
YOUR GUIDE TO BUILDING
A NON-TOXIC HOME
A beginners guide to avoiding toxic construction materials and preventing long term mold and mildew growth during home renovations and new construction. This article will help set your project up for success by providing you with the right questions to ask when selecting safe, eco-friendly and non-toxic home building materials while also helping you identify common problem areas to keep an eye on over time.
01
USE QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS
Any renovation or new construction project has the potential to be a complicated one. And if you're seeking to build a non-toxic mold free home then it certainly has the capacity to further complicate the process. The best way to prepare yourself for success is to hire professionals that will help guide you through the process and avoid costly mistakes. The two most important team member's you'll want to identify are a qualified Architect and a licensed and insured General Contractor (Builder).
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When it comes to choosing an Architect and a Builder you'll want to find companies that specialize in Green and/or eco-friendly building practices. Ask them if they are LEED certified and if not, ask them if they have any experience working with Sustainable and/or Green Building Materials. ​​If you don't feel confident in their answers or they cannot produce a portfolio of projects they've completed in the past then find someone else. This is the most critical step in your journey to a non-toxic home!
02
IDENTIFY YOUR GOALS, BUDGET & TIMELINE
Your goals are the driving force in your project and it's important to clearly identify them very early on. Make clear distinctions between your needs and wants when setting goals. Needs are the "must-haves" and "non-negotiables". Wants sound something like, "that'd be nice" or, "maybe if there's money left over".
Like most things in life your budget will be your number one constraint. Establish a fair and reasonable budget and don't be discouraged if it's not enough. Projects can be phased to include a long term plan for growth with incremental steps being made towards a larger goal.
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03
KNOW YOUR OPTIONS
There's no shortage of choices that have to be made when you decide to renovate or build a new home. The good (and bad) news is that your desire to build a non-toxic and mold free home means you'll have significantly less options to choose from within each of the decisions you have to make.
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Below are the main categories of choices that will effect your exposure to toxic chemicals and mold/mildew growth over time.
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Plumbing and HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning). Water supply lines often contain PVC's that slowly break down with time and release into your drinking water - choose Copper piping instead. The HVAC system is primarily responsible for maintaining thermal comfort in your home but it does not guarantee good indoor air quality. Standard HVAC designs will recycle the same air throughout your home and relies on gaps, cracks and other flaws in the exterior walls of your home to draw in any fresh outdoor air. Make sure to ask your Architect and Contractor what you can do to your HVAC system to maximize your indoor air quality.
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Interior Finish Materials. These are the things that you will touch, see and engage with on a daily basis. It includes your flooring, wall and ceiling coverings (gypsum board & paint, stained or sealed wood, tile or many others). It includes your cabinetry, countertops and your light and plumbing fixtures. Avoid materials manufactured with the use of Formaldehyde based glues or high in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's). Avoid petroleum based products and use natural materials like real wood, stone and ceramics. Work with your Architect and consider hiring an Interior Designer that can help guide you through these selections.
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Insulation, framing materials and caulks/sealants. Common framing materials consist of composite materials that contain formaldehyde based glues that off gas dangerous compounds over their lifetime. Many, if not most, forms of insulation that exist on the market today contain fire retardants and VOC's. Work with your Architect to specify the "guts" of your home so you can rest assured that the stuff you don't see isn't causing you, or the ones you love, any harm.
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Exterior Finish Materials. Today's market of exterior finishes is full of options that are made of plastic and composite materials held together by toxic glues. Petroleum based composite decking, Vinyl siding and asphalt shingle roofs are prevalent. You'll need to work with your Architect to find alternative decking, siding and roofing materials if you want to limit your exposure to particles released during the breakdown of these materials under powerful UV rays.
04
DOCUMENT EVERYTHING AND ENSURE QUALITY
Bad quality work results in homes that are more prone to moisture issues leading to mold and mildew. Air leakage control and waterproofing details on the exterior are critical to ensuring water stays out of your home and vapor doesn't build in your walls. In addition - areas that are prone to being wet like laundry rooms, bathrooms and around the kitchen sink need special attention to ensure water drains properly and has adequate ventilation to dry.
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Consider hiring a 3rd party inspector and/or Owners Rep that can be a third set of eyes for you. This additional cost goes a long way to ensuring things are being done right. Critical areas to inspect are roof, window and door flashing, shower pan installation and waterproofing behind shower walls and area.
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Document everything. When you are building make sure you're taking pictures and videos of everything inside of the walls periodically throughout construction. Take special note of water and sewer lines so that when you're hanging pictures later you don't send a nail through one!​
05
MONITOR OVER TIME
Things break over time and, more often than not, it takes time for problems to become noticeable. Small leaks inside of walls can go unnoticed for decades and that old carpet pad that you cant see could be nothing but dust by now. There are some preventative measures that you can take and some maintenance routines that should be established that will help reduce your risk of exposure to mold and mildew over time.
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Monitor your indoor air quality and humidity. Knowing your air quality is step one in identifying if you have a problem. Homes with consistently high humidity leave you more susceptible to mold and mildew growth over time. If you notice musty odors in certain rooms trust your nose and ask your contractor to investigate.
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Keep an eye on high problem areas inside your home. Monitor ceilings under roofs and walls under windows/doors. Check for soft spots in the wall, "bubbles" under the paint, damp carpet, or uneven and raised wood flooring at the base of the wall and near doors. Monitor the ceiling and walls for any staining that could indicate they're getting wet. In bathrooms check for cracked tiles or missing grout, cracking/peeling caulk around tubs and in corners. If you notice any of these things they should be fixed immediately and checked to ensure there is no damage behind the wall or under the floor.
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Keep an eye on high problem areas outside of your home. Make sure sprinklers are not hitting the house and all water is draining away from the home when it rains. Make sure your gutters are working properly and not leaking any water on the house and all downspouts are effectively carrying water away from the house.
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And last, but not least, if you're having unexplained or mysterious illnesses occurring in your home consider having your home tested for mold and mildew. Even the best buildings and the most precautious owners are still susceptible to water intrusion and mold growth.