Renew • Colorado's Remodeling Magazine

When paint from the local retail chain just isn’t good enough, homeowners can easily find greener pastures. Everyone from the largest paint manufacturers to the small neighborhood outlets have begun to sell quality “green” paint that is friendly to your family and the environment.

With the lead-paint scare still fresh in people’s minds, paints without volatile organic compounds have become popular.

“We are an environmentally friendly paint store, specializing in non-toxic, zero VOC paints,” says Laurie Hessemer of New Era Paint in Edgewater. As the name suggests, you won’t find toxic substances that threaten the health of people or animals. New Era carries Safecoat, Yolo Colorhouse and Mythic Paint products and thousands of colors.

If the brands are less than recognizable, give them time. From the Aspen Art Museum to the Guggenheimm Museum in New York, Yolo Colorhouse is making its way into the mainstream.

Hessemer says her customers are best described as the “Whole Foods” demographic. Education, health and personal development are important, as are social responsibility and a sustainable economy. Additionally, as younger people begin to raise families, they want a healthy environment for their children. Hessemer cited asthma statistics, which have shown a drastic increase in the past three decades, as one of the reasons why people are careful about what products they use when they remodel. Cancer-causing chemicals found in older products are now red-lighted. “A lot people want nontoxic paint,” she says, and “they’ve done their research.”

Hessemer notes that even in tougher economic times, people still take into account a healthier approach. She cited a home she sold in Phoenix a few years back in which she used green products to spiff up the place. “It made the house more marketable,” she said. She chose Yolo Colorhouse paint, as well as Earth-friendly hardwood floors and countertops. The house sold in three days, she pointed out, to people who care about their environment.

In addition to younger people with an eye toward the environment, Hessemer said senior citizens are also susceptible to allergies and other irritants. As one who offers seminars and speaks to various organizations, Hessemer says interest also has spiked among nursing facilities and hospitals.

Designers, architects and builders are also jumping on the green bandwagon.
From a design standpoint, Christina Kittelstad of Spiral Designs in Lakewood says most clients want to consider earth-friendly options when it comes to paint. “My clients are definitely starting to use green paints on remodeling projects, especially in nurseries, children’s bedrooms, family spaces and home offices, where both adults and children tend to spend a lot of time and air quality is important.”

Although the price of no-VOC paints was prohibitive for some people, that is changing. “As the price has become more accessible, I find that many people are making the switch and enjoying the added benefits of cleaner air quality, less toxins and no fumes,” says Kittelstad, whose company provides color consulting and staging services.

Industry giant Benjamin Moore offers its Natura zero-VOC interior paints in more than 3,500 colors. And as with most of the modern paints, there is hardly any odor, they dry quickly and they are washable. Benjamin Moore products are available at outlets throughout the metro area.

So, whether you’re painting a small bathroom or having your entire house redone by professionals, the kinder, gentler paint options are available to meet everyone’s taste.

Posted on 04 June 2009

It is a standard design element to bring the outdoors in, but what about bringing the indoors out? In a state with plentiful sunshine and purple mountain majesties, an outdoor living space has become must-have in Colorado living. From full kitchens and weatherproof furniture to pergolas and fire pits, the options are endless when creating an outdoor space.

A key aspect of any outdoor living area is usability, and most homeowners investing in this type of space want to use it as many months out of the year as possible.
Scott Hamling, a real estate appraiser and Denver-area native, began his outdoor project last year and says it has been worth every hour of work and every penny spent. “This space is an extension of our home,” Hamling says. “We use it every day of the year. Just because it’s snowing outside doesn’t mean you have to stay inside.”

The ideas for the outdoor living area began when the Hamlings bought their 1902 farmhouse in the neighborhood Scott grew up. Sitting on a 17,000-square-foot lot, the house had an abundance of potential with lots of room to be creative.

“The house was previously owned by friends of my family and we jumped at the chance to buy in this neighborhood,” Hamling says. “And since we entertain quite a bit, the lot was the perfect size to fit our needs.”

The space was designed with three areas in mind – the living area, the dining area and the garden. The living and dining “rooms” are situated on each side of a two-sided fireplace, creating the perfect ambience for a sophisticated dinner party or an evening at home with the kids.

For entertaining friends and family, Scott and his wife, Kirsten, designed an in-place, concrete table that seats up to 12 guests and has a stainless steel trough down the center for candles, ice or drinks.

But this dining area is not just for summer barbeques. In the winter, the Hamlings put up a tent that surrounds the room and encloses the fireplace for festive gatherings during the holidays.

“The idea of using a tent came to us when we were planning a large Christmas party,” Hamling explains. “When we entertain, we like to make our guests feel special and incredibly welcomed. I think we accomplished that with the tent because everyone was so surprised when we went outside to our own little venue.”

The outdoor living space wouldn’t be complete for the Hamlings without a beautiful garden to enjoy throughout the year, and for a project of this magnitude, they knew they needed to call in a professional. With the help of landscape architect Wendy Booth, of the Ivy Street Design Group in Denver, the garden became one of the most important elements of the overall design.

“With this project, we wanted to create interest throughout the seasons,” Booth says. “And with Scott and Kirsten’s love of entertaining, it was important to plan a garden that would be beautiful and visually pleasing all year.”

The garden is an element of the design that not only provides beauty every day of the year, but also provides privacy for the Hamlings. Lined with trees on two sides, the garden includes a fish pond and water feature, as well as a nearby seating area.

Booth, who won an Award of Excellence from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC) for this design, was recommended to the Hamlings through family friend and landscape contractor Paul Tighe. Through Booth’s design, Tighe built a spectacular fireplace, brick patio and concrete table.

Hamling says that when working with any professional, it is important to communicate throughout the entire process. “Paul, Wendy and I worked very closely together on this project,” Hamling says. “We listened to each other, tossed around ideas and were able to easily adapt to any obstacles thrown in our path.”

As with any major home improvement, consideration must be given to the primary reasons for remodeling the space. For many, the improvement provides a place to spend more time with family or to entertain guests. For others, it is a place to unwind in the peace and tranquility of Colorado’s fresh air after a long day. For the Hamlings, it is an extension of their home.

“This is our last home, the place we want to be for the next 30 to 40 years,” Hamling says. “This project made our house a perfect home.”

Emily Jack is a Longmont-based freelance writer.

Photos provided by Ivy Street Design Group in Denver.

Posted on 07 March 2009

Those who have lived in Colorado for some time know that the weather can change on a dime – one minute is spent soaking up the sun while riding bikes in Wash Park, and the next minute a snowstorm rolls in over the Divide. While Colorado’s rollercoaster weather certainly helps to keep things interesting, Front Range homes would beg to tell a different story, as they are subjected to a variety of harsh conditions.

Because of high winds and inevitable hail storms, it’s paramount that the materials used to upgrade siding will hold up to the Colorado test.

In addition to higher-quality materials used to manufacture siding, aesthetics have also come a long way.

“The trend has been to offer more options in colors, textures and overall appearance,” says Mike Loughery of CertainTeed, which manufacturers siding, roofing and decking products. “There has also been a huge emphasis placed on recreating the look of wood, but made with materials that are more durable and longer lasting.” He adds that wood tends to crack, delaminate and rot, so it is important to find a more durable substitute or risk replacing a home’s siding sooner than expected.

Most homeowners have come to expect a product that is low maintenance and as hassle free as possible. For example, metal siding now includes baked on coatings to prevent rust. Vinyl siding was prone to becoming brittle and would easily fade in the sun, but this is no longer the case as today’s manufacturers use additives that protect the vinyl from UV damage and greatly extend the life of the product. Most high-end siding now comes with a transferable lifetime warranty from the manufacturer, and because of the steady improvement of vinyl siding products, about 90 percent of prefinished siding installed today is made of vinyl.

Metal, vinyl, wood, brick, brick veneer, cement, stone, liquid and insulated and thermal vinyl siding are among the choices. But homeowners are increasingly interested in cutting energy costs, so thermal vinyl siding and fiber cement siding have rapidly gained popularity. “When talking about energy savings, insulated siding is a huge deal,” Loughery says. “It keeps a home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, which helps tremendously on energy bills.”

Insulated siding is custom fit with expanded polystyrene foam fused to its back, which fills the gap between the home and the siding. Aside from liquid siding, a vinyl-like substance that is sprayed directly onto the home, all siding materials leave an empty space between the home and the exterior wall of the home and the siding material. This small gap may seem trivial, but insulated siding can reduce a home’s energy use by up to 20 percent. Moreover, insulated siding is designed to last more than 50 years.

A newcomer to the siding scene was recently developed by CertainTeed. Because 40 percent of the energy lost through a traditionally insulated wood framed wall escapes between the wood studs, CertainTeed set out to develop a product that would eliminate the energy loss that results from these “thermal bridges,” which comprise about 25 percent of a home’s exterior. CertainTeed CedarBoards Insulated Siding breaks the thermal bridge by insulating continuously over the framing where energy loss is at its greatest. Available in 18 colors and four styles, CedarBoards will increase the curb appeal of a home while also helping to reduce those energy bills.

“If a homeowner is looking for a product that is practically maintenance-free, then thermal vinyl siding is the way to go,” Loughery says. “But if you are a homeowner who likes to change the color of your house or repaint every five years, then fiber cement may be the better choice.”

Fiber cement siding is typically a mixture of fly ash, a by-product of coal, and cement, with some formulas adding wood chips and other additives to the mix. For homeowners with “green” on the mind, this type of siding uses post-industrial by-products, which reduces landfill waste and requires less energy to produce, transport and install.

James Hardie Siding is a leading manufacturer of fiber cement siding, offering many products designed for the region’s problematic weather changes. According to a James Hardie report, Denver homebuilders prefer a durable, wood-imitation siding to withstand the moisture-heavy mountain climate. Available in multiple styles and colors and shapes, James Hardie siding is non-combustible and resists damage from termites, rain, snow, hail and hurricane-strength winds.

“Both the fiber cement and thermal vinyl siding are very green products,” Loughery says. “And as a bonus, they come with a 50-year to lifetime warranty – a great investment when updating your home.”

Photo provided by CertainTeed

Posted on 07 March 2009