explain the differences.

 

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Refinishing Cabinets

We love to re-use whatever we can, but it’s got to look good!! This master bath remodel is a great example of refinishing existing builder grade cabinets(over 20 yrs old), to put a modern touch on this classical bathroom. Do this on a larger scale(like we did in this home..in the hall bath as well as the kitchen), and you can save many thousands of dollars..true story!!

Doug Cameron is a Healthy, High-Performance Builder & Remodeler with EcoSafe Spaces, LLC in Austin, TX.

Insulation Galore:Why We Do It…

 
Insulation is the key ingredient in any high-performance home. A trusted online source for information on the subject is the Green Building Advisor. They offer many great articles covering the various types of insulation commonly used today such as: spray foam, blown in fiberglass, batt insulation, spray-able latex caulking, and even newer hybrid systems such as Owens Corning Energy Complete. The video below (of one my company’s recent projects) includes each variety of  insulation mentioned above. Take a look to see how they all work in conjunction with one another…
Doug Cameron is a Healthy, High-Performance Builder & Remodeler with EcoSafe Spaces, LLC in Austin, TX.

Polished Concrete Floors:Get the Low Down!

 
If you are into “modern-industrial,” then polished concrete floors just might be the right fit for you!

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What the heck is a Rain-Screen?

 

Moisture is by far the most common cause of building failures today and throughout history. Many high-performance builders are now using exterior rain-screens in an effort to combat moisture issues related to exterior claddings like stucco, and lap siding. 
In that same vein, exterior rigid foam is all the rave at the moment, mainly due to increasing energy costs, and improved building code standards demanding a higher R-value (which is sometimes difficult to achieve with a standard 2″ x 4″ wall, using traditional insulation methods).
See the video below to observe both of these applications working in conjunction with one another on a whole-house remodel/addition in South Austin, that my company is currently working on. 

Wunderlist: Project Management Tool

My beautiful wife, a manager for a cloud computing company here in Austin, recently turned me on to Wunderlist. What’s that you ask? Wunderlist is a state of the art smart phone App that is capable of syncing to your computer and/or tablet via the cloud.

As a project manager in the construction industry, I used to have sticky notes all over my office, while emailing myself tasks and reminders multiple times per day…just to keep up. No more! Now I put all of my TO DO’s in one spot, and they are organized within various lists that I have personally created. I keep six running list at once. The specific features are far superior to any other To Do App I have come across, and are too numerous to name, so I won’t. Instead, you should see for yourself. Getting started is easy, and the  user interface is excellent

I have suggested Wunderlist to my entire project team, for the exact same reason that I use it…to stay organized! Everyone is different and I realize Apps seem to come and go all the time, but in this fast paced world of today, this particular App has become a vital tool in my Project Management arsenal (which is why I wanted to share). Take it for a test spin and see what you think (it’s free). Happy Management!!

-Doug Cameron
Doug Cameron is a Healthy, High-Performance Builder & Remodeler with EcoSafe Spaces, LLC in Austin, TX.

SOLAR Just Got CHEAP

Solar over your head?? Not anymore…here’s a quick and simple breakdown!
The current local and federal rebates on Solar are tremendous. A 20K system can be purchased and installed for as little as $2,500 out of pocket(when it’s all said and done). The Austin Energy Rebate will cover up to 15K if you have the right roof orientation(one that gets a good amount of sun shine), and the federal rebates, via the Renewable Energy Tax Credit will cover $1800-$2500. Read More
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